A big switch paid off in a big way for the Pearl City girls volleyball team.

Lady Chargers coach Stephanie Shigemasa moved hitter Keani Passi from the right side to the left, and the senior responded with 10 thunderous kills in Pearl City’s 25-18, 25-16 win at division rival Mililani last night.

The No. 9 Chargers, obviously pumped up after a loss to Kapolei on Tuesday, dealt the host Trojans their first loss and moved into a tie with them at 5-1 atop the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West standings at the midpoint of the regular season.

Senior setter Marie Fujii had no problem finding Passi with spot-on passes to do the bulk of the Chargers’ damage from the left.

"It feels great, coming back from a loss to Kapolei, and win against Mililani and take their undefeated (record away)," said Fujii, who had 16 assists. "It’s all about the pass, and our passes were great tonight."

A large Pearl City crowd, eager to cheer every defensive stop, lent a home atmosphere for the Chargers. The purple-clad players mobbed each other when Tonisha Buford put the match away with her third kill in the final four points.

Shigemasa thought the passing connection between Fujii and Passi was as good as it’s been all season.

"You have to get ready for a big game. We just tried to get the girls focused and ready for tonight," Shigemasa said. "I think Keani was definitely feeling it. She was very focused on what she was doing. She had a really good game."

Pearl City relied on an intimidating block that blunted Mililani’s fiercest attacks from senior hitter Shyanne Cossey and helped force several Trojan misses late, when a 9-9 game in the second set became a 19-11 Charger advantage.

The Chargers had seven blocks, including five in the second set. No one player was in on more than three, meaning whichever person was at the net challenged swings.

"They brought a big block. A lot bigger than ours," Mililani coach Val Crabbe said. "They’re a good team. Their strength is on their defense in the back. … I think the other thing too, because they lost to Kapolei on Tuesday, (they were) big-time fired up. And we just couldn’t hit the ball in."

That back-row Charger defense surprised Mililani on one point in the first set, when the back row’s great hustle popped the ball over for a kill. Not coincidentally, it came during a 7-1 run that Pearl City used to turn a 12-all tie into a commanding 19-13 lead.

"We’ve been working a lot on our block and our passes, and it’s been paying off," Fujii said.

Cossey led Mililani with five kills, while Inoa Fields had four kills.

ILH

Mid-Pacific def. Punahou 15-25, 25-21, 25-21
St. Francis def. Hawaiian Mission Academy 25-17, 25-10
Kamehameha def. Christian Academy 25-8, 25-11
Maryknoll def. Sacred Hearts 25-21, 25-22
University def. Hawaii Baptist 25-13, 25-19

OIA

Waianae def. Campbell 25-21, 25-20
Kaiser def. McKinley 25-16, 25-19
Castle def. Farrington 25-15, 21-25, 17-15
Kapolei def Aiea 11-25, 25-15, 15-10
Radford def. Kalani 25-13, 25-23
Kahuku def. Kailua 25-9, 25-14