CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Kanani Herring: The junior from Kamehameha is the Player of the Year for the second straight time

Kamehameha and Punahou dominate the first team, landing seven of eight spots

She was outstanding as a sophomore.

Kanani Herring captivated friends and foes alike by leading the Kamehameha Warriors to a state championship last year. Nobody could have topped that performance except Herring herself.

The 5-foot-10 junior elevated her game this season, helping the Warriors capture their second state championship in a row. Whether it was at the net with a roof or in the back row with a sensational dig and perfectly placed pass, or firing bazookas from everywhere, Herring did everything and more than was asked of her.

The talented outside hitter was voted player of the year for a second consecutive season by a panel of coaches and media. Joining Herring on the first team are three teammates, three Punahou Buffanblu and a Moanalua Menehune.

Punahou's Larissa Nordyke, who had 19 kills in the thrilling state final, was also voted first team as an outside hitter. Elizabeth Kaaihue, Punahou's powerful, multi-faceted senior, landed on the first team as an OH.

Sydney Yogi made the first team as the state's best defensive specialist.

Kamehameha's other first teamers are opposite Logan Keala, middle blocker Bekah Torres and setter Kealohilani Kea.

Moanalua junior Kaleinani Kabalis, one of the top all-around players in the voting, was selected as a utility player.

Kaaihue, Kea and Nordyke received votes in the POY voting, well behind Herring, who was a near-unanimous winner.

Kamehameha's Chris Blake edged Punahou's Jim Iams by the narrowest of margins for coach of the year.

Iolani coach Jenic Tumaneng searched high and low for an adequate strategy to stop the high-flying Herring.

"You can't really make a game plan against her at this level. All you can hope is other teammates aren't playing well."

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Junior outside hitter Kanani Herring led Kamehameha to a 36-2 record and a pair of state championships in the past two seasons.

"She's always been a great athlete," Blake said. "We played against her for four years. She played really, really well."

» Two years ago, Kaaihue stepped up for a Punahou team that had some early struggles in the state tourney, and the Buffanblu went on to win the state title.

This year, her myriad skills, combined with Nordyke's performance, pushed Punahou to the state final. There, Punahou gave Kamehameha a marathon battle, winning the first set 37-35 before losing in three. She finished that match with 14 kills and 14 digs.

» There was no other opposite more reliable and consistent than Keala.

"She's definitely a great worker. It's a great recognition for her to be on the team. She does a lot of little things that don't show up on the stat sheet. A good blocker, good on defense," Blake said. "When she was called upon, when some of the team was off, when she gets the set, she puts the ball down."

» Torres gave the Warriors an outstanding blocker, but her ability to hit from both sides of the floor and her dominant serving were undeniable.

"She's another girl who accepted the role that we gave her," Blake said. "If we put her at that spot, she would be one of the best outside hitters in the state. She's very mobile, very versatile. We gave her the ball front row, back row. The biggest change was her ability to serve-receive, so we kept her in the back. She did a lot of things that helped us be successful."

» Consistent, precise and verbal, Kea was the classic, quintessential senior leader for the Warriors. At 5-9, her ability to block gave Kamehameha an added boost en route to its second straight state championship.

"For us, she was dealing with the weight of the expectations of the team. She did a great job of distributing the ball to the people we needed to when the time was right," Blake said. "Her goal was to isolate the hitters based on the matchups, and she was much more cerebral this year. There are ups and downs, and she does a great job of not allowing the downs to get the team down."

» A second-team selection last year, Yogi emerged as the best libero in the state this season.

"She's just a great defender. She has the same steady play every time," Blake said. "We scheme and try to get our serve-receive away from her. If the ball goes to her in the zone, she's on the spot every time. She's really quick and reads really well. Playing on the national team helped her tremendously."

» Early in the season, Moanalua had its share of ups and downs against elite teams, but Kabalis was one of the reasons why Na Menehune rose to prominence by postseason. Her explosiveness, passing, defense at the net and in the back row, and even her occasional setting all contributed to an outstanding year.

"Dynamic. She's a very, very confident player. She's one of the best attackers in the state," Blake said of the 5-7 junior. "For what she does and her size, she's just a great volleyball player and comes from a tradition of players."

2006 All-State Girls Volleyball

Honorable Mention
Outside Hitters
Leilani Keanini, Iolani
Leiani Tafuna, Kahuku
Nui Wong, Waimea
Melanie Manutai, Moanalua
McZeen Ale, Kahuku
Courtney Gaddis, Kalani
Ashanti Shih, La Pietra
Chelbie-Lyn Hanohano, St. Joseph
Kylie Harrington, St. Francis
Kahea Pupuhi, Roosevelt
Tasha Johnson, Aiea
Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia, Pearl City
Brandi Pascua-Aipa, Aiea
Tessa Asuega, Mililani
Robert Mokiao, Waianae
Chaslee Delanoza, Waimea
Poerava Gantt, Kapaa
Yacine Meyer, Seabury Hall
Kalena Frank, La Pietra
Tanya Ugaitafa, Maui

Opposites
Lia Enos, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Heather Mau, Maryknoll

Middle Blockers
Makena Nahooikaika, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Jazmine Ma'afala, McKinley
Alex Akana, Kamehameha
Macy Alexandra Mitravich, Sacred Hearts
Tiffany Phillips, Sacred Hearts
Brandi Kahanao'i-Pimental, Farrington
Christiana Chandler, Leilehua
Shaleia Auld, Mililani
Brittney Carvalho, Kapaa
Anastasia Fogatu, Waianae
Bailey Roberts, Seabury Hall
Sayble Bissen, Kamehameha-Maui
Janet Ugaitafa, Maui

Setters
Courtney Inouye, Sacred Hearts
Melia Iwamoto, Kalani
Sage Van Kralingen, St. Joseph
Hoku Oleole, Roosevelt
Kathryn Markie, Pearl City
Joliann Arzadon, Kapaa
Deithrea Kaiue, Maui

Defensive Specialists
Ashanti Shih, La Pietra
Chaslee Delanoza, Waimea
Brittany Iyo, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Lianne Tomishima, McKinley
Michelle Shiroma, Aiea
Jamie Horikawa, Waimea

Second Team

Pos.	Name	School	Ht.	Yr.
OH	Lauren Minkel	Iolani	5-8	Jr.
OH	Jordan Meredith	Kamehameha	6-0	Jr.
OH	Precious Salazar	KS-Hawaii	5-10	Sr.
OP	Anuhea Keanini	Punahou	5-6	So.
MB	Shawna-Lei Kuehu	Punahou	5-10	Jr.
S	Kapua Kamana'o	Iolani	5-7	Sr.
DS	Kelly Pang	Iolani	5-3	So.

Third Team

Pos.	Name	School	Ht.	Yr.
OH	Haililani Pokipala	Sacred Hearts	5-9	Jr.
OH	Brianna Amian	Moanalua	5-9	Sr.
OH	Chanteal Satele	Word of Life	5-10	Jr.
OP	Emily Maeda	Roosevelt	5-3	Sr.
MB	Chelsea Hardin	Iolani	5-9	So.
S	Pihana Kea	Punahou	5-5	So.
DS	Tatiana Santiago	Kamehameha	5-7	Jr.