Kamehameha’s Alohi Robins-Hardy took a break from volleyball in each of the past two summers. Opponents probably wish she would have taken the fall off, as well.

Robins-Hardy, a senior, was named the ILH player of the year and MVP of the state tournament. So it’s only natural that she was selected the Star-Advertiser’s state player of the year by coaches and media.

Not bad for a player who put the volleyball away in each of the past two summers to focus on basketball.

"It was a tough decision," Robins-Hardy said. "But my family was always supporting me, so it wasn’t too hard after making my final decision. No regrets."

All she got out of it was successive state championships in basketball and volleyball and a spot on both teams at Brigham Young next year. Hawaii recruited her for basketball only, but she insisted on playing both at the next level. Basketball ate up her summers because she believed she needed more improvement in that sport.

"It’s already a usual for me playing both," Robins-Hardy said. "Some people thought I had one over the other, I guess, but basketball is now on top because it can take me more places and it is always a challenge to get better."

She is the best volleyball player in the state, and has been in the top five of the Star-Advertiser’s Fab 15 in each of the past four years, but she might be the second-best setter on her own team.

Robins-Hardy set the Warriors to the ILH championship before Faith Maafala, who was on the Fab 15 last year, returned from an injury. Maafala would have certainly repeated on the Fab 15 if not for her injury, but it is a season award rather than an all-tournament team.

"Both Faith and Alohi are awesome," Kamehameha junior libero Mia Heirakuji said. "They are the hardest workers I know. It was so great to win it for them."

Kahuku’s Adora Anae was Robins-Hardy’s closest competition for player of the year, but she didn’t have nearly the same help. Fellow senior Talia Brown took the last spot in the Fab 15.

Setter Jordyn Keamo and middle blocker Sarah Liva represent OIA champion Mililani and Silerolia Gaogao was Moanalua’s lone representative.

Remo-Louise Gaogao joined her sister on the Fab 15 as one of three Punahou players on the list. The combination of McKenna Rose Granato and setter Kiani Tuileta join Remo-Louise Gaogao on the elite list after hooking up to blast the Buffanblu past every team other than rival Kamehameha.

Granato’s performance as the most dominating hitter in the ILH would have been good enough for top honors in most years except for one thing: Granato had to deal with Kamehameha’s stout back line five times. That back line made all of the difference for the champions, holding Granato to 10 kills and 10 errors in the championship match. Tiyana Hallums, who doubles as a devastating hitter as one of Robins-Hardy’s favorite targets, and Heirakuji were judged as two of the top five players in the state because of that defense.

‘Iolani’s Hoakalei Dawson made the team in large part because she cracked that defense as well as anyone not named Granato.

Hawaii Prep’s Gabbie Ewing and Mililani’s Ashlee Vaoifi just missed cracking the top 15.

Kamehameha’s Chris Blake was named coach of the year.

HONORABLE MENTION
Talia Afalava, Kahuku • Kayla Afoa, Kamehameha • Tita Akiu, Kamehameha • Patricia Batoon, KS-Maui • Kea Browne, Kamehameha • Gabbie Ewing, Hawaii Prep • Arianna Feleti, Radford • Treyanna-Le Freitas, King Kekaulike • Sophia Janssen, Seabury • Ashelyn-Lorraine Jones, Roosevelt • Shaylah Kagehiro, Moanalua • Moea Kakauoha, ‘Iolani • Shalia Kamakaokalani, Kamehameha-Maui • Kayla Kilaulani, Leilehua • Johanna Kruize, Moanalua • Amanda Loeffler, Hilo • Faith Maafala, Kamehameha • Megan Maafala-Maiava, Aiea • Syenna Masaki, Kalaheo • Markayisha Masani, University • Kelly Matthews, Punahou • Celena Molina, Konawaena • Mariyah Oliver, Waimea • Mariah Rigg, Punahou • Ariana Sattler, La Pietra • Evalani Toledo, Hilo • Anna Uhr, ‘Iolani • Ashlee Vaoifi, Mililani • Emily Wada, Hawaii Baptist • Sara Watanabe, ‘Iolani