Moanalua scored seven straight points to overcome a 9-6 deficit in the fifth game last night to rally past 'Aiea, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 27-29, 15-13, in the third round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference volleyball tournament.

The Eastern Division runner-up Na Menehune improved to 11-3 in league play and will face East champion Kahuku (14-0) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a semifinal match at McKinley's Student Council Gym.

Under the tournament's "modified double-elimination" format, West champ 'Aiea (13-1) can still work its way back into the championship bracket but must first defeat West runner-up Mililani (10-4) at 6 p.m. today.

"It's not over yet," Na Ali'i coach Blythe Yamamoto said. "Like I tell the girls, just like a win only lasts one night, a loss only lasts one night, too. But we have to come back ready to play."

It will be tough after last night's two-hour marathon that went back-and-forth throughout.

After 'Aiea built a 9-6 lead in the fifth set, Moanalua coach Tommy Lake called a timeout.

"I told our girls that ('Aiea's) Kelly (Leopoldo) is such a smart hitter, if we show her too early what we're going to do (on the block), she's going to make the adjustment and find a way to hit it through," Lake said. "We had to be more patient and start waiting on her, because she's one of the smartest players we've faced all year."

But after the timeout, it was Na Menehune who went on the offensive and senior outside hitter Lahela Kaili Laroya had four kills to highlight the 7-0 run and give Moanalua a 13-9 lead. Na Ali'i rallied back and closed to 14-13 after a kill by Leopoldo, but Kaili Laroya finally ended it with an offspeed kill that landed just over an 'Aiea block.

It capped an exhausting match that had several severe momentum swings.

Na Menehune jumped to an 11-1 lead to start the first set, and stayed in control to win 25-15. But Na Ali'i answered with a strong effort in the second set, winning the final two points after an error and a double-hit by Moanalua.

Na Menehune responded with another quick start in the third set, jumping to a 10-2 lead. 'Aiea got as close as 16-13 before Moanalua finished with a 9-4 run.

The fourth set ended in a thrilling fashion after Na Menehune rallied from a 15-10 deficit to tie it 22-22. The teams then traded points until Danielle Grace finally ended it with three straight kills, including the final one on a soft left-handed drop-in shot.

Yamamoto credited her team for fighting through adversity from the beginning of the week.

"Mentally, we struggled this week because four of our girls were sick on Monday," said Yamamoto, who added three of them are starters. "They mustered up whatever strength they had left, but we just ran short at the end, we just ran out of gas."

KAHUKU DEF. MCKINLEY

The visiting Red Raiders swept the Tigers 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 to advance to Tuesday's semifinals against Moanalua.

Kahuku built a 23-17 lead in the first game and held off a late McKinley surge. The second set was tied at 20-20 before the Red Raiders finished with a 5-0 run.

Kahuku then jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the third set and stayed in control to complete the sweep.