Thank goodness for dads.

Tai Manu-Olevao can say that out loud. After forgetting her game jersey, her dad, Sione, went to Kahuku to retrieve it and bring it to the Ann Kang Invitational Girls Volleyball Tournament at 'Iolani School.

That's where Manu-Olevao pounded 14 kills to lead Punahou in a 25-12, 25-17 sweep of Molokai in opening-round pool play.

“;She was coming at us hard,”; Molokai coach Matthew Helm said. “;She was going after our right-side block.”;

The format, which changed to best-of-three this year, had Punahou unbeaten after two matches going into a late-evening battle with Mater Dei (Calif.).

Tai's father not only made the trip to the North Shore — he had just arrived from Hilo, where Tai grew up. The 6-foot sophomore now lives in Kahuku with her mom so she can attend Punahou.

Without her jersey, Manu-Olevao missed her team's first match against Kaiser.

“;That was killing me. I really wanted to play,”; she said. “;I was pumped up.”;

Dad came through, however.

“;He was giving me the silent treatment,”; she said. “;I'll make it up to him, hopefully, by killing the rest of the teams, like the California team we're going to play.”;

She was absolutely springy and fresh against Molokai, which is possibly the favorite to win the Maui Interscholastic League's Division II title.

Manu-Olevao had plenty of help. Setters Shannan McCready (nine assists) and Malia Patterson (10 assists) were nearly flawless, and Kat Brooks led a hustling backrow defense for coach Jim Iams.

The Buffanblu hit .370 for the match and added six aces, including four by Brigitte Russo, a 6-foot middle blocker. They had just three service errors and also had three blocks.

Kalei Adolpho led Molokai with six kills and Kailana Ritte-Camara added four. The Farmers hit .171.

Punahou dominated the opening set, zooming to a 12-4 lead en route to an easy win.

“;We had to put bigger people outside. We were getting killed outside,”; Helm said of moving Adolpho and Kalei Vaivai from the middle to the edge. “;We started relaxing and getting aggressive.”;

Molokai settled down in the second game and was within 7-6 after a kill by Ritte-Camara. Punahou opened up a 12-7 lead with a couple of kills by outside hitter Juliana Behrens (four kills).

Buffanblu mistakes helped Molokai tie the score, but a 9-0 blitz by Punahou — including three aces by Russo — turned it into a 22-13 game and the Farmers couldn't come back.

The change in format seemed to please coaches.

“;It's definitely better for the kids,”; Helm said. “;To have the opportunity to go a third game.”;