Fifteen years is almost a lifetime if you are a girls volleyball player at ‘Iolani School.
This year’s Raiders made a memory for a lifetime on Saturday night, surprising No. 1 seed Kamehameha 26-24, 21-25, 25-18, 25-16 in the final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division I State Championships at Blaisdell Arena.
It is ‘Iolani’s first state title since 2001, when Kanoe Kamana‘o was the standout on the Raiders’ only state girls volleyball championship team. As of Saturday, it is a first state title for the Raiders under coach Kainoa Obrey.
“We had a lot of support from our school and supporters,” he said. “We were able to make defensive adjustments with our eye work, reading what’s happening on their side.”
Freshman Elena Oglivie pounded 23 kills, hit .367 and had 22 digs on her way to tournament most outstanding player honors. Teammate Saige Kaahaaina-Torres, a junior, had 22 kills and 10 digs, and senior setter Ana Oglivie had 49 assists and 15 kills for ILH runner-up ‘Iolani (16-4).
It was a reversal of last year’s state final, when the ILH runner-up was Kamehameha, which knocked off ‘Iolani in the title match.
Kamehameha (16-3) was led by Kayla Afoa (18 kills, 12 digs) and Kili Robins (11 kills, 19 digs). Lexis Akeo had 46 assists.
The Raiders were formidable defensively against their nemesis. Libero Sammie Worley (17 digs) and Kacie Miyama (19 digs) were fearless against Kamehameha’s attack.
“We were on top of it today,” said Miyama, one of four ‘Iolani seniors.
The third set was ‘Iolani’s for the taking. The Raiders took an 8-3 lead and held it all the way through. It was 21-18 after Kamehameha got a block from Maluhia Ma‘a, but the Raiders scored the final four points for a 2-1 lead in the match.
In the fourth set, Kamehameha led 4-3 after a kill by Akana, but ‘Iolani went on an 11-4 run. An ace by Worley, a senior, made it 14-8 in favor of the Raiders, and they never lost momentum.
The Warriors got within 17-12, but ‘Iolani went on an 8-2 run to close it out.
“It wasn’t for ourselves, but also for our seniors from last year,” middle Halia Hogan said. “The past two matches were the best we’ve played.”
Kamehameha, under coach Chris Blake, was seeking its 21st state title. It was the Warriors’ 14th finals appearance in a row.
‘Iolani’s run to the top won’t be a fluke.
“The last time our school won, some of our coaches were still playing,” said the setter, Ana Oglivie. “Our passing game was phenomenal. We should just keep playing. Our underclassmen really stepped up. I’m so confident in them for next year.”
