Trophies and titles are material gains, outward examples of success. Knowing your team reached the pinnacle of togetherness, however, can be much more rewarding.

Take the Kamehameha girls volleyball team, for instance. In eight of the past 11 years, the Warriors won Division I state championships. A great accomplishment, right?

But you know what senior outside hitter and two-year co-captain Kayla Afoa regards as a gift from last season’s run to the state title?

“Coach Chris (Blake) always mentions one play that happened in the state championship match against ‘Iolani,” Afoa said. “It was near the end of the fifth set. Everyone on the bench, everyone on the court was all calling that the ball was going out. Everyone was up and loud because we were playing for that person and without that call, she probably would have got that ball because it was very close to being in.”

Just a simple thing to some. To others, these types of good vibrations for your teammates are EVERYTHING, or at least a required ingredient in the recipe for trophies and titles.

“We never lost hope (despite losing to ‘Iolani four of five times previously that season),” Afoa said. “We always had drive and motivation because of Coach Chris and how he trusts us. We gained trust in him and we really came together as a team by the end of season.”

Afoa, like many top hitters each year in the state, is a well-rounded player, and for Blake and the Warriors, what sets her apart is her willingness to do whatever is necessary to help the team. You might not see Afoa planted on the left side pounding away for kills during a match because she is concentrating on whatever Blake has for her in the game plan. But, when the going gets rough, and other avenues are not working, you can bet setter Lexis Akeo will be looking for Afoa a little more (or a lot more, depending on the situation) on the outside.

“She’s very steady and very physical for her size (5 feet 7 and three-quarters),” Blake said. “She elevates well, has great court vision, and is a great blocker for someone of her size. She is a big part of the Kamehameha tradition. She has been mentored by all the players that came before her and picks and takes the things she needs from those individuals and the coaching staff and incorporates it into her game.

“It’s a continuing evolving story with her and the finale is still unwritten. She’s doing what she can in order to make sure that we’re continuing to improve and do things on the path no matter what. She is willing to make sure everybody understands the game plan and that everybody is on the same page and doing what they need to do.”

Afoa suffered an ACL injury after her freshman season and worked hard to get back. There were times she didn’t think she would be able to return. Looking back, she sees it as a blessing in disguise because she watched a lot of volleyball and learned and came back a better player.

Blake recalls a moment that strengthened Afoa’s resolve during that freshman season.

“It was match point at (the Durango, Calif., tournament),” Blake said. “We were up 14-13. We made a good dig and set her on the outside. The coaching staff is yelling at her to swing and she put forth what she thought was her best effort, but the players on the other side threw that thing back down and we actually ending up losing. I joke with her about that because those are the kind of things that you remember for different reasons. She remembers and files it aside as knowing that it’s not going to happen again. Those are the kind of things that burn the desire in her.”

Having committed to play for the University of Nevada next season, Afoa is ready for that last high school stretch run and hopefully putting the finishing touches on what Blake likes to call the team’s “process.”

When asked if the Warriors want a rematch with No. 1 Kahuku, which beat Kamehameha in the preseason, Afoa said, “Of course.”

The Warriors are coming off a three-set upset loss to No. 3 ‘Iolani on Saturday. It won’t sting too long. Afoa has learned that.

“One day at practice, I was going through a rough patch, and Coach Chris played the song “Let it Go” from “Frozen” on the loud speakers and he was singing it to me.

Good vibrations. Togetherness. Get over it and don’t dwell.

It won’t be until next year, though, until Blake can fully assess Afoa’s contribution to Kamehameha’s legacy.

“It’s hard to know just how great people are until they’re not there anymore,” Blake said. “She’s been such a rock, such a steadying force for us on the court and off the court.”