Kahuku was in the driver's seat throughout the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East regular season.

It's only fitting that the Red Raiders are in the same position during the double-elimination OIA Red Conference tournament.

Kahuku was pushed to the limit by Moanalua last night at McKinley, but the Red Raiders prevailed, 25-23, 25-18, 12-25, 19-25, 15-12.

"We're always happy to come out on top," said Kahuku coach Uila Fotu-Vendiola. "We don't like to be in this situation (five sets), but we dug ourselves a hole in the third and fourth sets."

Kahuku, the East champion, improved to 15-0.

Kahuku will play for the title tomorrow night at McKinley against the winner of tonight's match between Moanalua and Farrington at Farrington.

Kahuku, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's poll, is 3-0 in the double-elimination tournament, so its opponent tomorrow will have to defeat the Red Raiders twice for the title. If a second championship match is necessary, it will be played Saturday.

Last night's fifth set was back and forth, Moanalua led 4-1; Kahuku led 7-4; and it was tied 9-9.

Nile Teo had three kills over the match-ending 6-3 run by the Red Raiders.

Lavinia Latu ended the match with a kill that Moanalua couldn't quite get over the net.

"It was pretty intense," Latu said.

Latu had 17 kills and Teo added 12 for Kahuku.

No. 5 Moanalua, the East runner-up, fell to 11-4. Lahela Kaili-Laroyo had 18 kills for Moanalua.

GOVS ADVANCE

Fraustina Sagapolu, a 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter, didn't play in the first two sets, but came alive in the final three as Farrington rallied past Mililani, 15-25, 25-27, 25-14, 25-23, 15-9, in the OIA Red Conference girls volleyball tournament at McKinley.

Sagapolu entered in the third set with the Governors leading 17-14. She served out the set — eight in a row— with a tough top-spin serve, including two aces.

"I went in serious," Sagapolu said. "I played my heart out for the team. I wanted no negativity on the court."

The fourth set was tied at 20 before Sagapolu, who entered midway through the set, once again made her presence felt. She had three consecutive kills from the left side as Farrington (11-6) took a 23-20 lead. Keui Remigio's kill brought the Governors to set point, before Mililani (11-5) got within 24-23. The Governors' Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo set the ball over the net and onto Mililani's side of the floor to end it.

Sagapolu started the fifth set and had two kills and two blocks. It was tied 6-6 before Remigio served four in a row to give Farrington an 11-6 lead. The match ended on a Trojans' hitting error.

"I told them if they wanted to play tomorrow, they had to win," said Farrington coach Reagan Agena.