The Mililani girls volleyball team finally got the better of 'Aiea this season.

And the Trojans were able to do so because their best player, Candace Soares, as usual, rose to the occasion.

Soares had 23 kills as Mililani beat 'Aiea, 22-25, 26-24, 25-16, 26-24, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference girls volleyball tournament last night at McKinley.

"I feel real good," said Soares, a 5-foot-8 senior. "It was a great win, great teamwork."

Soares had five kills in the first, six in the second, seven in the third and five in the fourth.

She got support from Nalani I, who had 14 kills, and Olivia Freitas, who contributed six blocks.

"The kills, I was really happy about it," I said. "I would not be able to do it without my teammates."

Mililani, tied for 10th in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, will play the winner of last night's late match between McKinley and Farrington Tuesday at McKinley.

"For our team, we're taking it one step at a time and giving it 110 percent," I said.

All four teams that played last night, plus Kahuku and Moanalua, had already qualified for the state Division I tournament.

'Aiea, ranked No. 5, can no longer win the double-elimination tournament, and will play for fifth place Tuesday against the McKinley-Farrington loser at McKinley.

'Aiea, the West champion, had beaten Mililani, the West runner-up, twice this season in four games.

"It took a lot for our team since we lost to them twice this season," Soares said.

In the first set, 'Aiea got off to a quick 6-1 start behind four kills by Kelly Leopoldo.

Na Ali'i led 20-15, but Mililani (11-4) scored four in a row, including consecutive aces by Shyane Cossey.

'Aiea (13-2) led 23-21 and closed the set after a Mililani hitting error and kill by Meletau Samisoni.

The second set had 11 ties and five lead changes.

'Aiea's final lead came at 23-22 after a kill by libero Michelle Lambayan. Consecutive kills by Soares put Mililani up 24-23. Na Ali'i's Leopoldo erased the set point with a kill, but Mililani won it after a kill by Soares and a 'Aiea hitting error.

Mililani had five blocks in the set with middle blocker Freitas, a 6-1 senior, dropping in on four of them.

"Oli, we count on her blocks," said Mililani coach Val Crabbe. "We keep telling her, "We need you to block.' "

In the third, Mililani dominated from the start, taking a 9-1 advantage after I served six in a row. The Trojans' lead reached 16-4 and 'Aiea couldn't get closer than eight the rest of the way.

Na Ali'i served for the fourth set at 24-23, but a service error tied it. Mililani won after an ace by I and hitting error by 'Aiea.

I, a 5-4 senior, had six kills without an error and an ace in the set.

"Nalani is steady in the front and back (rows)," Crabbe said. "She lacks size in the front-court and on the outside by blocks. She reads (the block) really well."

Leopoldo had 21 kills and Meletau Samisoni added 14 for 'Aiea.

GOVS TOP TIGERS IN 4

Farrington coach Reagan Agena compares outside hitter Fenumiai Tofilau to a light switch: she's either on or she's off.

Last night against McKinley, Tofilau was on and, because of it, her team is moving on in the OIA Red Conference girls volleyball tournament.

Tofilau, a 5-foot-8 junior, had 14 kills, including 11 over the final two sets, as Farrington beat host McKinley, 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-15.

"She's like a light switch," Agena said. "When she's on, she's on. When she's off, she's off."

Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo added 10 kills and Junitta Fonoti had nine for Farrington, the East's No. 4 team.

In the first set, the Governors took a 23-21 lead after a kill by Tofilau and a Tigers' hitting error.

The teams sided out the rest of the way with Tatupu-Leopoldo giving Farrington (10-6) the set with a kill off the block.

In the second, Brenda Walker had five kills and an ace, and Angela So'oalo had four kills and two block assists as McKinley, the East's No. 3 team, was never threatened.

Walker keyed a 5-0 run with two kills and an ace, which gave the Tigers their largest lead at 22-10.

In the third, McKinley (9-7) appeared to take control after a 5-0 run, which included consecutive aces by Juri Franzen, to take a 23-19 lead.

The Tigers reached set point at 24-22, but a kill by Farrington's Keui Remigio and a McKinley hitting error tied it.

It was tied at 26 before Farrington pulled it out behind Tatupu-Leopoldo's kill, and a double block by Tatupu-Leopoldo and Valerie Lesu.

In the fourth set, the Governors opened an 18-10 lead after a kill by Lesu. McKinley got within 20-17 before Farrington pulled away.

"We had to pick ourselves up," Tofilau said. "We knew we had it in us."

Walker finished with 17 kills and two aces, and Lita Melino added 11 kills for McKinley.