A big hitter with a "green light," Mililani junior Candace Soares crossed the finish line first after voting by coaches for Player of the Year in the OIA Red Conference Western Division.

Soares, a 5-foot-8 middle blocker, took top honors after helping the Trojans capture the West title with a match to spare.

A loss to Radford had dropped Mililani into a first-place tie, but the Trojans rebounded to win their next three matches and Soares had 14 kills in a 21-25, 25-14, 25-13 victory over Leilehua to clinch the crown.

Soares had five kills in the second game and five in the third, and finished with only two hitting errors.

Soares' arm swing alone allowed her to put many balls away.

"She hits a hard ball, every ball," Mililani coach Dexter Young told The Advertiser that night. "She has the green light to swing away."

The Trojans eventually advanced to the league semifinals and were the only Western Division team to qualify for the state tournament.

Soares was the only Mililani player selected to the West all-star first team. She is joined by 'Aiea's Michelle Lambayan and Kelly Leopoldo, Kapolei's Tehani Ka'aihue and Marie Nataniela, Radford's Alexandria Leki-Gapelu and Marlena Malepeai, and Leilehua's Brittany Paikai.

Leki-Gapelu, a 5-6 senior setter, and Malepeai, a 5-7 senior outside hitter, helped Radford take second place in the West. Malepeai had seven kills in the victory over Mililani.

Ka'aihue, a 5-7 junior, and Nataniela, a 5-6 junior, helped Kapolei finish in a tie for third.

Lambayan, a 5-foot junior libero, and Leopoldo, a 5-5 sophomore outside hitter, helped 'Aiea return to the league playoffs.

Paikai, a 5-7 senior, helped the Mules reach the OIA postseaon as well.

Leilehua's Kory Toyozaki was named Coach of the Year.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.