Waiʻanae Overpowers Waipahu, 3–1
BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
WAIPAHU — The Waiʻanae Seariders earned a decisive 3–1 road victory over the Waipahu Marauders on Monday night, taking the match by scores of 25–22, 25–20, 22–25, and 25–12.
Early Momentum
Waiʻanae grabbed the opening set in a tight battle, 25–22, with Felica-Marie Romualdo-Vakamelia (9 kills, 1 block) and setter Leihanee Satele (7 kills, 14 assists, 2 aces, 6 digs) guiding the Seariders’ attack. Waipahu’s Maiya Beltran (4 kills, 5 digs) and Maila Tawata (3 kills, 3 aces, 17 digs) kept the Marauders within striking distance, but a late push by Waiʻanae sealed the frame.
The Seariders built on their momentum in Set 2, pulling away behind strong defensive work from libero Keila Chun (17 digs, 3 assists) and the hitting of Makayla Gaston (7 kills, 14 digs) to claim a 25–20 win.
Waipahu Fights Back
The Marauders refused to fold, clawing back in Set 3. Ariah Apostol (5 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace) and Kailey Casido (3 kills, 2 blocks) powered Waipahu’s front line, while steady defense from Toni Fukunaga (8 digs, 6 assists) helped the home team take the set, 25–22, and extend the match.
Seariders Close Strong
Waiʻanae responded in dominant fashion during the fourth set, overwhelming Waipahu with a relentless offensive push. Tamara Sunia (4 kills) and Angel Medeiros (3 kills, 1 ace, 5 digs) chipped in timely points, while Satele orchestrated the offense. The Seariders stormed to a 25–12 win to clinch the match.
Standout Performances
The balanced Searider attack featured five players with at least three kills, highlighted by Romualdo-Vakamelia, Gaston, and Satele. Facciolla (19 assists, 1 ace, 2 digs) distributed the ball efficiently, while Chun anchored the defense.
Waipahu showcased its resilience with contributions across the roster, including Beltran and Tawata at the net, Camello (2 kills, 14 assists, 7 digs) running the offense, and Kapuwai (4 kills, 2 digs) adding depth.
Fun Factory VIP of the Game
Logan Lutu Carroll earned Fun Factory VIP honors with an all-around effort. She tallied 7 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, consistently providing momentum-shifting plays on both offense and defense to lead the Seariders to victory
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