HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kanani Herring is a powerful hitter, and is only one of many stars for defending state champion Kamehameha.
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Kamehameha still the program to beat
As iron sharpens iron, so is life in the razor-edged blender known as the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
That doesn't mean defending league and state champion Kamehameha will be knocked down often. Mid-Pacific coach Lia Young-Hunt sees the Warriors as a dominant unit.
"Kamehameha will take states, but we may see some upsets," the second-year coach said of the league.
The quest for the ILH girls volleyball championship is so daunting, even nationally ranked Kamehameha won't have any freebies. The defending state champion Warriors are clearly an outstanding, deep squad, but Iolani and Punahou remain close by and ready to topple them from the throne.
"Every season brings a new set of challenges. Look at what happened in preseason. Punahou is a good team, and Iolani beat them," coach Chris Blake said. "Our kids have to be not satisfied with past accomplishments."
The ILH slate begins today with five matches: Maryknoll plays Word of Life, La Pietra against Hawaii Baptist, Le Jardin travels to Iolani, Kamehameha hosts Hanalei, and University High visits Sacred Hearts.
Kamehameha returns just two starters, but nobody is feeling pity for the Warriors. It's just as well, since they are too busy to mind.
"We're in the weight room for 45 minutes a day, on the court for an hour and a half. They know how hard they have to work," Blake said. "We're one year older, one year wiser. The leadership and experience of our returnees means our practices are intense, we beat each other up and get better every day."
Leaping into the midst of the battle to dethrone Kamehameha is Jim Iams, who taught and coached at Punahou before moving on to an illustrious coaching career at the college and international levels. Extracting the most out of his team in an unforgiving schedule will challenge him. That's a good thing, even as there are only two state-tourney berths available.
"You gotta take the situation as it is. You don't win the first round, you have one match basically to determine how you do," Iams said.
With a state-tournament berth for the winner of the first swing through round-robin play, the contenders cannot afford to be sloppy when the regular season begins today.
Unlike other leagues in the islands, there is little dropoff beyond the top contenders. Hawaii Baptist, on the edge of a state berth in three of the past four seasons, and Saint Francis remain highly competitive. Mid-Pacific lost four seniors to graduation, including current UH freshman Dani Mafua, but will still be tough.
Kamehameha is so talented and versatile, there is no true libero on the roster. Power-hitting Kanani Herring, recently back from a stint on the championship U.S. Junior Olympic team, is stronger, jumps higher and hits harder than she did as a sophomore.
Bekah Torres, like Herring, is an intimidating presence.
All-State setter Kea Kea returns, as does another outstanding setter, Tati Santiago. Sophomore Jordan Meredith gives Blake a quick-hitting weapon in the middle. Meredith played on the Junior Olympic squad along with Herring, but played behind All-State pick Deven Bukoski last year.
Punahou pushed Kamehameha to three games in the final of the Hawaii Invitational. Losing is still somewhat unusual for seniors Liz Kaaihue and Larissa Nordyke, who were on board two years ago when the Buffanblu won the state championship. Kaaihue has the power and versatility to carry her team, but Iams is hoping to find one more attacker.
That valuable asset might come from Anu Keanini, who has been out recently with an injury. "The last couple of days, she's been cleared to practice," Iams said of the talented setter-outside hitter. "I'm a believer that to win at the highest level, in a league like the ILH, you have to have players who can terminate the ball."
Iolani has been humming since the start of nonconference play. All the pieces are there for incoming coach Jenic Tumaneng. Setter Kapua Kamana'o could be the best in the state, while Lauren Minkel and Leinani Keanini provide power from the outside.
The development of middle blocker Chelsea Hardin is a plus for the Raiders, who lost two solid middles to graduation.
"They know the basic rotation," Tumaneng said. "But it's surprising there, basic blocking schemes that they haven't done. Regardless of the competition at the McKinley tournament, I've been looking for us to be in position."
Mid-Pacific faces a tough climb, but Young-Hunt is drilling her team into a defensive mind-set. "Serving and defense, hands down, are crucial for us. We're in a tough, crazy league, but at the high-school level, defense can win games," said Young-Hunt.
St. Francis bid adieu to power-hitting Kawena Otineru, who graduated with the school's first volleyball championship. The Troubadours won the ILH Division II title, went on to capture the state title, and were promoted to Division I.
"I'm trying to get our offense going with the JV kids who came up," coach Eric Perry said. Outside hitters Kylie Harrington and Samantha Lau power the attack, while Kristine Aquino has improved significantly over the summer, Perry noted.