Let’s be clear, Kamehameha is the overwhelming Division I favorite to win the New City Nissan Girls Volleyball State Championship that starts Friday on Maui and Oahu.

The Warriors are the defending champions and have won seven out of the past nine times. On top of that, coach Chris Blake’s squad got through the ILH season unscathed.

"We’ve been having really good practices," Blake said. "We have a great second unit that pushes the starters, and we consider that a luxury."

With hitter Tiyana Hallums and libero Mia Heirakuji leading the way, the top-seeded Warriors are primed for another run.

They are not taking anything for granted.

"(Third-seeded) Kamehameha-Hawaii ran through the BIIF undefeated and they’ve got some athletic, physical players, and they’re hungry and prepped for the challenge," Blake said. "And Kapolei is coming in hot after taking Moanalua to five sets (and losing) in the OIA final. Kahuku lost in the OIA quarterfinals and that was tough for them. They still made states and they are also hungry."

KS-Hawaii is led by senior outside hitter Kaiu Ahuna and junior setter Kamalu Whittaker, who is an early commit to Cal State Northridge.

As usual, unseeded Punahou — led by hitter McKenna Granato and setter Kiani Tuileta — is the most likely suspect — along with Kamehameha — to make it to the final. The Buffanblu won the state title in 2011 and 2012, before losing in the final a year ago.

Second seed Moanalua, the OIA champion, got the luck of the draw and plays its first match at home (against Friday’s Kamehameha-Maui vs. Kahuku winner) on Saturday, with the victor heading to the semifinals at McKinley next weekend.

Lia Gaogao and Jojo Kruize are among Na Menehune’s go-to players.

KS-Maui, according to Blake, is a dark horse team to keep an eye on. The Warriors of the Valley Isle had a stranglehold on the MIL title for a decade before losing it to fourth-seeded King Kekaulike this year.

This is the first year the tournament format will be over two weekends and played on two different islands.

On Saturday in the quarterfinals, Kamehameha will play the winner of Friday’s Waiakea vs. Mililani match.

"And Mililani’s got a great team over there, too," Blake said.

If the favored teams win in the four first-round matches, the quarterfinal pairings will look like this: Kamehameha vs. Mililani, King Kekaulike vs. Kapolei, Moanalua vs. (tossup) KS-Maui/Kahuku, and KS-Hawaii vs. Punahou.

The Division II state tournament will be held Nov. 5-8 and the brackets will be released this weekend.