Back-to-Back for the 17 Time Champs

Article written by: Alan Velasco - @oscalev_

SAlt Lake, HI

For the second consecutive year, the Kahuku Red Raiders are standing at the top of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division I Girls Volleyball scene. Kahuku captured the 2026 OIA Division I Championship on Wednesday evening, defeating the Moanalua Na Menehune in four sets, 25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 25-22, to secure its second straight league title and 17th OIA girls volleyball championship in program history. The victory carried additional significance as the Red Raiders entered the championship having lost both of their previous meetings against Moanalua during the regular season. However, with the title on the line, Kahuku delivered one of its strongest performances all season, combining an efficient offensive attack with a dominant presence at the net to overcome a Moanalua squad that had controlled the season series. The Red Raiders entered the championship with a 10-2 record, while Na Menehune came in at 12-0, setting the stage for another highly anticipated meeting between two of the OIA's top programs.

The championship marked the second straight year that Kahuku and Moanalua met with the OIA Division I title on the line, continuing a growing rivalry between the two programs. In 2025, the lady Raiders defeated Na Menehune in a five-set thriller, 24-26, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12, to capture their first OIA championship since 2022. Moanalua entered the 2026 season determined to reverse that result and appeared to have the upper hand after defeating Kahuku twice during the regular season. Na Menehune won their first meeting in four sets before surviving a five-set battle in their second matchup, establishing themselves as one of the postseason favorites. Despite those earlier defeats, Kahuku returned to the championship stage with another opportunity to defend its title and prevent Moanalua from capturing the league crown.

Both programs earned their spots in the championship after surviving challenging semifinal matchups earlier in the week. Kahuku advanced past Mililani in four sets, 25-18, 28-30, 25-17, 25-19, behind an impressive offensive performance from Makamae Schilling, who finished with 17 kills. Ana Kaufusi and Talia Soliai-Tui each contributed 11 kills, helping the lady Raiders recover after dropping the second set and secure their return to the championship. Meanwhile, Moanalua faced a much longer battle against Campbell, surviving a five-set thriller, 25-17, 14-25, 25-19, 30-32, 16-14. Surfia Grounds led Na Menehune with 23 kills, while Nora Carey added 21 as Moanalua fought through an extended fourth set before closing out the decisive fifth. The semifinal victories set up another championship rematch between the two programs, with Kahuku looking to defend its crown and Moanalua seeking to finish what it had started during the regular season.

Kahuku opened the championship with a closely contested first set as both teams battled to establish momentum. The opening frame featured 16 ties and eight lead changes, with neither team able to establish a comfortable advantage. The Red Raiders recorded 14 kills on 38 attempts, relying on their offensive depth and front-row presence to challenge Moanalua throughout the set. Despite committing eight attacking errors, Kahuku stayed composed in the closing moments and secured a narrow 25-23 win. The lady Raiders carried that momentum into the second set, where their offensive efficiency improved significantly. Kahuku recorded eight kills with just two attacking errors on 21 attempts, finishing with a .286 hitting percentage while converting 71 percent of its sideout opportunities. Meanwhile, Moanalua struggled offensively, recording eight kills against 11 attacking errors for a negative .094 hitting percentage. The lady Raiders controlled the second frame and pulled away for a convincing 25-14 victory, putting themselves one set away from securing another OIA championship.

Facing a two-set deficit, Moanalua responded in the third frame with a much-needed performance to keep its championship hopes alive. Na Menehune recorded 16 kills on 41 attempts, their highest total of the match in a single set, while finding ways to challenge Kahuku's defensive presence and force the Red Raiders into longer rallies. Kahuku finished the third set with 12 kills and three attacking errors on 34 attempts, producing a .265 hitting percentage, but struggled to consistently regain possession after Moanalua's scoring opportunities. The lady Raiders converted just 43 percent of their sideout chances in the frame, their lowest mark of the evening. Moanalua capitalized on the opportunity and secured a 25-23 victory, cutting Kahuku's advantage to two sets to one and forcing a fourth set with the championship still within reach.

With Moanalua attempting to extend the match, Kahuku responded in the fourth set with one of its most efficient performances of the championship. The final frame featured 15 ties and four lead changes as both teams battled for control with the OIA title on the line. The Red Raiders recorded 13 kills on 30 attempts while committing just four attacking errors, finishing with a .300 hitting percentage. Kahuku also converted 77 percent of its sideout opportunities, its highest rate of the match, allowing the Red Raiders to limit Moanalua's scoring runs and maintain pressure throughout the closing frame. Moanalua also delivered its most efficient offensive set of the night, recording 15 kills with six attacking errors for a .257 hitting percentage. However, Kahuku remained composed during the final stretch and secured a 25-22 victory, ending Moanalua's comeback attempt and completing the four-set championship win. After falling to Na Menehune twice earlier in the season, the Red Raiders delivered when it mattered most, securing their second consecutive OIA Division I title.

Leading the way for Kahuku was Makamae Schilling, who finished with a team-high 11 kills on 40 attempts while adding five digs, a service ace, and three total blocks. The Red Raiders also received major contributions from Ana Kaufusi, who recorded eight kills on just 14 attempts with only one attacking error, finishing with an impressive .500 hitting percentage. Talia Soliai-Tui added eight kills on 19 attempts while producing a .368 hitting percentage and a team-high six block assists. Haley Kotobalavu contributed eight kills, 11 digs, and three block assists, while Bella Purcell finished with six kills and three block assists. Kahuku's balanced offensive attack allowed multiple players to contribute throughout the championship, making it difficult for Moanalua to focus its defensive attention on a single attacker.

The lady Raiders' defensive presence and ability to control the net proved to be one of the biggest differences in the championship. Kahuku finished with 12 total team blocks compared to Moanalua's four, consistently challenging Na Menehune's attacking opportunities throughout the match. Setter Anny Scott helped direct the offense with 25 assists, eight digs, and two service aces, while Ireson Fotu contributed 13 assists and a team-high three aces. Keana Vendiola anchored Kahuku's back row defense with a team-high 18 digs and three assists, providing stability during several competitive stretches of the match. As a team, Kahuku recorded 47 kills on 123 attempts with just 17 attacking errors, finishing with a .244 hitting percentage. The Red Raiders also recorded eight service aces and 50 digs, combining offensive efficiency with strong defensive execution to secure the victory.

Despite the loss, Moanalua delivered several impressive individual performances, led by Surfia Grounds, who finished with a match-high 24 kills on 61 attempts while adding seven digs. Grounds remained one of Na Menehune's most consistent offensive options throughout the championship, finishing with a .230 hitting percentage. Kingston Auva'a contributed 10 kills and eight digs, while Carey Nora and Alessandra Siazon each added six kills. Setter Alea Chew finished with a team-high 28 assists and five digs, while Rylie Ramones contributed 13 assists and four digs. Defensively, Sienna Lee led Moanalua with 13 digs and a service ace, helping keep Na Menehune competitive across all four sets. However, Moanalua struggled to match Kahuku's efficiency, finishing with 51 kills on 140 attempts while committing 34 attacking errors for a .121 hitting percentage. Although Na Menehune recorded more kills overall, Kahuku's ability to limit mistakes and control the net ultimately made the difference.

For Kahuku, the championship represented another significant achievement for a program that continues to establish itself among the OIA's most successful girls volleyball teams. The lady Raiders entered the final looking to defend their title against the same opponent they defeated in 2025, but this time faced a Moanalua squad that had already beaten them twice during the season. Rather than allowing those previous results to determine the outcome, Kahuku delivered a complete performance when the championship was on the line. The victory secured the program's 17th OIA girls volleyball championship and marked the first time Kahuku had won consecutive league titles since its championship run in 2021 and 2022. For Moanalua, the defeat brought another disappointing championship result after an impressive season that included two victories over Kahuku and a hard-fought semifinal win against Campbell.

With another OIA Division I championship secured, Kahuku now turns its attention toward the upcoming Division I Girls Volleyball State Championships, where the Red Raiders will look to carry their momentum onto the statewide stage. Moanalua will also look to regroup and build on its successful league campaign as Na Menehune prepare for the next phase of postseason competition. For Kahuku, Wednesday's victory was about more than defending a championship. After falling to Moanalua twice during the regular season, the lady Raiders returned to the biggest stage and found a way to reverse the outcome, proving that the championship would be decided by their performance when it mattered most. With back-to-back OIA titles and 17 championships in program history, Kahuku continues to add to its volleyball legacy.

Final Score: Kahuku 3 - Moanalua 1

25-23 I 25-14 I 23-25 I 25-22

For more pictures, head over to our photo gallery.

Pictures taken by: Pakela Wheeler - @pakela._

OIA Girls D1 Volleyball Championship Photo Gallery