[ HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL ]
Sacred Hearts stuck at No. 7
The Lancers survive the ILH's gauntlet to remain ranked
For volleyball titans like Punahou, Kamehameha and Iolani, the headlines don't stop.
Then there are fledgling programs like Sacred Hearts that take their best shots at the titans and build on experiences.
Sacred Hearts withstood the gauntlet last week, losing to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's top girls teams. The Lancers fell to 9-4, but are still in good position to earn a Division II state-tournament berth. Playing the best -- Punahou, Kamehameha and Iolani are ranked as the top three in the Star-Bulletin Top 10 -- is only a plus, coach Jonathon Tom said.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Today's matches
OIA BOYS
At Mililani H.S.
» McKinley vs. Campbell, 6 p.m.
» Mililani vs. Kaimuki, 7 p.m.
At Castle H.S.
» Kahuku vs. Nanakuli, 6 p.m.
» Radford vs. Castle, 7 p.m.
» For a list of tomorrow's playoff matches, see Scoreboard
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"This was a great week for our program. We were able to see how mentally and physically tough our players are. We learned a lot about ourselves and I believed that we gained more in these losses than our first nine wins," he said.
"We found out that we can compete with the best in the state for at least a little while. We know now that these teams are at the top because they are relentless. No matter who they put on the court they play every point as if it is the last point of the game," Tom said.
Sacred Hearts remained at No. 7 in the poll.
"We as a program have a lot to learn and the moral victories that we achieved last week were priceless," he added.
At Kalani, meanwhile, coach KeAlii Alexander has rebuilt a boys program that did not exist a few years ago. The Falcons aren't ranked yet, but they are 7-1 in Division II of the Oahu Interscholastic Association. Despite a lone loss to unbeaten Waianae, Kalani is edging closer to a state berth.
Alexander gave his top vote, as did other panelists, to unbeaten Punahou.
"Punahou is too consistent, which equals dominance," he said. "I think my boys fall at 11 to 13, so they need to win big in the playoffs before they get my vote."
Whirlwind volleyball:
Fans are about to get a buffet of action when the OIA playoffs begin tonight.
Eighteen matches are scheduled this week in the varsity boys and girls playoffs, both Division I and II, and that's just the start.
In one of tonight's four boys matches, Radford (1-9) is a long shot at Castle (7-5) in a 7 p.m. match at the Knights' gym.
Veteran Castle coach Pat Gomes-Woolsey is enduring the usual challenges that come with high-school coaching.
"I haven't seen Radford play, but I know they lost all their starters from last year. For us, it's difficult, too, because we lost four of our starters," she said.
"Every day, we never have a full team at practice. I don't think I've had one day with every single starting person at practice."
In addition, Castle has two injured starters and another facing a borderline grade check. Just the usual worries for Gomes-Woolsey, who is in her 24th season at the helm.
"Hopefully, the boys will come together and play as a team. They've been hot and cold, so I'm hoping it will turn around. For a lot of them, it's the first time playing in the (playoff) tournament," she said.
Castle, the third seed in the East, would benefit greatly with some postseason success.
"If we do well in the playoffs and make it to the state tournament, it would be a good steppingstone for next year," Gomes-Woolsey said.
Second-round winners will clinch state tournament berths.