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Wednesday, August 30, 2000

Kamehameha girls
finally might meet their
matches in ILH

---

By Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Three-time defending state champion Kamehameha owns a 58-match regular and postseason volleyball winning streak.

That figures to become 59 when it visits St. Andrew's Priory on Saturday in one of six girls' Interscholastic League of Honolulu season openers.

Five boys' matches -- the best of which might be St. Louis at Kamehameha-- are also on tap.

The Warrior girls were so good last year that Volleyball Magazine ranked them No. 1 in the nation.

But league-foe St. Francis knows it can compete with Kamehameha this season -- because the Troubadours beat the Warriors during the preseason.

For many of the St. Francis players it was an important win because of how the Warriors dominated everyone last year.

"The (girls) said it was like getting over a hump," first-year St. Francis coach Sean Maskell said of his team's 13-15, 15-2, 15-12 win in the semifinals of the Longy Okamoto Tournament last week.

Maskell said he was impressed with how his team rebounded from the first-game loss.

But Kamehameha isn't the same team that steamrolled through last season.

The Warriors lost all six starters to graduation and have a new coach, former University of Hawaii Wahine player Joey (Akeo) Miyashiro.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they should be written off. Maskell said any thoughts of this being a rebuilding year for the Warriors is off base.

"Any reports of their demise are greatly exaggerated," Maskell said.

It's no exaggeration to say that the race for the ILH title this year is wide-open.

Punahou (which fell to Kamehameha in the state final), St. Francis and Iolani all look to wrest the ILH title -- and the state crown -- from the Warriors.

The Troubadours have nine seniors, including outside hitters Kim Tano and Kalae Araujo. Tano was second-team All-ILH last year.

Six-foot junior middle blocker Elizabeth Narkon is an important presence on the inside for St. Francis. Deeann Nahale sets up the offense.

Diana McKibbin's Punahou squad also features nine seniors.

Senior setter Milia Macfarlane (a Star-Bulletin first-team all-state basketball choice) is still a little rusty because she hadn't played volleyball since last season, McKibbin said.

Senior opposite hitter Melissa Wilton and 6-foot sophomore middle Puna Richardson are keys for the Buffanblu.

Iolani also will battle for the title.

"They have height and a core group returning," McKibbin said.

The Raiders are led by sophomore star Kanoe Kamana'o, who spent part of the summer on the USA Youth National Team.

Coach Ann Kang also looks for seniors Lauren Char and La'akea Campbell to contribute.

Youthful Kamehameha may have three freshmen starting or coming off the bench early.

"Pi'ikea Dudoit is our biggest asset right now," Miyashiro said.

Dudoit, a senior, plays outside hitter and middle.

"She's the real deal," Maskell said.

Senior setter Courtney Cho transitions from junior varsity for Kamehameha this year.

"We'll play tough this year," Miyashiro said. "I don't think anyone will be as dominating as (Kamehameha was) last year."

"From game to game, the competition will be wide open," McKibbin said.