All season long, the Wai'anae boys volleyball team felt literally and figuratively looked down upon.

Last night, the Seariders stood tall after defeating Kalaheo, 25-20, 25-7, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Division volleyball semifinals at the McKinley High gym.

Wai'anae plays defending OIA champion Roosevelt tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the OIA Red final. Kaimuki and Campbell play in the White final at 6 p.m.

"We knew we were going to be looked down upon, so we had to prove a point," Wai'anae junior outside hitter Anthony Robinson said.

The Seariders have no players taller than the 5-foot-11 Robinson.

"It made them more hungry," said Wai'anae assistant coach Willy Wagner, who was a member of the school's last OIA championship team in 1997. "We always tell them, 'You guys are the smallest out there; you have to prove yourselves.' And they did that.

"They always thrive for some inspiration to get ahead."

That wasn't all the challenges they faced. The spirited Seariders (13-1) — "the more fun we had, the more it would take the other team out of the game," junior outside hitter Aaron Fogatu said — overcame Kalaheo's (9-5) daunting high school boys volleyball history and other off-court disadvantages.

Their bus broke down on the way to yesterday's match. They moved up from Division II last season. Their 13-player roster includes only four players with prior volleyball experience.

"They had something to fight for," Wai'anae coach Fulton Dela Cruz said of their assumed underdog status.

"If the first point is good, we know we're going to ride the momentum all the way through," Robinson said a Kalaheo service error that started the match. "It made us feel like they weren't ready."

Wai'anae opened the first game with a 7-2 lead behind three kills by Robinson before the Mustangs tied it at 9 on a solo block by senior Ken Uchida.

Wai'anae went on a 7-1 run with help from two service aces by Fogatu to make it 16-10, but again the Mustangs responded, tying the game at 19 on four straight Searider errors and a kill by Christian Kepa.

Wai'anae then scored six of the next seven points and ended the game on a kill by junior Desmond Dela Cruz.

"We knew the first game they would come out strong," said Robinson, who finished with 10 kills.

Wai'anae dominated the second game, jumping ahead to leads of 10-4, 15-5, and 23-6, with the aid of 14 Mustang errors.

"Coach said to find the weakest players, and we found the pukas and took advantage," said Fogatu, one of the players in his first year of volleyball.

His third ace of the match bounced off the hands of a Kalaheo player to end the match.

"When we got to double-digit numbers, we felt we could take them out," Fogatu said.

ROOSEVELT SWEEPS MILILANI TO ADVANCE

The defending OIA champion Roosevelt Rough Riders returned to the title match after a seemingly methodical, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Mililani.

"Our teamwork got better today," said junior outside hitter Kenneth Rewick, who had 12 kills. "Everything was smooth."

After a close start to the first game, the Rough Riders created some breathing room with a 4-0 run behind kills by sophomore Kainoa Mitchell and Rewick, a double block by Rewick and Aaron Mochizuki, and a service ace by Kaina Palama to give them a 22-15 lead. It was enough to hold off the Trojans, who wouldn't get closer than the 25-21 final score.

"We worked on game-type situations during yesterday's practice," Roosevelt coach Kaui Mendonca said. "21-21, 22-22; sideout points, putting away balls in critical situations.

"I'm happy. It showed focus on our part."

The Rough Riders opened a 13-5 lead in the second game with help of five Rewick kills. Mililani got as close as 16-13 on a kill by junior Reid Pangelinan, but five straight serves by sophomore setter Joby Ramos moved Roosevelt ahead 24-17 lead. Following a Mililani point, Mitchell's kill finished the match.

"Our goal was to get back to the championships," said Ramos, who was on last year's team. "It feels good. We're looking for that second year in a row. I just want to share that feeling with everyone else on the team."

Reach Leila Wai at 535-2457 or lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

ILH DIVISION II

HBA SWEEPS TO TITLE

Hawai'i Baptist swept visiting University High, 25-18, 25-18, last night to win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II championship and the league's lone DII state tournament berth.

Ryan Leung led the Eagles with eight kills and Kyle Barretta added six.

Setter Matthew Lui served five straight points to help HBA take a 17-10 lead in the first game, and libero Evan Pang served two key runs in the second game to help the Eagles eventually take control at 22-17.

HBA improved to 10-4. UHS finished 8-6.