Don’t cry for Carly Kan. Save your tears for fans of Missouri volleyball instead.

Kan was selected the Star-Advertiser’s player of the year in girls volleyball because of the all-around game she gave the Buffanblu in their run to a second straight state title. But her hitting made the difference.

Kan won’t be rising above the net when she begins college ball at Missouri with fellow Fab 15 member Loxley Keala of ‘Iolani, as Kan has already committed to being a defensive specialist. Some might call it a shame that the player who had the most kills in the state championship match won’t be able to take her cerebral approach to the net at the next level. But not Kan — she embraced the mandate prevalent at Punahou that puts team over self early on.

"It’s not a shame at all," Kan said. "I do like hitting, but I really like it (at Missouri). Really, it wasn’t me getting all of those kills; it was my team."

Punahou’s Peter Balding was selected as the coach of the year for the second straight time, and a glance at this list shows why. Although he had the top two players, with Tayler Higgins coming in second to Kan, Kamehameha had five players on the Fab 15 to only three for his Buffanblu.

"There were so many outstanding players this year," Balding said. "It’s an honor just to have players mentioned, and it is a product of how well the team did."

More than half of the Fab 15 is represented by players from Punahou and Kamehameha, who have played in the past five state championship matches and will be the favorites to do so again next year. The ILH gobbled up 11 of the 15 spots, with the selections of Mid-Pacific’s Michelle Robinson and St. Francis’ Angel Savea. The ILH has had the state player of the year since 2003. Kahuku’s Tuli Peters was the last non-ILH player to win it, in 2002.

The ILH had eight players earn honorable mention, led by Punahou’s Taylor Dayton, who would have certainly cracked the Fab 15 had she not sat out the early part of the season with an injury.

Kamehameha’s Alohi Robins-Hardy is probably the favorite next year, along with teammate Pikake Laumauna, Kahuku’s Adora Anae and Mililani’s Jordyn Keamo.