They’ve been battle-tested quite enough, these Na Menehune of Moanalua.

That postseason experience proved valuable last night as Moanalua rallied past Kahuku 20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 20-25, 15-7 in semifinal-round play at McKinley Student Council Gym.

A boisterous crowd of about 400 in the muggy facility — windows closed due to late-afternoon glare from sunshine — saw Kahuku nearly pull off an upset in the double-elimination format of the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s girls volleyball tournament.

Instead, senior Erin Perez came up big for third-ranked Moanalua (14-0) with 18 kills. Reserve middle blocker Analise Austin, a 5-foot-11 junior, was a major factor with three kills and four blocks. Her play in the middle neutralized one of Kahuku’s big hitters, sophomore Sinamoni Tonga.

Moanalua’s versatile senior, Katiana Ponce, overcame a slow start to pound nine kills, including two in the final set.

Moanalua rolled to a 7-1 lead, starting with a kill and a block by freshman Silerolia Gaogao. Kahuku pulled to within 7-5, but committed three hitting errors and a serving error as Moanalua slipped away for the victory.

"Our forte is ballhandling. We had to get more balls in play and not play so anxious," Moanalua coach Tommy Lake said. "Kahuku is big and athletic, so our girls were a little too amped up."

The sixth-ranked Red Raiders (11-3) took the opening set and showed enough balance — size at the net, power hitting all over the court and solid back row play — to be Moanalua’s kryptonite. Senior Tatiana Brown led Kahuku with 14 kills. Tonga added nine kills.

Moanalua’s balance offensively was a key. In addition to Perez and Ponce, sophomore Daisge Smith (seven kills) gave Moanalua an extra lift. Anuhea Paiva, a junior libero, had three of her team’s eight aces.

"We have a lot of hitters, so we’re not dependent on just one," Lake added. "Erin was real steady."

Kahuku was hot at the start, committing just two hitting errors, while Moanalua had six in the opening set.

Moanalua found its groove with setter Courtney Uyeda (20 assists, two aces) in the second game to even the match. Na Menehune managed to win the third set despite seven hitting errors and a negative hitting percentage, but Kahuku rallied in game four behind Brown (five kills).

The final set, however, was lopsided.

Mililani 3, Kaiser 1

Inoa Fields drilled 16 kills and Jordyn Keamo had 14 as Mililani outlasted Kaiser 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20 in the other winner’s bracket match at McKinley. Setter Casie Gaza distributed 40 assists for the Trojans 13-0).

The win came after a tough five-set victory over Castle the night before.

Courtney Phillips had 12 kills and Haley Durham added 11 for Kaiser (11-3), which is still alive in the double-elimination tournament.