SAlt Lake, HI
After more than five decades of waiting, the Waipahu Marauders are finally back on top of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls volleyball scene. Waipahu captured the 2026 OIA Division II Championship on Wednesday evening at Radford High School, defeating the Kaiser Cougars in a thrilling five-set battle, 25-19, 26-28, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13. The victory marked the Marauders' first OIA girls volleyball championship since 1975, ending a 51-year title drought and delivering one of the program's most memorable victories. What appeared to be slipping away in the deciding fifth set turned into a remarkable comeback as Waipahu overcame a 12-5 deficit to stun Kaiser and secure the championship. The Marauders entered the final with a 10-2 record, while the Cougars came in at 10-1, setting the stage for a matchup between two of Division II's top programs.
The championship carried significant historical meaning for both schools, with Waipahu looking to end a drought dating back to 1975 when the Marauders captured the OIA title under head coach Rudy Sambrano. For more than half a century, the program had been unable to return to the top of the league, making Wednesday's championship an opportunity to establish a new chapter in Waipahu volleyball history. On the opposite side, Kaiser was seeking its first OIA Division II girls volleyball championship since 2018, when the Cougars won under head coach Kainoa Downing. The Cougars also entered the matchup with confidence after sweeping Waipahu in straight sets during their August 27 regular season meeting. However, the Marauders had one final opportunity to reverse that result, with a championship on the line and a chance to bring the OIA crown back to Waipahu.
Waipahu opened the championship with an impressive offensive performance, taking the first set 25-19 to establish early momentum. The Marauders recorded 16 kills on 42 attempts in the opening frame, using a balanced attack to challenge Kaiser's defense and create scoring opportunities throughout the set. Aliya Ilaoa, Te'a Suan, and the rest of Waipahu's offensive unit helped establish a rhythm that would carry through much of the evening. Kaiser responded in the second set, refusing to allow the Marauders to take control of the match. The Cougars battled through an extended frame before securing a 28-26 victory to even the match at one set apiece. Despite Waipahu recording 13 kills in the second set, Kaiser capitalized on key opportunities to level the championship and keep its title hopes alive.
With the match tied, Waipahu regained its composure in the third set and delivered one of its most efficient offensive performances of the night. The Marauders recorded 14 kills with just three attacking errors on 37 attempts, finishing the frame with a .297 hitting percentage. Their ability to limit mistakes while maintaining offensive pressure helped them secure a 25-20 victory and move within one set of claiming the championship. However, Kaiser once again refused to go away, answering in the fourth set behind its offensive leaders Emma Amaral-Boyd and Naia Egami. The Cougars battled to a 25-22 victory, forcing a deciding fifth set and ensuring the championship would come down to the final moments. After four competitive sets, neither team had been able to separate itself, leaving everything to be decided in a race to 15 points.
The fifth set appeared to be heading in Kaiser's favor as the Cougars jumped out to a commanding 12-5 advantage, putting themselves just three points away from securing the OIA Division II title. With the championship seemingly slipping away, Waipahu found a way to respond under pressure, mounting an incredible comeback to erase the seven-point deficit. The Marauders relied on their offensive execution and defensive resilience to fight their way back into contention, refusing to allow the early deficit to define the final set. Waipahu finished the deciding frame with seven kills and just two attacking errors on 14 attempts, producing its highest hitting percentage of the evening at .357. The Marauders completed the comeback with a 15-13 victory, stunning Kaiser and bringing an end to one of the longest championship droughts in OIA girls volleyball history.
Leading the way for Waipahu was Ilaoa, who delivered an outstanding all-around performance with a team-high 18 kills on 40 attempts, finishing with a .325 hitting percentage. She also contributed 18 assists, 10 digs, three block assists, and a service ace, making her one of the most influential players on the court throughout the championship. Suan provided another major contribution, recording 15 kills and a team-high 29 digs while helping anchor Waipahu's defensive effort. Zanirah Fidow delivered one of the Marauders' most efficient offensive performances, finishing with 10 kills on just 12 attempts and a remarkable .750 hitting percentage. Maiya Beltran added nine kills and 11 digs, while Ariah Apostol contributed eight kills and three block assists. Together, Waipahu's offensive depth played a critical role in keeping the Marauders competitive across all five sets.
Waipahu's ability to distribute the ball and maintain its defensive presence also proved essential to the championship victory. Setter Justice Malacas finished with a team-high 34 assists and 11 digs, helping create scoring opportunities for multiple attackers throughout the match. Shelby Kahalehoe contributed 22 digs, five assists, and two service aces, while Kailey Casido provided six block assists to strengthen the Marauders' presence at the net. As a team, Waipahu finished with 65 kills on 167 attempts, recording a .246 hitting percentage compared to Kaiser's .145. The Marauders also held an advantage in total digs, finishing with 91 compared to the Cougars' 68, while recording nine team blocks. Their ability to remain balanced offensively and defensively helped them withstand Kaiser's pressure and ultimately complete the championship comeback.
Despite coming up short, Kaiser delivered an impressive performance behind the offensive production of Amaral-Boyd and Egami. Amaral-Boyd led all players with 26 kills on 64 attempts, finishing with a .297 hitting percentage while adding nine digs and two total blocks. Egami provided another major offensive presence with 20 kills, 16 digs, and a service ace, giving the Cougars two consistent scoring options throughout the evening. Emma Dougherty anchored Kaiser's back-row defense with a match-high 31 digs and three service aces, while Mylah Burgess Heely contributed 22 assists and two aces. Leia Nishida added 21 assists and two aces, helping distribute the offense and keep the Cougars competitive across all five sets. Kaiser finished with 55 kills, 10 service aces, and six team blocks, but the Cougars were unable to close out the championship after building their seven-point advantage in the final set.
For Waipahu head coach Sheri Sagayaga, the championship added another achievement to an already accomplished coaching career. Sagayaga previously guided Moanalua to an OIA girls volleyball championship in 2000 and Radford to a Division II title in 2005, bringing valuable championship experience to a Waipahu program looking to restore its winning tradition. The Marauders' victory represented more than just another championship, as it marked the end of a 51-year wait and gave a new generation of Waipahu athletes an opportunity to make their own mark in school history. After falling to Kaiser earlier in the season, the Marauders returned to face the Cougars on the biggest stage and delivered when it mattered most. The comeback in the fifth set reflected the determination and resilience that ultimately separated Waipahu from Kaiser in a tightly contested championship matchup.
With the OIA Division II championship secured, Waipahu now shifts its focus toward the upcoming Division II Girls Volleyball State Championships, where the Marauders will look to carry their momentum onto the statewide stage. Kaiser will also look to regroup following the heartbreaking five-set defeat as the Cougars prepare for the next chapter of their postseason journey. For Waipahu, Wednesday's victory will be remembered as the night a 51-year championship drought finally came to an end. From trailing by seven points in the deciding set to celebrating an OIA title, the Marauders completed a comeback that will remain part of the program's history for years to come.
Final Score: Waipahu 3 - Kaiser 2
25-19 I 26-28 I 25-20 I 22-25 I 15-13
For more pictures, head over to our photo gallery.
Pictures taken by: Pakela Wheeler - @pakela._
Waipahu crowned OIA CHampions once again after 51 long years
video by: Pakela Wheeler - @pakela._
