Iolani outside hitter Anna Uhr makes a kill attempt against Maryknoll in the first set. Sean Nakamura | SL

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MAKIKI — Iolani swept Maryknoll in three sets, 25-15, 25-19, and 25-20 in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu contest at Maryknoll's Clarence T. C. Ching Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders complete the season sweep of the Lady Spartans and improve to 7-4, while Maryknoll fell to 2-9. Both teams go into the final round of the season where it's best of five sets. 

"Our league is tough and anytime you get a win is awesome. We've been playing really well the last two to three weeks so to come in here and get everyone going and being ready. We have a lot of energy in practices and we're excited and it's a good way to start the last round going into next week," said Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey. 

Anna Uhr led the way for the Raiders with seven kills had three of her four services aces in the first set. Emily Sunada chipped in seven kills, Saige Kaahaina-Torres had six and Morgan Spencer and Sierra Buscher each contributed five. 

"I think we were playing our responsibilities really well and working together as a team. I think we played well as a team today and I think that's what helped us win," said Uhr.

"Of course Anna is a senior leader on the outside and carries most of the load, but we're a team that needs to be balanced to be successful. Although Anna is good, we need to use everyone so it's cool to see we distributed around," said Obrey.

Iolani took a 10-5 after a Maryknoll side out and went on the 5-0 run after Uhr's service ace. The Raiders got four kills each from Buscher and Kaahaina-Torres. The Raiders benefitted from Maryknoll's numerous side outs and kept a double-digit lead to win the first set, 25-15. 

"We all knew what we had to do according to our positions and each of us took care of our own responsibilities and it came together," said Uhr.

The Raiders led most of the second set and Maryknoll cut the lead down to two. Uhr came alive in the second set to record six of her seven kills. Tasha McClendon kept the Lady Spartans in the game by recording five of her 11 kills. However, Iolani was able to pull away from Maryknoll and ultimately won, 25-19.

"They bought in what we want to do and they push each other and help each other along the way and it's good to see that in matches," said Obrey. 

Maryknoll took an early lead in the third set, but the Raiders were able to bounce back and took a 9-6 lead after Emily Sunada's kill and the Lady Spartans called timeout. The Raiders went on a 6-1 run following the timeout. However, Maryknoll made a late push and cut it to 24-20 after Tasha McClendon's kill. But the Raiders closed it out and won the set and match, 25-20. 

"I liked it, the energy was there and got kids in who didn't get a ton of playing time throughout year so that was fortunate and they earned it and battled throughout practices and it was cool we had support from the bench from those kids," said Obrey.  

McClendon had a game-high 11 kills and Rhynne Filisi added four blocks for the Lady Spartans. 

Iolani will take on Mid-Pacific on Oct. 14, while Maryknoll travels to Kamehameha on the same night. 

"It feels good and it helps us get ready for teams down the road," said Uhr.