Kamehameha's Sarah Lau puts a little attempt down against Iolani. Brien Ing | SL

Purchase image 1 of 2

Kamehameha's Tiyana Hallums puts a kill through the Iolani double block. Brien Ing | SL

Purchase image 2 of 2

Not too bad for an opening act.

Led by 10 kills from Tiyana Hallums, the Kamehameha girls' volleyball team opened defense of its Division I state championship with a sweep of Iolani Saturday morning.

The scores were 25-17, 25-17. It was the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I regular-season opener for both teams, which was played before a sparse crowd of about 75 spectators at the Raiders' Lower Gym.

"I've got to say that Iolani is such a good competitor and we were really pushing up to this game," said Hallums, a senior outside hitter/opposite. "We were pushing ourselves in practice (because) we know they're a great competitor and their defense is always on it, so we're happy to get this out of the way and under our belt."

Hallums, who is verbally committed to play at Gonzaga University next year, was the lone player in the match to record double-digit kills. Sophomore outside hitter Kayla Afoa had eight kills and Sarah Lau added six kills and a block.

"It was a great opportunity for us, we've been working hard in the gym and Iolani is a quality team," Warriors' coach Chris Blake said. "They did a lot of things that put a lot of pressure on us, but we're definitely pleased with coming out with the win."

Kamehameha led for all but a few points early in game one. Blake said two keys to the win were precise passing and a balanced offensive attack.

"Defense has been a key for us and we were able to execute and do a lot of things in set one because of our defense," Blake said.

"Offensively, the strength of our team is our team and for us, looking at what we're trying to do, is distribute our ball. (Opponents) may be able to key on one or two of our players, but they can't stop all of us and it all starts with the pass — where our girls did well — our setters distributed really well and we're very happy with the outcome today."

Libero Mia Heirakuji served seven straight points — including back-to-back aces — early in the opening set to give the Warriors a 9-3 lead. The Raiders pulled to within 16-10, but Afoa had consecutive kills to spur a 4-1 run that put it out of reach.

"Mia's a great player and she really helped us out with that," Hallums said. "We were neck-and-neck with Iolani and she made sure to take care of business and I was super proud of her on the back line."

Game two was much closer, thanks in part to five Kamehameha hitting errors in the set. In the midst of a 4-0 Iolani run that cut the Warriors' lead to 16-13, Hallums laid out for a dig, but was unable to handle it and slammed the court with two hands as she got up.

"I'm usually really hard on myself, so it usually brings me down, but I've been working on it a lot," said Hallums, who has been known to show her share of emotion on the court. "My team has really been helping me to pick me up and make sure that I keep going and lead as a captain so I couldn't do it without them."

Hallums, a First-Team All-ILH selection last year along with Heirakuji, slammed six of her kills in the second set.

"We love to see that kind of effort and fire from her, because she's the captain of our team and this whole team, they want it so bad — not only for themselves, but for the group — and that kind of effort can really fire them up, but I was really proud of her with how she bounced back," Blake said. "She's been the heart of our team for a couple of years now."

Lau, who hit from both the left and right sides as well as serve as a secondary setter on the court at times, had three kills in each set and teamed with Brooke Kaawa on a block midway in game two.

"Sarah is a great player, especially with her height and her arm swing — it's fast, she's quick, she's really in shape so she can move — plus she's long, so I have a lot of respect for her," Hallums said of Lau, a two-sport athlete. She is also a member of the Warriors' state-title winning girls' soccer team.

Despite making quick work of the Raiders, Lau said her team still has much work to do.

"We're getting there, but we're still far, and we don't want to be at our peak right now — it's too early in the season — I think later in the season, we'll be peaking, but we're getting there," Lau said.

Anna Uhr led Iolani with a team-high nine kills and Tatiana Calimpong-Burke added five kills.

It was the second meeting between the teams this season. Kamehameha also swept Iolani when the teams faced off in the title match of the Hawaii Volleyball Invitational nearly a month ago.

Both teams return to the hard court Tuesday. The Warriors host Sacred Hearts while the Raiders host Mid-Pacific.