Menes are queens of the OIA once again

MILILANI — Standing on business.

One year after falling short in the OIA championship, Moanalua is back atop the mountain top after besting Kapolei in four sets, 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 22-14, Wednesday night in the league’s Division I title match.

It was the team’s sixth OIA crown and the first since 2017.

“Every single day at practice, we remembered that and we are like, ‘Hey, that’s not happening this year. This title is ours,’ and that really reflected in our practices,” said senior Zaria Queen, who is committed to play for Stanford.

Queen was one of two players to put down 17 kills for Moanalua and was selected as the HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop.

She said that their goal to get back and win the championship never wavered throughout the season.

“There was no time that we were slacking off, we were holding each other accountable to make sure that when we got to this, we could take care of business,” said Queen.

Fellow senior Jerney Tang-Silva also finished with 17 kills while senior transfer from Damien Kaila Kalama-Bajet stuffed the stat sheet with 26 assists, 12 digs and 11 kills.

“We really wanted it this year and we were all mentally focused from the get go. Ever since preseason we knew that we wanted to be in this OIA championship and we wanted to push ourselves to be the best that we could be, so all the girls, I’m really thankful that we all had that one goal in mind ever since last year,” said Tang-Silva, who also came up with eight digs and was in on three blocks.

Freshman Surfia Grounds put down seven kills off the bench and middle Chloe Fukumitsu had six kills and four blocks to round out the attack for Moanalua (13-0).

“I think that’s a big thing with our team, we have so many weapons from front row to back row so everyone is a threat and so the other side never knows where the ball is going to go and everyone has their nights where they’re killing it and it’s always someone different, so I think that’s a really big part of why we were able to do this tonight,” Queen said.

The Hurricanes (11-2), who were seeking their second OIA title and first since 2008, were led by Leila Paraoan’s 21 kills in the loss.

Kapolei sophomore Anny Scott also had a near triple-double with 26 assists, 12 digs and nine kills after appearing to roll her ankle towards the end of the first set.

Both teams already clinched spots into next week’s New City Nissan Division I state tournament and will be two of five squads representing the OIA.

The Hurricanes will host Mililani on Monday while Moanalua has a bye through next Thursday and will play the winner between Waiakea and Kalaheo in the second quarterfinal match at Kamehameha.