Le Jardin's Gennezia Hawkins (25) is one of three freshman that starts for the Bulldogs. Brien Ing | SL

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Le Jardin's Sydnee Walker (1) tips the ball against Hawaii Baptist in an ILH Division I contest. Brien Ing | SL

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When the ILH initially drafted its one-year pilot program for girls volleyball this year, Le Jardin was not one of the four teams that was slated to move up to Division I.

Fast forward to four months later and the Bulldogs are the first team in the state to lock up a spot in the D1 state tournament.

With its win over 25-10, 25-21, 25-22 road win over Hawaii Baptist last Friday, Le Jardin ensured that it will finish with the best record in its respective quadrant, which ensures them a state berth.

"I know the team is excited about the opportunity, but I also think they're a little anxious," said Le Jardin coach Lee Lamb. "Not only are we a small school (with an enrollment size of about 250 at the high school), but we're a pretty young squad.

"For the staff, we're just stoked for the kids and the school. It's been awesome pushing on these guys the past five years and seeing the program mature. To see them accomplish one first after another has been amazing. They've bought into the idea of legacy and it shows."

The Bulldogs have definitely established a legacy the past couple of years, but it has been on the Division II level. Le Jardin reached the D2 state final the previous four years and won it all in 2016 and 2017.

GVB: ILH D1 girls vball gains four teams, third state berth in 2019 https://t.co/t933et0HWj pic.twitter.com/hxRljefrLA

— ScoringLive (@scoringlive) July 25, 2019

Even before the ILH put in the pilot program that changed the parameters for enrollment when determining divisions, Lamb said he was already looking to get his team on a bigger stage.

"Honestly I was pushing for D1 before there was even a discussion about the current format," Lamb Said. "Jana Fraser, our AD, and I began talking about it before the end of the 2018 season and then had more conservations after the season was over.

"When Jana began talking to me about the current format and was explaining how the quadrants were likely to form (by enrollment size), I was really worried we were going to get left out of the mix, and technically, we were. Fortunately there was a provision that allowed two teams to trade if both consented. So as soon as the original format was finalized, phone calls were made and shortly thereafter, the switch (with Damien) was requested and approved."

With a 6-3 ILH D1 record heading into Tuesday's matchup with Sacred Hearts (0-9), the Bulldogs certainly has the tools to compete with the bigger dogs so to speak.

Le Jardin's Sydnee Walker (1) tips the ball against Hawaii Baptist in an ILH Division I contest. Brien Ing | SL    Purchase image

Not bad for a team that starts three freshmen and had just one senior on the team.

Gennezia Hawkins, Sydnee Walker and Reese Diersbock are the three freshmen that all contribute at the pins. All of them are 5-foot-8 or taller, with Diersbock listed at 6-feet. Sophomore Ryli Kalahiki, who is 5-foot-9, is also in the rotation as an attacker.

"They're doing good. We're kind of throwing them in the fire, but they're handling," Lamb said.

The results so far show potential. Sure, Le Jardin lost all of its regular season matches with the ILH Big Three of Punahou, Iolani and Kamehameha, but it was all hard fought matches.

The Bulldogs turned some heads to start the season when they took the first set against Kamehameha on the Warriors' home court before falling, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19.

Against defending state champion Iolani, Le Jardin lost a back-and-forth battle, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20. They were swept by Punahou in two sets, but the Bulldogs gave the Buffanblu all they can handle in the second set, losing by a score of 25-15, 26-24.

"We learned two things. One, we can compete. Two, we as coaches and players still have a ton of work to do," said Lamb.

The Bulldogs have been sterling ever since the match against Punahou, with straight set sweeps over their next three opponents.

Junior setter Nive Tuileta's leadership with the younger players have also helped the Bulldogs this season.

Nive Tuileta ran a balanced and methodical attack with 22 assists to help the Bulldogs take the top spot in the ILH Division I's Quadrant 2 #SLickFigures #statSLine pic.twitter.com/LqfR4dehtG

— ScoringLive (@scoringlive) September 23, 2019

"Sometimes out offense breaks down so it makes it difficult, but she's doing a good job man again the game," Lamb said of Tuileta. "I'm really thankful to have her at the helm leading everything for us."

After a win against Hawaii Baptist two weeks ago, Tuileta also gave credit to the young players.

"They're all doing a really good job doing their job and being smart with their shots," she said. "Their passing has been really good too and they're all well-rounded players so it's really helpful for our team. I think they just make my job easier with really good passes."

While the younger players get up to speed to Tuileta's high tempo, the junior setter still can turn to junior middle Alysha Roman for a quick kill down the middle.

"I've been playing with her for a while now in club and school," Tuileta said of Roman. "We've just been working on that middle connection with us. I think over the years it's been getting better and I think this year it's really strong and I just hope it continues to get better."

Junior libero Teia Piette has also shown improvement and is reliable on serve-receive and in the back row. Daniella Miranda-Johnson, the lone senior on the team, is also a serviceable specialist that can act as a secondary setter if the Bulldogs decide to utilize Tuileta in the attack.

After it closes out the regular season against the Lancers, Le Jardin will face the winner of the other D1 quadrant on Saturday.