RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM With 5-foot-2 senior setter Pohai Nu'uhiwa directing the offense, coach Scott Rigg's Punahou Buffanblu went through the season unscathed at 19-0 to win their second straight state championship.

Big enough to be
the best

Punhou’s Pohai Nu‘uhiwa is
‘the premier quarterback in
the state,’ according to
Buffanblu coach Scott Rigg

Bigger is not necessarily better, and the Punahou Buffanblu know this firsthand.

Coaches and media voted Punahou setter Pohai Nu'uhiwa Player of the Year in the Star-Bulletin's All-State selections.

Nu'uhiwa, a 5-foot-2 senior, directed a formidable offense with precision, finesse and smarts. The Buffanblu went 19-0 to win the state championship for a second year in a row. With Punahou's main weapon, Aneli Cubi-Otineru, out for much of the season, Nu'uhiwa displayed a remarkable ability to distribute the ball to a multitude of talented teammates.

"There are probably as-talented setters, but they may not play the position as well," Punahou coach Scott Rigg said. "She's the premier quarterback in the state. It's a contagious effort that spread throughout the team."

Nu'uhiwa, always a positive influence on and off the court, pointed to her teammates.

"It's kind of surreal," she said. "It feels good, but honestly I couldn't do it without my team. They're the ones who kicked butt this year."

Rigg wasn't bad himself. The longtime coach has guided Punahou to six boys titles, as well as the last two girls crowns. He adjusted after losing his best player, and Punahou didn't miss a beat, playing dominant volleyball.

Joining Nu'uhiwa on the first team are outside hitters Danie Hout of Moanalua and Tamari Miyashiro of Kalani; defensive specialist Jayme Lee of Hawaii Baptist; and middle blockers Careena Onosai of Word of Life and Spenser Rigg of Punahou.

The voting was quite close in several categories. Nu'uhiwa edged Miyashiro, arguably the state's most versatile player, in the Player of the Year voting. Hout placed third in the P.O.Y. tally.

Rigg was a runaway winner in the Coach of the Year voting, followed by Kamehameha's Chris Blake and Moanalua's Thomas Lake.

Lee was a close pick by voters over Kamehameha's Kristal Tsukano at defensive specialist.

The voting for outside hitter was intriguing. Though Hout and Miyashiro led all voters, Punahou's Elizabeth Ka'aihue, Aiea's Lelani Kleman-Maeva and Kahuku's Camilla Ah-Hoy were close behind.

In all, it was one of the best years in terms of pure talent statewide.

Player of the Year

Pohai Nu'uhiwa
Punahou

Coach of the Year

Scott Rigg
Punahou

First Team

SETTER
Pohai Nu'uhiwa
Punahou
5-2, senior

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
Jayme Lee
Hawaii Baptist
5-3, senior

MIDDLE BLOCKER
Spenser Rigg
Punahou
5-9, senior

MIDDLE BLOCKER
Careena Onosai
Word of Life
5-11, junior

OUTSIDE HITTER
Danie Hout
Moanalua
5-8, senior

OUTSIDE HITTER
Tamari Miyashiro
Kalani
5-7, senior

Second Team

SETTER
Lena Yee
Moanalua
5-3, senior

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
Kristal Tsukano
Kamehameha
5-6, junior

MIDDLE BLOCKER
Brianna Amian
Moanalua
5-10, sophomore

MIDDLE BLOCKER
Larissa Nordyke
Punahou
5-9, sophomore

OUTSIDE HITTER
Elizabeth Ka'aihue
Punahou
5-8, sophomore

OUTSIDE HITTER
Lelani Kleman-Maeva
Aiea
5-11, junior

OUTSIDE HITTER
Camilla Ah-Hoy
Kahuku
5-10, junior

Honorable Mention

AIEA
» Konae Purcell, OH, 5-9, sr.

FARRINGTON
» Tanya Sale, MB, 5-7, sr.

HAWAII BAPTIST
» Brandi Higa, S, 5-6, sr.
» Rayna Kitaguchi, OH, 5-8, sr.

HILO
» Asha Bishop, MB, 5-7, sr.
» Kaleinani Kabalis, OH, 5-7, fr.

IOLANI
» Kapua Kamana'o, S, 5-6, so.
» Lauren Minkel, OH, 5-9, fr.

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII
» Dancyne Kama, S, 5-3, jr.

KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI
» Brittany Awal, S, 5-4, jr.
» Sayble Bissen, OH, 5-10, so.
» Puni Krueger, MB, 5-10, jr.
» Kela Lau Hee, DS, 5-2, so.
» Eleu Novakoff, OH, 5-5, jr.

KAPAA
» Nue Wong, MB, 5-10, so.

KAPOLEI
» Jerrell Taituave, MB, 5-11, sr.
» Angela Woo, OH, 5-9, sr.

KAUAI
» Kehau Judd, OH, 5-10, jr.
» Ligaya Maldones, S, 5-3, sr.
» Tina Moger, OH, 5-7, jr.
» Trisha Niau, DS, 5-3, jr.

MARYKNOLL
» Heather Mau, OH, 5-8, so.

MCKINLEY
» Jazmine Ma'afala, MB, 5-9

MID-PACIFIC
» Danielle Mafua, OH, 5-9, jr.

MOANALUA
» Chelsee Iaela, DS, 5-4, sr.

PUNAHOU
» Aneli Cubi-Otineru, OH, 5-9, sr.
» Kathi Kobayashi, DS, 5-3, sr.
» Michelle Luxton, MB, 5-10, sr.
» Kaui Robello, MB/OH, 5-6, jr.

ROOSEVELT
» Miya Frank, MB/OH, 5-9, sr.
» Kristen Tanabe, DS, 5-3, sr.

WAIAKEA
» Lisha Natividad, DS, 5-4, sr.

WAIPAHU
» Amanda Misa, MB/OH, 5-9, jr.