Complete trust and confidence is what Chris Blake and his staff preached all year.
It came together for top-seeded Kamehameha on Saturday night with an astounding 25-20, 25-22, 31-29 sweep of defending champion ‘Iolani before 2,592 fans at Blaisdell Arena. Taking the Division I final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships solidified what spectators already knew: Kamehameha’s dynasty is on track. This is the ninth state crown under Blake, and the school’s 21st title.
“In Game 2, when ‘Iolani ran out, we talked about trusting our process,” Blake said. “You don’t win it on one swing. You play together as a team, and it’s a testament to the work our players put in this season, 68 days of work.”
The balanced attack of the Warriors (13-2) included eight kills and 13 digs by Kili Robins, nine kills and a block by middle Braelyn Akana and eight more kills by Maluhia Ma‘a. Senior setter Lexis Akeo, who had 35 assists, 11 digs and three kills, was selected the most outstanding player of the tourney.
Robins and Akana joined Akeo on the all-tourney team. Also selected were Elena Oglivie, Saige Ka‘aha‘aina-Torres and Kristen McDaniel of ‘Iolani, and ShaLi Niu of Kahuku.
The third set was epic, as ‘Iolani staved off match point seven times. Oglivie (18 kills, 20 digs) and Ka‘aha‘aina-Torres (16 kills, 11 digs) kept the fire burning for ‘Iolani (9-8).
But Akana’s block on Oglivie ended the game and the match, and the Warriors stormed the court and hugged each other on the floor in a pile of navy blue.
It was the fifth matchup between the teams this year, and the fourth time Kamehameha won. Winning that fourth was never a guarantee.
“Coach showed us videos from other years when Kamehameha played ‘Iolani in the same situation,” Robins said. “He wanted to show us our history. We had the mental challenge all season of being ready every single day. There was so much pressure coming into this. We had to calm down and trust in the team, and pick each other up. We just had to have faith.”
‘Iolani got 35 assists and nine digs from McDaniel. Naya Dong hustled for 17 digs and Grace Wee had nine. The Raiders were chasing after their third state title.
Kamehameha trailed 17-12 in the second set, but took a 21-20 lead on one of ‘Iolani’s hitting errors. The game was tied at 22 when Akeo delivered her lone ace, and Kalina Obrey ended it with a block on Oglivie to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set featured three lead changes, and the Raiders had a 22-19 lead when Blake called time out.
“Grinding out that win in Set 3, I have nothing but respect for all our players,” he said.
The Warriors got kills from Robins and Ma‘a, and a hitting error by Oglivie tied the game at 22.
Kamehameha took a 24-23 lead on a kill by Akana, but that’s when ‘Iolani dug deep to force seven aloha points before Akana ended it with a block.
“That last play, we talked to our blockers. ‘Iolani got us on a couple of plays previously, and we set up and our players came out with it,” Blake said.
