WAIPAHU EVENS LEAGUE RECORD WITH FOUR-SET WIN OVER VISITING ‘AIEA

WAIPAHU — Back in the win column for the home team.

The Waipahu girls volleyball team evened its record at 3-3 after earning a four-set win over visiting ‘Aiea in a OIA West match Tuesday night. Set scores were 25-16, 25-20, 13-25, 25-13.

Senior libero ‘Ale’amaikalani Paiva was a steady presence for the Marauders and took home HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders Sandwich Shop. Paiva recorded 14 digs, seven assists and a match-high six aces.

“It was a really big thing especially since our team has kind of had some ups and downs and we are finally starting to get it,” Paiva said of the win.

Maiya Beltran was the leading attacker for Waipahu with 10 kills and six digs while Ariah Lynn Apostol followed with nine kills, five digs, three assists and one block.

Seven other players recorded kills for the Marauders with setter Shaeniah La Fountain boasting a double-double of 20 assists, 15 digs to along with three aces and three kills.

Nohealani Beltran led Na Alii’s offense with eight kills, two blocks and 11 digs. In the back row for ‘Aiea was Jessica Morris, who finished with a team-high 14 digs after putting on the libero jersey after the first set.

The visiting team, who was seeking its first win of the regular season, only played with eight players as a number of players were unavailable due to injury.

Conversely, the Marauders were able to mix-and-match their lineup after their opening set to give all 13 players on their roster some playing time.

That may have hurt Waipahu in the third set when there was a delay of nearly 10 minutes when the officials had to sort out the Marauders’ lineup and rotation.

But the home team was able to bounce back in the fourth set and put the match away after working out the kinks.

“Slowly we started to talk more to each other and we know we had to work together because first we were playing individually that set cause we kind of didn’t know what to do, but finally we talked to each other in the circle and we’re like we just have to calm down and do our best and bring it back.”

The Marauders will have another home game on Thursday night when they face Waialua in a rematch of last year’s OIA Division II title match. It will also be broadcasted live on Spectrum OC16.

‘Aiea will host Campbell that same night.