CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / crussell@staradvertiser.com
Kalaheo celebrated after beating Radford 15-13 in the fifth set of the OIA White playoffs at McKinley High on Wednesday. The win enabled Kalaheo to play Radford again on Saturday for theOIA White title.
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More photos: Radford v. Kalaheo; Mililani v. Moanalua
Kalaheo forced a deciding game for the OIA White title with a thrilling 3-2 win over Radford at the McKinley High gym on Wednesday.
Kalaheo won 16-25, 27-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-13.
The teams will play for the title at 3 p.m. on Saturday at McKinley.
Freshman outside hitter Syenna Masaki and sophomore setter Siani Yamaguchi made all the difference for the Mustangs, with Masaki putting down 17 of her game-high 19 kills in the sets that Kalaheo won and Yamaguchi running a 5-1 offense for the first time all season.
The Mustangs were running on pure emotion all night and overcame Radford’s cool efficiency when it mattered.
Radford dominated in the sets that it won and Kalaheo scrapped to win the ones it did and it all came down to two points in Set 5.
With the score tied at 13, Radford’s Vaelupe Feleti was called for a lift for set point and Masaki ended it with a steamer from the right side that Radford’s Tori Kolomalu was a little bit too late in digging.
"(Masaki) does not play like a freshman," Kalaheo coach Roberta Downey said. "She can play anywhere, she can do anything. If her hitting is not there, she will dig mad balls, I am excited to see what the future holds for her."
Kalaheo sophomore Taylor Bitanga will be doubtful for Saturday’s title match after leaving Wednesday night’s battle with a concussion that took a turn for the worse after the game. She left for the hospital in an ambulance.
