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At Kaiser High School Gym on Wednesday, Waipahu and Kahuku Red Raiders went the distance with the Marauders stunning the Red Raiders, 23-25, 24-26, 25-7, 25-9, and 15-10.

It was the Samson Leasiolagi show as the Waipahu freshman led all players with a whopping 21 kills. Leasiolagi was the only player on either team to exceed double-digits on kills. The next closest was nine kills from Maurice Tuala-Tamaalelagi and Atilla Aveina-Fagota each. Philip Fernando had five kills and an ace, as well as an astonishing 38 of Waipahu's 48 assists in the win. Jarick Bagaoisan also had a team-high six of Waipahu's 12 aces as well.

No Kahuku player exceeded 10 kills in this game. Denzon Seui-Sika led the Red Raiders with eight kills and an assist. Jonathan Kress and Mosiah Aumua-Tuisavura also accounted for 18 of Kahuku's 21 assists; both had nine assists apiece.

Kahuku had all the momentum in the first set. Waipahu drew first blood, but Kahuku used a 4-1 run to take the lead and not surrender it. Waipahu made some pushes, but Kahuku was ready. Although Waipahu tied the score a few times, Kahuku wanted it more and managed to pocket the first set 25-23.

Waipahu showed some fight in set two. They took the early lead, but Kahuku fought back to make it a chess match. A clear-cut leader did not emerge until it was tied at 16. A Seui-Sika block assisted by Jamerus Tai Hook was the start of a 5-1 Kahuku run. A Fernando kill started a 5-3 run for Waipahu to tie things up at 22.

An error on Waipahu's behalf tied things at 24, which meant overtime for both teams. Kahuku lucked out with two net violations on Waipahu's behalf and took set two 26-24.

It appeared that Kahuku was ready to break out the brooms for a three-set sweep, but Waipahu said, "Not so fast!"

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"Coach just kept telling us to keep pushing since we're low on energy," Leasiolagi said.

Set three was all Waipahu from the get-go. They scored the first two points via kills from Fernando and Antwone Taumua before a service error put Kahuku on the board. An ace from Kaelo Kalani tied the score at two, but that was the last time Kahuku would challenge Waipahu in any capacity in set three.

From that point on, Waipahu surged ahead via numerous Kahuku errors, which turned into a 9-1 Waipahu run and left Kahuku players seeing red. Waipahu had no intention of going home embarrassed and shifted into overdrive.

"I kept trying to push my teammates before I pushed myself," Leasiolagi added.

Waipahu fans erupted and Waipahu players turned it up another notch to the tune of a 10-1 run to ultimately lock up set three. Kahuku tried to make a push, but they were too far back to pose any threat. Tuala-Tamaalelagi delivered the game-winning kill for Waipahu to win set three 25-7.

"The energy made me feel better," Leasiolagi said. "I felt more alive."

Amari Westmoreland-Vendiola drew first blood for Kahuku in set four. Waipahu immediately responded with an 8-0 run, which included four Fernando assists, three Leasiolagi kills, and a Bagaoisan ace. Despite a service error, Waipahu did not fold.

Waipahu's 8-0 run turned into an 18-2 run, and Kahuku was left seeing red again. Waipahu would end set four with a 5-2 run and take set four 25-9 to force a fifth set.

Kahuku took an early 2-1 lead in set five and it appeared that they would make Waipahu see red instead. Waipahu would have none of it and surged into the lead via an 8-3 run to take a 9-5 lead.

Kahuku did not give up and made a push to upset Waipahu's balance. Unfortunately, Kahuku had no answer for the freshman Leasiolagi, and Waipahu ultimately pulled ahead. Aveina-Fagota delivered the last two points for Waipahu to ultimately seal the deal, and hold Kahuku to 10 points or less in those final three sets.

In the OIA, Waipahu improved to 5-6 overall while Kahuku fell to 6-5 overall in 2022. Waipahu will have a big task on their hands on Thursday, Apr. 21 as they take on an undefeated Moanalua squad (10-0) at Moanalua High School.