Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
December 4, 2016, 4:44pm
Player of the Year: Saige Kaahaaina-Torres, Iolani, OH/OPP, Jr.
Saige Kaahaaina-Torres was going to get the opposing team's best block every single night.
That didn't stop her.
The junior outside hitter played a big part in the Iolani Raiders' run to their first state title since 2001 and was selected as the inaugural ScoringLive All-Hawaii Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
Kaahaaina-Torres started at front left for the Raiders racked up 300 kills, 202 digs, 21 total blocks, 18 aces and nine assists through 20 games. Her numbers are great by any standard, but even more impressive considering the fact that this was her first year as a left side hitter.
The 5-foot-11 junior, who has already given a verbal commitment to play for the University of Missouri, is primarily a setter when she plays for outside club teams. Last year, when the Raiders lost to Kamehameha in the state final, Kaahaaina-Torres was the right side hitter for Iolani.
"We kind of ended up putting her in the position that she ended up playing throughout the (Interscholastic League of Honolulu) season because we felt that we needed someone on that side of the court to carry a lot of the work load for us," Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey said of Kaahaaina-Torres.
Other teams took notice of Kaahaaina-Torres' ability as a hitter as well.
"We saw a lot of teams put a big block to slow down Saige," said Obrey. "She's get blocked and stuff like that, but she'll just be tenacious and relentless in her effort. She knows that she's going to be facing this block this entire match, but she's still able to go out and find ways to score."
Obrey said that he enjoyed watching Kaahaaina-Torres' growth in a new role and a position throughout the season.
"Her skill definitely improved. She always had power, she always had a lot of athleticism, but she ended up being able to fine tune things a little bit more with her skill work, passing and hitting. To be able to see what she did towards the end of the ILH season and state tournament was awesome to see."
Above all else, it was Kaahaaina-Torres' leadership that paved the way for the Raiders' state championship run.
In a ILH Division I second round game against Punahou, Kaahaaina-Torres put down a career-high 32 kills to lead the Raiders to a four-set win. In hindsight, Kaahaaina-Torres' big game kept Iolani's season alive.
If the Buffanblu had won that game, they would have gone 5-0 in the second round and clinched the final state berth in the ILH that was up for grabs.
"I think that's probably the point in our season that we might have felt we can make a run at this," Obrey said of Kaahaaina-Torres' best game of the season. "The way they rallied around each other and the way Saige carried the work load just set a tone. From that point on, it appeared that they played a little bit more free, had more trust and left it all our there."
Joining Kaahaaina-Torres on the First Team is freshman teammate Elena Oglivie. The First Team selection also consists of Kamehameha's Kayla Afoa and Kyra Hanawahine, Kahuku's Phoebe Grace and ShaRae Niu, King Kekaulike's Chandler Cowell and Kalaheo's Syenna Masaki.
The Second Team is made up of Kamehameha teammates Braelyn Akana and Kili Robins, Kahuku's Carey Williams, Hawaii Baptist's Keri Lum, Maryknoll's Jhenna Gabriel, Iolani's Ana Oglivie, Le Jardin's Nina Krupa and Moanalua's Hula Crisostomo.
The Third Team is comprised of Hawaii Baptist teammates Ally Wada and Kailey Young, Kapolei's Jayleen Abregana, Damien's Shelby Capllonch, Punahou's Amalia Hilliard, Le Jardin's Kassidy Naone, Maryknoll's Rhyenne Filisi and Mililani's Hope Carter.
Coach of the Year: Kainoa Obrey, Iolani
Few people would have thought Iolani would be state champions in 2016 after falling to Kamehameha in the title game a year ago.
With All-State Player of the Year and setter Bailey Choy off to play for the University of Utah and a handful of seniors graduating, it looked like another rebuilding year for Iolani.
The Raiders said otherwise.
Although a handful of players switched over to a new role this season, Iolani made its second straight appearance in the state tournament and knocked off the top two teams on back-to-back nights to win the school's first state title in 15 years.
The feat that the Raiders accomplished was why Kainoa Obrey is the ScoringLive All-Hawaii Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Other coaches that received consideration are Le Jardin's Lee Lamb and Kahuku's Mounia Tachibana.
FIRST TEAM
SECOND TEAM
THIRD TEAM
OH: Jayleen Abregana, Kapolei - Sr | 5'2HONORABLE MENTION
Aiea: Trinity Atuatasi, Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina
Christian Academy: Sonny Rodrigues, Rainena Schenbeck-Chang
Farrington: Molimau Heimuli, Saryiah Kahakai
Hawaii Baptist: Naiya Fujikawa, Kallie Langford
Hilo: Kawai Ua
Iolani: Halia Hogan, Samantha Worley
La Pietra: Peri Green
Le Jardin: Julia Fisher, Arianna Lunow-Luke, Kailee Lyons, Natalie Piper
Leilehua: Saramasina Docktor
Kahuku: ShaLi Niu, Puao Sao
Kailua: Amber Tai
Kalaheo: Samantha Pollard
Kamehameha: Lexis Akeo
Kapaa: Paea Tafea, Keani Tolenoa
Kapolei: Anela Pakaki-Pias, Michelyn Pililau
King Kekaulike: Rose Love, Kanilea Nomura, Kalena Vaivai
Konawaena: Celena Jane Molina
Maryknoll: Kiari Gier, Natasha McClendon
Mid-Pacific: Mapuhola Sekona
Mililani: Falanika Danielson, Ashley Pawlak
Moanalua: Emily Dulaney, Keila Williams
Nanakuli: Haley Thomas
Pearl City: Cassidy Essex
Punahou: Piikea Clemens, Keliiakekaipukaamaka McComber, Averi Salvador
Sacred Hearts: Shayla-Ann Santos
Roosevelt: Vanessa Colling
Waiakea: Lindsey Maikui
Waianae: Kamilla Marinas, Tayzia Pakele, Chevelle Wagner-Chun
Other coaches that received consideration: Lee Lamb (Le Jardin), Mounia Tachibana (Kahuku)