The Kapolei girls volleyball team turned disappointment into jubilation after winning its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Division Championship.

Kapolei defeated Kailua, 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, last night at McKinley High School gym.

The Hurricanes (16-0) dropped down from the Red Division last season, a move Hurricanes coach Naidah Gamurot appealed thinking they would be competitive in the Red.

"The girls got over it faster than I did," she said. "We all sat down and asked, 'So what are our goals now?' We said let's go undefeated, win the OIAs and get to the state tournament for the first time."

Kapolei and Kailua (14-3) both advanced to the Division II state tournament next week.

The Hurricanes beat the Surfriders three times this season — twice in the double-elimination OIA tournament.

"It got us to know their hitters and where they hit and how they play the game," Kapolei senior setter Kirsten Otsuka said. "This was all we talked about, going through the season undefeated was our first goal. And beating Kailua in the semis and the championship ... they were our best competition."

It remained close in the first set, with neither team able to gain more than a two-point separation, until Kailua went on a 5-0 run, including two blocks by junior outside hitter Sherie Recca, to take a 17-13 lead. The Hurricanes then scored seven straight behind the serving of senior middle hitter Tehani Kaaihue to make it 20-17.

The Surfriders responded with another run to regain the lead at 21-20 on a service ace by senior setter Kayelynn Kohatsu, but Kapolei closed out the set with a 5-2 run, ending it on a kill by senior outside hitter Marie Nataniela.

A serving violation marked the second set, with Kailua losing two points due to an incorrect serving rotation. It came at a crucial point, giving the Hurricanes a 19-17 advantage that they extended to 22-17.

After Kailua closed to 22-19, kills by Kaaihue, junior middle hitter Gabrielle Matautia and Nataniela ended it.

It was back-and-forth again in the third set, with the Surfriders finding some breathing room at 20-17 after a kill by Recca. The Hurricanes tied it at 20 on a kill by Nataniela before Kailua went on a 5-1 run to end the set.

"Before we started the third game I told them it wasn't the end and let's push to win this one," Kailua coach Mani Taufa'asau said. "My girls tried their best. They played with heart tonight."

In the fourth set, the Hurricanes took a 15-9 lead after a 9-1 run on two kills each by Matautia and Nataniela. The Surfriders chipped away with runs of two and three points to close to 22-20 on a kill by Recca. But the Hurricanes scored three of the final five points of the match — including two kills by Nataniela — to capture their first title.

"It feels great to be the first to get the (championship) banner," said Nataniela, who finished with 17 kills. "The first time we played (Kailua) it was like that too, up and up. We just tried to pull through and play together as a team like we had all season."

Matautia and senior outside hitter Courtney Seminavage each had 10 kills for the Hurricanes. Junior Kayzsa-Ann Konohia had 17 kills and Nycole Masaki had 10 for the Surfriders.