KAHULUI — This one wasn't all about winning, but then again it was.

For both teams.

Ka'ahumanu Hou Christian School beat Kihei Charter 25-21, 17-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-6 in girls volleyball action at the Ali'i Lions' gym last night in front of about 50 jubilant fans.

According to Ka'ahumanu Hou coach Maureen Reimiller, it is the tiny Christian school's first Maui Interscholastic League win in at least three years. Athletic director Glenn Foo Sum said it has been longer than that.

''It is our first win this year, definitely, and a lot longer than that,'' Reimiller said to The Maui News. ''It is huge — emotionally, mentally, I mean every way. They have been the underdog for so long now that this is huge, a huge step. And Kihei played awesome. For their first year, obviously they have been working for their first year and they are going to be somebody to reckon with in the future.''

Indeed, in their fifth MIL match of their first year as a varsity volleyball program, the Tiger Sharks got their first-ever set wins.

''I'm really proud of the girls,'' Kihei Charter coach Sutton Healey said. ''We played hard. It was really nice to be at our level of competition, so it is really nice to see them meet their potential, to do as well as they did.''

The Tiger Sharks have one senior — Sheilah Jorgensen — and two juniors on their 15-player roster.

''I would say 70 percent of our girls have never touched a volleyball before this season,'' Healey said. ''To do this tonight was huge. We could see what we could do when we play a team at our level. It was a lot of fun.''

The Ali'i Lions controlled the first set before the Tiger Sharks rolled out to a 19-9 lead in the second. Ka'ahumanu Hou closed the gap, but Kihei Charter set off a mini-celebration among its fans when freshman Kahanulani Mina's strategically placed bump kill ended the second set.

In the third set, it was Ka'ahumanu Hou's turn to jump out to the lead, which grew to 20-14 on an ace from senior Rebekah Sherman. Another senior, Leilani McClary, took control from there and her kill ended the third set.

''Leilani is our senior captain, our setter and a hitter,'' Reimiller said. ''She is a floor general. We look to her for captainship.''

Sophomore Brianna Kaiwi was also vital to Ka'ahumanu Hou's attack.

''We want Brianna to be more of a floor general, too,'' Reimiller said. ''We are really still just learning to play together. Some of our girls play maybe some recreational volleyball besides high school. We would like to change that with some more involvement outside of the season so that they can go to the next level.''

For now, the Ali'i Lions (1-3) will enjoy this win.

''It is awesome to win on our home floor,''' Reimiller said. ''It is just great.''

In the fourth set, the score was tied six times early before a kill and an ace by Caitlin Compton allowed the Tiger Sharks to gain some separation at 14-11. A kill by Hana Valle stretched the lead to 21-14 before Ka'ahumanu Hou went on a 7-1 run to close within 22-21.

Another kill by Valle made it 24-22 and an error two points later forced a fifth set.

Ka'ahumanu Hou bounced out to an 8-2 lead at the changeover and never looked back. Kaiwi's kill on match point set off as raucous a celebration as the Ali'i Lions have seen in this sport in some time.

''I believe it has been at least three years since a match has been for Ka'ahumanu Hou, so the drought is over,'' Reimiller said. ''We want to keep getting better and better.''