KAHULUI — The match wasn’t close, but this night was about so much more than the final score.

The Lahainaluna High School girls volleyball team played its first Maui Interscholastic League match after being forced to open the season with six forfeits due to delays caused by the Lahaina wildfires on Aug. 8.

It was the first sports contest of any kind for the Lunas since the disaster that devastated their town.

The Sabers won 25-9, 25-12, 25-10 in a little more than an hour at the Shine Matsui Athletic Center.

The Lunas were on the court after three full practices, according to coach Trixy Nuesca-Ganer, all outside on basketball courts at Kulanihako’i High School in Kihei, where the Lunas are currently a school within a school as the return to their West Maui campus is set for next month.

“It was hard to be here, we’ve had very limited time to work together on our rotations and it showed tonight,” Nuesca-Ganer said. “But I’m proud of the girls. Like I told them, we literally have nothing left to lose. We’ve lost everything. We’ve lost everything.”

Nuesca-Ganer estimated that 23 of the 29 girls on the junior varsity and varsity rosters lost their homes in the Lahaina blaze. Nuesca-Ganer said Tuesday night was vital to her girls.

“It’s very important, they need not just the athleticism that comes with playing a sport, but being able to lean on each other, they need each other during this time,” Nuesca-Ganer said. “And they need us (coaches) to be able to support them and be here for them.

“These youth are resilient and there’s no challenge that they cannot overcome after everything they’ve faced this far.”

The atmosphere in the gym on the Maui High campus was jovial throughout.

A big cheer rang out on a big block by Lahainaluna’s Selaima Fonohema that made it 13-6 in the second and another large cheer came for a Luna point that made it 23-12.

At times, Nuesca-Ganer had to help her girls through the substitution process where they wait on the court for the score table to record the change, but the enthusiasm was there all night long.

To be the first Lunas team in action moved Nuesca-Ganer.

“It melted my heart, absolutely,” she said fighting back tears. “It was great to see the community, not just Lahaina, but Maui come out and be supportive. They were all cheering for us, it was awesome, it felt good. It brought me to tears,”

Nuesca-Ganer shared a laugh with Mercedes Armstrong when the sophomore outside hitter did an impressive somersault after a dive on a dig attempt. The smiles lasted all night long.

Lahainaluna junior outside hitter Cadence Ako said it was a dream to be back on the court.

“We have to practice through irrigation water and we have to practice through dirt flying everywhere and heavy winds sometimes,” Ako said. “So we just try to push through, but it can be tough.”

To be the first sport out of the gate warmed Ako’s heart.

“It honestly means so much to me because knowing that my town where I come from, it’s a part of my heart and to see that my school is able to start continuing to play even if we don’t do the best,” Ako said. “It shows that Lahaina’s still strong enough to come out and we don’t have to give up no matter what happens to us.

“It’s so nice to see everybody, even people from the other side cheering us on, it means so much to us.”

The Lunas took their first lead of the season 6-5 in the third set on a Sabers serving error.

The Sabers’ crowd cheered loudly when little-used Myra Tisalona entered in the third set and promptly served an ace that gave Maui High a 19-8 lead.

Soon, the match was over, but the Lunas’ season is just beginning.

Lahainaluna freshman Chaylee Webb said she was thrilled to be on the court.

“It means a lot to me only because it’s my first year playing school volleyball, so it’s like great to play for everybody, especially my family,” Webb said. “Even though we didn’t win, we still did our best and I’m glad we still have a team and that we’re still competing in the MIL. So, it’s great to still have everybody with us.”

In the end, Maui High coach Kenny Houpo was happy his team improved to 4-4 on the season and also happy to see the Lunas back on the court.

“It’s nice to have them back,” Houpo said. “We played close to what we need to be playing, but we need to be consistent with that.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

MIL Girls Volleyball Standings

DIVISION I

W L Pct GB

Baldwin 7 0 1.000 —

KS Maui 6 1 .857 1

Maui High 4 4 .500 3½

King Kekaulike 1 6 .149 6

Lahainaluna 0 7 .000 7

DIVISION II

W L Pct GB

Seabury Hall 6 0 1.000 —

Maui Prep 6 2 .800 1

Molokai 6 2 .800 1

Haleakala Waldorf 3 4 .429 3½

Lanai 3 5 .375 4

Hana 3 7 .300 5

Kihei Charter 0 7 .000 6½

Tuesday’s Results

Baldwin def. King Kekaulike 25-7, 25-20, 25-15

Maui High def. Lahainaluna 25-9, 25-12, 25-10

Today’s Match

Haleakala Waldorf vs. Kihei Charter at Haliimaile Gym, 7 p.m.

Thursday’s Matches

Lahainaluna at King Kekaulike, 6:30 p.m.

Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui, 6:30 p.m.