When the Class 2A volleyball championship match began on Saturday evening, the defending state champion Unalaska Raiders hadn’t lost in 38 matches.

Now? Make that 39 – plus back-to-back titles as the Raiders swept the Susitna Valley Rams in the tournament final at Dimond High School in Anchorage.

Senior phenom Vaiula Leaoa nailed 19 kills in the 25-19, 25-22, 25-10 victory. When match point arrived, the UAA commit delivered the final spike of her high school career to put a bow on it.

Her expertise on the court is so obvious that as she was awarded the tournament skill award for hitting, even the announcer joked that it would come as “a shock” to spectators.

The pumped-up crowd at Dimond High School rumbled as soon as the set came Leaoa’s way, primed to exclaim “boom!” and animate siren sound effects when the hit came down.

They’ll get to cheer her on again next year, as Leaoa recently committed to play for the Seawolves next year.

“It feels good, and it’s sad, my last year playing,” said Leaoa on the last match of her high school career. “I’m hoping to continue doing the same thing when I go to college.”

“She’s just a versatile player,” said Unalaska coach Louisa Fernandez. “I’m excited to see her play with UAA next year.

“I’m sure she’ll go to outer space,” she said with a laugh.

ASAA/First National Bank
Class 2A Volleyball Awards

All-Tournament Team
Mia Cromer (Sand Point)
Jayden Sliker (Susitna Valley)
Alana Harrison (Wrangell)
Baileigh Nelson (Metlakatla)
Rhodelia-Rina Ellie Enele (Unalaska)
Maris Mossanen (Susitna Valley)
Hazel Basilio (Unalaska)
Emmy Wilson (Dillingham)
Lily Esmailka (Susitna Valley)
Christina Johnson (Wrangell)
Precious Kaminanga (Sand Point)
Vaiula Leaoa (Unalaska)
Sportsmanship Award – Sand Point Eagles
Academic Award (3.89) – Tri-Valley Warriors
Skill Awards
Defensive Specialist – Hazel Basilio (Unalaska)
Setter – Jayden Sliker (Susitna Valley)
Server – Emmy Wilson (Dillingham)
Hitter – Vaiula Leaoa (Unalaska)

It was a full-circle win for the first-year coach, who played in the state tournament at Dimond High School for Unalaska as well.

“So this being the year to get a back-to-back championship, it means a lot,” she said.

Coming into the 2025 season with a 17-match win streak under their belts, the Raiders kept rolling, delivering 22 more wins this year on their way to lifting the crown again.

“As a team, we know already that we work phenomenal together,” said sophomore Rhodelia-Rina Ellie Enele. “We have a small community, so for everyone to just come out and just support us, it’s a big improvement and a big thing.”

Unalaska swept opponents in three of four matches at the state tournament, with Su Valley being the only team to take a set off the Raiders.

Enele, who’s the only underclassman on the Raiders roster, served three aces in the first set of Saturday’s title match and knocked down a Su Valley dig that went too far over the net at the beginning of the third.

The third and final sets showcased Unalaska’s all-around strength, and the Raiders closed it out on a 9-0 run to bring another title home for the Raiders. Leaoa started the streak, driving a no-chance hit down the middle. Alongside a few Rams errors, junior Abijah Maynard-Gumbs pitched in two timely kills and junior Lucille Bagley cooked up an ace.

Junior and Unalaska player of the game Hazel Basilio was also stellar for the Raiders, making big plays to keep the rally going and blocking many a spike from her fellow player of the game, Su Valley’s Lily Esmailka. Esmailka delivered a four-point streak in the second set for the Rams.