Waipahu's Akoni Faumuina put a kill attempt past a Leilehua blocker. Sylvia Lee | SL

View image 1 of 2

Leilehua players celebrate after blocking a Waianae kill attempt for a point. Sylvia Lee | SL

View image 2 of 2

---

Waipahu's Akoni Faumuina put a kill attempt past a Leilehua blocker. Sylvia Lee | SL

View image 1 of 2

Leilehua players celebrate after blocking a Waianae kill attempt for a point. Sylvia Lee | SL

View image 2 of 2

---

WAIANAE — Led by seven kills from David Tibayan, Leilehua made quick work of host Waianae Tuesday night to remain unbeaten on the season. The scores were 25-14 and 25-21.

The Mules, who have yet to drop a game this season, improved to 6-0 to hold their spot atop the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West Conference. They needed just about 45 minutes to turn back the Seariders, who have now lost two of their last three matches, and fell to 5-2.

Tibayan, a 6-foot-2 junior, saw time at both outside hitter and middle blocker. He recorded Leilehua's first three kills of the match and a solo block in game one and added four kills, two service aces and another solo block in game two.

"He was high, really high," Mules' coach Ernest Balignasay said of Tibayan. "For one, we haven't practiced in about four days because they had to close the school down Monday because of that fire, so we were hoping that our energy would be so high that we'd be out of control."

Smoke from a nearby fire in Wahiawa forced administrators to cancel all practices and afterschool activities Monday.

Waianae hung tough early in both games, but the visitors pulled away midway through each set. In game one, the Mules broke a 10-all tie with a 6-0 run. The Seariders answered by scoring the next three points before an error ignited a 9-1 Leilehua run to close out game one, 25-14.

Senior hitters Robin Ramleb and Dakota Soliai each added three kills in game one for the Mules. Ramleb finished with six kills to go with one block and Soliai added five kills.

Much like the first game, the teams went back-and-forth early in game two. Waianae led 10-9 before allowing a 9-2 Leilehua run, which included five consecutive points. A Tibayan kill on a quick middle attack gave the Mules a 22-17 lead, but the Seariders got consecutive kills by Keanu Pua-Autele and Jeremiah Gionson to cut the lead to three points. However, Waianae's ensuing serve went into the net and Ramleb stuffed a Searider attack on the next play to give his team match point. Leilehua committed a pair of errors to extend the second game, but Soliai ended it with a kill from the right side.

"The difference for us was we were able to do what we wanted to do and that's run fast attacks and that worked out really well," Balignasay said. "We knew that they're susceptible a lot to just rolling the ball over so we were ready for that. It wasn't easy."

Gionson, a junior hitter, had four of his team-high six kills in game two. Waianae had split its previous two matches — both went three games — against Mililani and Waipahu. The Seariders beat the Trojans and lost to the Marauders.

Balignasay, who was named Red West Coach of the Year last season, said Waianae has gotten a lot better since the last time he's seen them.

"They're a good team and they've made a big improvement," Balignasay said. "I can see why they're up there. We've been up there because of the teams we've been playing so far, but now we're getting to the team that are more competitive."

Leilehua, which also swept past Campbell Tuesday night, plays at fellow unbeaten Mililani Tuesday. The Mules also play Kapolei that evening.