Waipahu sweeps host Kapolei to cap regular season

Waipahu setter Christian Ramoran puts up a set for Storm De Asis. Ramoran had 19 assists in the Marauders' straight set win. CJ Caraang | SL

KAPOLEI — Visiting Waipahu extended its winning streak to nine games with a straight set win over Kapolei Monday to finish the regular season Monday night.

The Marauders (9-1) cruised for an easy game one victory, 25-11, before grinding out a 25-21 set two win to spoil the Hurricanes' senior night.

After getting swept by Mililani to begin the regular season, the Marauders have won 18 consecutive sets to clinch the Oahu Interscholastic West's second seed in the Division I league playoffs.

"It feels great because Kapolei has always been a challenging team for us," said Waipahu setter Christian Ramoran, who finished with 19 assists. "It's kind of a relief because this is our last game of the (regular) season. We just played our best and enjoyed the game. This win totally show how much we grew and improved as a team."

Andrew Simanu and Jeminae Solomua each had seven kills to lead the Marauders offense. Simanu also had eight digs, three blocks (one solo) and three aces for an all-around performance. Storm De Asis had four kills and three blocks while Tuinanau Misivila and Khrysster Ipalari chipped in two kills apiece.

Waipahu never trailed in the opening set and made quick work of Kapolei (7-3), winning by double-digit points in 17 minutes. With the Hurricanes starting most of their second-string seniors to start the match, the Marauders were able to record seven aces in game one.

"The first set was not my usual lineup," said Moani Nahulu-Mahelona, "It was senior night so we started all the seniors, (I have) no regrets. We wanted them to have their night so it was good, (but) they got frazzled."

The Marauders also limited their mistakes and had just two hitting errors against 12 first set kills. Solid passing to Ramoran allowed Waipahu to run their quick attacks to combat the Kapolei block. Solomua led the effort in game one with five of his seven kills.

After Kapolei's Luke Magaoya and Saiona Faumuina combined for a block to make it one-point game, Waipahu went on a 5-0 run to force a Kapolei timeout with the score at 11-5. Solumua began the run with a kill off the block and Dru Pagud extended it with two aces.

The Marauders got another kill from Solomua before the Hurricanes were able to side out. Waipahu then went on another 5-0 run to go up 17-6, putting the game out of reach for Kapolei. The visitors closed out the set with a 6-0 run that was fueled by the serves of the left-handed Simanu.

Game two was a different story as the home team jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Waipahu was also out of sync as Ramoran had to take the first contact on most plays early on and the Marauders gave Kapolei 12 points off of errors and violations in set two.

Both teams traded points as neither team was able to pull ahead until Kapolei took a 19-17 lead that forced a Waipahu timeout. The Marauders quickly tied the game up at 19 and held Kapolei to two points the rest of the way to complete the straight set victory.

"Our momentum started back again (and) we started getting into the rhythm and everything, (but) we just ran out of time to get it right," said Nahulu-Mahelona.

Willie Richardson led the Hurricanes with four kills and eight digs. Faumuina had three kills and three blocks and Magaoya finished with six assists.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].