Two of the most treasured components of Kahuku High School are family and tradition.

And whenever the Red Raiders girls volleyball team takes the court, both are front and center.

Their head coach is Mona Ah-Hoy, a 1986 Kahuku grad who was a standout three-sport athlete for the Red Raiders. Her husband, Irwin, is her top assistant and head coach of the JV.

And their senior leader is daughter Camilla, a setter/outside hitter in her fourth year as a starter.

Together they will try to help Kahuku (12-1) win its fourth O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship in five years, starting with a semifinal match against Moanalua (11-3) set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Kalani (7-7) will play Roosevelt (11-2) in the first semifinal at 6 p.m.

"This team we have now might not have the talent that we had in those other years, but we have a positive attitude," Camilla said. "Attitude-wise, this team has a different personality and that's what I like about it. I think we have what it takes to win it again."

Winning is a big part of Kahuku's family tradition, and Mona experienced it first-hand. As a freshman, she was a member of the Red Raiders' only state championship team in girls basketball.

Kahuku won another OIA hoops title her junior year, and the Red Raiders finished as state runner-up the following season.

In volleyball, Kahuku did not win any league or state crowns during Mona's career but "we were one of the top teams in the OIA" every year.

Mona, whose maiden name is Afalava, came from an athletic family (brother Kesi was a standout football player at Kahuku and the University of Hawai'i) and grew up playing different sports.

"Back then we played in a lot of church leagues," Mona said. "All my older brothers and sisters played sports, so I took an interest in that, too."

She was named Eastern Division Player of the Year in volleyball and basketball her senior year and was one of 12 seniors from around the state enshrined into the prestigious Nissan Hawai'i High School Hall of Honor, which recognizes top student-athletes for their accomplishments in sports, academics and community service.

"I hear from my family, they say that when my mom was in high school, they had never seen anybody play like her," Camilla said.

Mona went on to play outside hitter for two NAIA championship teams at Brigham Young-Hawai'i, then gave birth to Camilla before finishing her college career.

"She's been in the gym since she was 1 month old," Mona said.

Irwin was an athlete himself, winning two Golden Gloves boxing titles while growing up in Samoa, so it was only natural for Camilla to take up sports herself.

"They said I knew how to play pepper (in volleyball) when I was 5 years old," Camilla said.

She played PAL basketball and club volleyball as a youth, then earned a spot on Kahuku's varsity in both sports as a freshman. In her first volleyball season, the Red Raiders captured their first state title and snapped the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's 20-year stranglehold on the trophy.

Camilla mostly was a role player on that team, which was led by seniors Tuli Peters and Lesina Funaki.

"It was exciting," Camilla said. "I remember one time we were riding in the bus, and Lesina was talking about my mom. She was telling the others they have to treat us like her mom and make sure I won a state title as a freshman, too. And then it actually happened."

Camilla, a quiet freshman at the time, said that year was invaluable in many ways.

"Back then, with Tuli and Lesina and the other seniors, I looked up to them as good leaders. I learned how you have to try to be a role model for the younger players, how you have to work your hardest in order to be the best.

"Winning (the title) was a good experience for when I got older, because I already knew the feeling."

The winning carried over into basketball, where Kahuku finished as state runner-up her freshman and sophomore years and OIA champs the past two years.

In both sports, the Red Raiders were blessed with talented athletes like Peters, Funaki, Latoya Wily, Mona Ale and Aisha Ale, but Camilla's role and ability grew steadily with each season. She was named to The Advertiser's All-State first-team in volleyball last year.

This season, Camilla is the unquestioned leader and not only sets, but contributes by hitting, blocking, digging, passing and serving.

"I like being able to do anything it takes for us to win," she said. "I like setting, but if I have to play middle, I'll play middle. It's all pretty fun."

And as a leader, Camilla has learned to be more vocal and visible.

"She's taking what she learned from people like Tuli and Latoya and passing it on to the younger players," Mona said.

Camilla's personality is more mellow than that of Wily or Aisha Ale, so she still leads mainly by example. Mona said it is not unusual for Camilla to train on her own time.

"Sometimes I'll wake up early, and she's already out of the house," Mona said. "I know that she went running by herself."

Camilla's all-around play has drawn the attention of several colleges, including Oregon State, Nevada-Las Vegas, Ohio State, St. Mary's, Eastern Washington and Wyoming. UH and BYUH showed early interest, but she has expressed a desire to go away.

What makes Camilla even more attractive as a prospect is her work in the classroom, where she sports a 3.7 grade point average with a schedule that includes two advanced- placement courses.

Selection for the Nissan Hall of Honor is not done until late May, but if Camilla is inducted, it will mark the first time two generations of the same family are enshrined.

For the next nine days, however, the Ah-Hoys will concentrate on winning another volleyball championship for Kahuku. And conversations about it are not limited to the court.

"It's the only thing we argue about at home," Camilla said. "We're always talking about what we can do to make the team better."

That makes them pretty normal on the North Shore, since winning has long been a Kahuku family tradition.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.