To say it was a little awkward at first would be an understatement.

When four senior volleyball players at now-defunct Word of Life transferred to Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival University High over the summer, yeah, it got weird. Pirates-teaming-up-with-ninjas-level weird.

Yet the former foes in the highly competitive ILH were asked to put aside their old battles and come together for a greater goal: a Division II state championship.

"It’s weird and cool at the same time," said Hofstra-bound left-side hitter Kainoa Ocasek, one of the four Firebrands-turned-Junior ‘Bows. "Just because we had different ways of practicing, but we just had to adjust and keep pushing."

"Wow, it’s a lot different," middle Alohi Kaho’ohanohano said of comparing her old and new school. "It was kind of awkward at first, because when you play each other at states and stuff and you have that kind of tension. … But we were lucky to come to UH Lab because they took us in really well. We’d all be separated if it wasn’t for this school."

Right-side hitter Kaena Kaina and libero Chanelle Maldonado are the others who’ve stepped in and made sixth-ranked UHS go from good to potentially great.

Word of Life lost to Hawaii Baptist Academy in the D-II state championship each of the past two years, while University is coming off a fifth-place finish, its best since D-II was created in 2005. Together, can they win it all?

With the combined talent of the transfers and the ‘Bows returnees, most notably middle Quynne Eharis and setter Kaiulani Ka’alekahi, it certainly seems possible. The key for coach Walter Quitan is getting his spliced roster to play as one, a task made easier in that the new players filled positions of need.

That was great on paper. In reality, it was considerably harder to meld the group, something that remains a work in progress. Second-ranked Punahou blasted UHS 25-6, 25-13 last Tuesday, but the ‘Bows came back to defeat another D-I ILH team, Maryknoll, in three sets on Saturday. Through four league matches, UHS is 3-1.

University will continue to be tested this week when it faces top-ranked Kamehameha and HBA.

"It’s been a challenge and I’m excited for the season," Quitan said. "Punahou was a great learning experience for us. I think we’ll continue to get better.

"I think it’s all ball control. I think we got the hitters, I think we got a pretty (good) setter. I think if we can just control the ball and serve tough — our serving has been something else we need to work on."

Quitan believes this group is the most talented he’s coached in about 10 years with the girls team. They call to his mind the glory days at UHS from 1984 to 1990, when the ‘Bows won seven straight state championships.

"I was around when we had such great tradition at University High, when I was a player and our girls won (seven) straight state titles," he said. "They were No. 1 in the country three years in a row. It’s kind of interesting now that we’re pretty competitive again."

The team feels the turning point in cohesion came on Maui, where the Junior ‘Bows won the 16-team Kamehameha-Maui Invitational by defeating D-II power Molokai in the championship.

"I guess it was hard for all of us … but I think we all got to know each other a little more (on Maui) and learned to trust each other, on and off the court," said Ka’alekahi, a senior co-captain and third- year UHS setter. "I think it was a really good experience for all of us."

"We just have to work together and be united as one team," Ocasek said.

When they are, watch out.