MILILANI — Finding success by taking the middle road, 'Aiea swept past Mililani, 25-18, 25-23, last night to remain unbeaten in O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls volleyball.

Na Ali'i, ranked No. 5 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 9-0 in the OIA's Red Conference Western Division. Mililani fell to 7-2 with its second straight loss.

'Aiea, which has already swept two matches from second-place Pearl City (8-2), is now in the West driver's seat as the regular season hits its home stretch.

"We just wanted to come out and do our best, because we knew Mililani is a really good team," said Na Ali'i sophomore middle blocker Taylor-Marie Fetui, who contributed to a balanced attack with five kills and two blocks. "We just needed to trust in each other."

Fetui notched two kills from the middle late in the second set to help 'Aiea overcome a 20-17 deficit with six straight points for a 23-20 lead. After a serving error, Fetui's quick kill down the middle made it 24-21.

Janine Orosco's block helped the Trojans close to 24-22, and a Na Ali'i hitting error made it 24-23.

But after the longest rally of the night, senior opposite Danielle Grace closed out the match with a kill from the back row off a back-row defender.

"I thought our team did good, but 'Aiea has nine returnees and five players who started or played a lot last year," Mililani coach Val Crabbe said. "We let the lead slip away, and we got caught in a certain rotation that was a good rotation for them. They are the team to beat this year."

'Aiea broke open a close game in the first set, using a 6-2 run after it was tied at 9-9. The Trojans closed to 15-13, but that was as close as they would get as a five-point run with Roni Kunimitsu serving gave Na Ali'i a 20-13 lead.

'Aiea built an 11-7 lead in the second set, only to see Mililani rally to tie it at 13-13.

Orosco's kill broke a 17-17 tie, and a lift call and Sierra Revilla's kill on an offspeed spike put the Trojans up, 20-17. But Na Ali'i tied it again at 20-20 after two hitting errors and a kill by Ashlei Li'ili'i.

Grace then served an ace, and an error and Fetui's kill made it 23-20.

"They say we're a really balanced team, and every night it can be a different player (making a difference)," 'Aiea coach Blythe Yamamoto said. "We have five solid seniors, and they stay calm and have strong minds. They could have easily folded being down three points, but they never think they're out of it and they gave their best."

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