'AIEA — This time a statewide TV audience wasn't watching, but the 'Aiea High School girls volleyball team didn't mind.

Na Ali'i avenged a loss to Pearl City two weeks ago by sweeping past the rival Chargers, 25-21, 25-17, last night. The victory improved 'Aiea to 8-2 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association with two Western Division matches remaining.

Pearl City, which knocked off Na Ali'i on Sept. 29 in a match televised by OC-16, fell to 8-3 with one OIA West match left.

'Aiea and Waipahu (9-3) are tied for first place, with Pearl City and Mililani (8-3) tied for third. Na Ali'i, however, already defeated Waipahu twice so they would be the West's No. 1 seed for the OIA playoffs if they can beat Leilehua tonight and Kapolei tomorrow.

"There were a lot of things going on that day (two weeks ago)," said 'Aiea senior Lelani Klemen-Maeva, who finished with a match-high 10 kills last night. "Some girls were sick, and we just didn't play well. Tonight we just wanted to come back and fight for a win."

Pumped up by a vocal Senior Night home crowd of about 600, Na Ali'i started strong. Freshman setter Michelle Lambayan began the match with two aces and 'Aiea never trailed in the first game.

The Chargers tied it at 3-3 but Na Ali'i built leads of 9-5, 14-8 and 17-10 before Klemen-Maeva ended it with an angle shot.

'Aiea got off to another quick start in the second game, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. But Pearl City scratched its way back and tied it at 20-20 and then again at 21-21.

Na Ali'i then scored the final four points on Klemen-Maeva's kill, a lift by the Chargers and Klemen-Maeva's dink and solo block.

"Tonight ('Aiea) just wanted it more," Pearl City coach Stephanie Shigemasa said. "We came out flat, and they were fired up and played a really good match."

Na Ali'i coach Blythe Yamamoto said revenge was not as big a factor for her team as regrouping.

"We've dealt with a lot of adversity this year," Yamamoto said. "We had some key injuries, but things are finally starting to come together."

Leading the way again was Klemen-Maeva, one of only two seniors on the team (Sharon Bartley is the other). Klemen-Maeva, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker/outside hitter, was a first-team Advertiser All-State selection last season but clearly has taken her game to another level this year.

She emerged as a dominant hitter mostly relying on a powerful swing, but last night scored points in a variety of ways by identifying opportunities in the opponents' block or openings on defense.

"She's gotten better — she has different shots now and is a really smart hitter," said Shigemasa, who played for the University of Hawai'i in the early 1990s as Stephanie Shota. "People still think she's all power, but she can also roll and dink at will."

Klemen-Maeva already has accepted a full scholarship offer to play for Nevada next season, but said she constantly is looking for ways to improve.

"I knew that if I want to become a better player, I have to become better in everything," Klemen-Maeva said.

Yamamoto said it is that attitude, plus a warm personality, that sets Klemen-Maeva apart. When she was introduced before the match, the cheers from fellow students drowned out the public address announcer.

"She draws people to her because she's a dynamic player but still very humble," Yamamoto said. "She's like a magnet."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.