Start to finish:
Punahou is No. 1
By mid-season, the Punahou girls volleyball team was marching toward another league crown.
It would have been easy for the Buffanblu to get caught up in hype, media attention and even rankings. But they deflected all arrows that came their way.
Now, after a dominant performance at the state championships, the Buffanblu will be remembered. From start to finish, they were ranked No. 1 by media and coaches, collecting all 17 first-place votes in the final Star-Bulletin Top 10 of the season.
Kauai entered at No. 10 for the first time. The Lady Raiders, who pushed Kalani to three sets early in the tourney, knocked off Hilo to win their second consolation crown in as many years.
Punahou's boys garnered all 12 first-place votes after storming to the state title at Keaau. The boys tourney fell into place almost perfectly in form to the Top 10. Waiakea, which finished third at the tourney, moved up to No. 3 in the poll.
Kauai, which placed fifth, was also No. 5 in the rankings before and after the tournament.
Hana, on the strength of its quarterfinal win over Kahuku, moved ahead and finished the year No. 6 in the Top 10. Maryknoll moved up a notch to No. 9 despite not playing in the state tourney.
University, which also saw its season end during the Interscholastic League of Honolulu playoffs, returned to the Top 10 as voters acknowledged the strength of the Junior Rainbows and the state's toughest volleyball league.
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