Mililani edges past Waipahu

Mililani was efficient early, a bit ragged in the middle, and had enough firepower at the end to remain perfect.

The eighth-ranked Trojans were effective from all angles in a quick first set, then labored through some rough spots in the second, but ultimately emerged with a 25-13, 25-22 sweep of Waipahu on Wednesday to remain undefeated in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West girls volleyball standings.

“My big message to them in all of this was we’re doing well and we’re fortunate, but we need to stay humble in all of it,” Mililani coach Val Crabbe said. “In these games, the momentum changes so quickly. Even though you have a run, you have to stay focused.”

The momentum camped out on Mililani’s side of the net throughout a dominant first set at the Marauders’ gym.

Mililani sophomore Jordyn Keamo opened the match with a kill from the back row and the Trojans (7-0) bolted to a 19-5 lead. While Keamo and junior Inoa Fields — who tied for match-high honors with seven kills each — hammered from the outside, 5-foot-10 middle blocker Samantha Fischer contributed two kills and two blocks in the set.

Senior Kaila Kikugawa and junior Casie Gaza kept the Marauders (3-4) off balance by distributing the sets throughout the lineup, with Kikugawa getting two kills to drop as well.

“Mililani’s a tough, scrappy team,” Waipahu coach Ron Yanos said. “I think their advantage is the girls get to play all year round.

“When Mililani is on, Mililani is on. You’re not going to be able to stop them, pretty much.”

After Keamo closed the first set with her fifth kill, the Trojans eased out to a 4-1 lead in the second. But a hitting error and back-to-back net violations helped Waipahu catch and pass the Trojans to take a 9-7 lead.

When Mililani was called for a lift, the point capped an 8-1 run for the Marauders, making it 12-8. Waipahu maintained the lead late into the set.

“We didn’t really change anything in the second set,” Yanos said. “We just told them to play the game and play it the way they know how to play.”

Aces from Kikugawa and Keamo contributed to a 5-1 Mililani spurt that tied the set at 18. Waipahu took its final lead at 22-21, but Fields tied it with a kill from the right side and the Marauders hit long on their next two swings to force match point. Mililani junior Kori Yamasaki then ended it with an ace.

“We’ve been working on trying to run our plays and still really trying to find a good lineup,” Crabbe said. “I don’t feel we’ve peaked yet, we’re still working towards that. We’re still taking a game at a time.”