The double-elimination OIA Red girls volleyball playoffs are all about survival.

That’s why, after getting past No. 5 Mililani 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20 on a brutally humid night at McKinley Student Council Gym, No. 3 Kahuku can enjoy some rest time just briefly. The win on Tuesday night vaulted the Red Raiders into Thursday’s final. Kahuku will meet the winner of today’s Mililani-Moanalua elimination game.

"Mililani will dig everything," Kahuku coach Camilla Ah-Hoy said. "The last game, I told the girls whoever digs the most will win."

Kahuku (13-1) is in the driver’s seat. Even with a loss on Thursday, they’d still have just one loss in the tourney, and the final would be played on Saturday.

But the Red Raiders don’t look like a team about to buckle and fold. Adora Anae was phenomenal at times, blasting 22 kills, including 14 in the first two sets while looking like a terminator. One kill found a Mililani defender’s face and another kill went almost straight down to the floor from the high-flying senior’s right hand.

Middle Patti Anae had eight kills and five blocks to lead the Red Raiders at the net. Sina Tonga added seven kills, Sweet Vaimoui tallied six and Mariah Kamakeeaina came off the bench for two key kills in the fourth set. Setter Penina Snuka delivered 39 assists, three aces and two blocks.

With the humidity taking a toll, Kahuku’s reserves were ready.

"It was a good team effort. Our bench did a great job when some of my regulars were off," Ah-Hoy said.

Previously unbeaten Mililani (12-1) regrouped and seized momentum in the third set. The serving of Inoa Fields was a major factor that reversed momentum.

The Trojans, who got 15 kills from Jordyn Keamo, were in control in the fourth game with a 10-4 lead when Kahuku brought more intensity on the defensive side. Consecutive blocks by Patti Anae, Snuka and again by Anae sparked a 5-0 run.

Then came an ace by Adora Anae to give Kahuku the lead for good, 15-14. That sparked a run that gave Kahuku a 20-15 lead following a block by Vaimoui. Mililani got no closer than four the rest of the way.

Fatigue was a factor for both teams. The best-of-five format is exclusive to the postseason for the OIA, and the fourth set was a demonstration of it.

Mililani hit .116 in the fourth set and .218 for the match. After getting six aces and just two service errors in the first three sets, the Trojans had only one ace and four service errors in the fourth.

Kahuku didn’t fare much better in the late going, hitting .133 in the fourth game, but a solid .333 for the match. There were a number of net violations by both teams.

"Maybe it was nerves," Keamo said. "We didn’t give up. I think we pushed as much as we can."

Ah-Hoy thinks it had more to do with her team’s adjustment on the block.

"We need to get (hands) over. They were getting too high," she said. "Because of that, maybe we were too aggressive."

Now the Trojans’ dream of an OIA title will take a long route.

"We need a good night’s rest and get a lot of preparation when we play tomorrow," Keamo added. "I don’t know the difference between us and Kahuku. I don’t see it."

Fields had nine kills for Mililani and Kristen Miguel added seven. Jayierra Kapowai chipped in with five kills and setter Saylin Sueda had 22 assists.

Ah-Hoy has a simple plan for today’s workout.

"Serve-receive. Our passing in general," the former All-State outside hitter said. "We had a lot of mental errors and service errors."

Kahuku finished with five aces and 10 service errors. Mililani had seven aces and six service errors.

No. 6 Moanalua 2, Kalani 0

Analise Austin had four of her seven kills in the second set as Na Menehune took command for a 25-22, 25-15 sweep. Anuhea Paiva added six kills and two aces for Moanalua (12-3), which stayed alive in the double-elimination tourney.

Moanalua will play Mililani today in an elimination match.

Silerolia Gaogao had four kills, while Johanna Kruize and Marina Adolpho added three kills each in Moanalua’s balanced attack.

Setters Shaylah Kagehiro and Kaitlin Kamoe combined for 19 assists.

"It feels good," said Austin, a 5-foot-11 junior middle. "The passing and setting on our side made my job easier."

Moanalua trailed 15-11 in the opening set before making the adjustments at the net.

"Coach (Tommy Lake) said we had a problem of blocking too high," Austin said. "We had to make sure we press low so the ball doesn’t go through our hands."

Kaiana Iaea led Kalani (11-5) with eight kills. Rika Okino had six kills and two of her team’s four aces.

Kalani hit .085 for the match and had four service errors with the four aces.

Moanalua hit. 286 and had three aces with two service errors.

Castle 2, Pearl City 0

The Knights earned fifth place with a 25-19, 25-22 win over the Chargers. Ku‘ulei Lynch led Castle with 11 kills and Shaney Tiumalu added seven. Kaya Chong led Pearl City with seven kills. The Chargers entered the tournament as the second seed in the West but lost twice to Castle and once to Moanalua. Both teams already qualified for the state tournament.