MILILANI — Melelatu Samisoni had 15 kills and Kelly Leopoldo added 13 to lead No. 6 'Aiea past No. 9 Mililani, 25-23, 15-25, 27-25, 26-24, last night in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West Division girls volleyball match.

Na Ali'i improved to 8-0, while the Trojans fell to 7-2 before a home crowd of about 300.

"It was a battle, it was a fun battle," said 'Aiea coach Blythe Yamamoto. "Mililani is a great team. This could have gone either way."

Trailing 23-18 in the first set, Mililani rallied behind four unforced 'Aiea errors to make it 23-22. Na Ali'i went up 24-22 after a Mililani error, but Nalani I's kill made it 24-23. 'Aiea's Danielle Grace then put away set point with a kill down the line.

Mililani ran away with the second set with the help of 14 'Aiea errors.

The third set saw 13 ties with neither team seizing control until Samisoni had back-to-back kills that put 'Aiea ahead 26-25. Mililani was unable to recover, as it was whistled for four contacts on set point.

Janine Orosco, Candace Soares and Olivia Freitas had consecutive kills to put Mililani ahead 14-11 midway through the fourth set. 'Aiea responded with an 8-3 run to take a 19-17 lead.

There were ties from that point at 19, 20, 21, 23 and 24 before Leopoldo had consecutive kills to give 'Aiea a 25-24 lead. Mililani coach Val Crabbe attempted to slow the Na Ali'i momentum with a timeout, but libero Michelle Lambayan responded with an ace on match point.

"I thought both teams played great. They really gave the audience something to enjoy," Crabbe said. "But, in the end, the first and third — even the fourth (games) — came down to the service errors."

Lambayan added 13 digs, Leopoldo contributed eight digs and four aces, and Grace chipped in nine kills and seven digs for Na Ali'i.

Yamamoto is hopeful her team can ride the momentum into the OIA playoffs next month.

"We're creating that momentum that we want, but there's so many good teams in the (Red) West, you can't sleepwalk through anybody," she said. "Anybody can beat anybody. We just need to keep showing up and trying to get better everyday,"

Soares led Mililani with 15 kills, 14 digs and four blocks. Freitas added 12 kills, I had 11 and Pomai Grube-Hose 10. Nicole Nanoca led the Trojans defensively with 17 digs.

Mililani's only two losses this season have come against 'Aiea. Na Ali'i topped the Trojans in four sets at home on Sept. 13.

Mililani hosts Pearl City (5-2) tomorrow while 'Aiea visits Wai'anae (2-5).