Kamehameha, Punahou annually dominant in volleyball rankings




The first ever Hawaiian Electric Volleyball Power Rankings were unveiled in the 2017-18 sports season, and since then, we've ranked the top 10 teams for both boys and girls every week since, 29 weeks of rankings for girls volleyball and 20 for boys.

The 2019-2020 season marked the 50th year of high school girls and boys volleyball competition in Hawaii, and although the power rankings have only been around for about 3 of those seasons, it is interesting to look back and go through the rankings week by week and see what types of trends emerge.

KAMEHAMEHA TOP OF THE HILL IN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Iolani, Kamehameha and Punahou each have been featured in every Hawaiian Electric Girls Volleyball Power Rankings since its inception, but the Warriors' average rank of 1.3793 puts them comfortably ahead of their ILH rivals.

To say the least, Kamehameha's girls volleyball program has been successful since the very beginning. The Warriors have won 22 championships at the Division I level between 1969 and 2020, including a streak of five straight between 2005 and 2010. Counting this season, they have made it to 18 consecutive championship matches.

During the 29 weeks of the Power Rankings, the Warriors have been seated at number one 20 times, including a streak of 16 weeks that ran from the second week of the 2017 season all the way through to the eighth week in 2018.

Since 2017, two out of three state championships have been won by the Warriors, the only blemish coming at the hands of Iolani, who defeated the Warriors in three straight sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-18) in the 2018 title game.


TOP GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS BASED ON AVERAGE RANK, APPEARANCES (2017-present)

 TeamAverage rankPtsWeeks rankedPtsTot
1 KSK 1.38 1 29 1 2
2 IOL 2.10 2 29 1 3
3 PUN 2.90 3 29 1 4
5 MIL 3.95 5 21 7 12
5 MOA 6.89 8 27 4 12
6 KSH 7.09 9 22 6 15
7 MS 3.67 4 9 12 16
8 KAH 6.44 7 18 10 17
8 KAP 8 12 25 5 17
10 LJA 7.1 10 20 8 18
11 KSM 6.37 6 8 13 19
12 KKE 8 13 20 8 21
13 DMS 7.6 11 5 15 26
14 HILO 8.75 16 12 11 27
15 WNAE 8.33 14 6 14 28
16 FARR 8.33 15 3 17 32
16 WKEA 9.2 17 5 15 32


QUICK HITS

Iolani won a state title in 2018, which included the aforementioned straight set win over Kamehameha in the title game. During the Power Rankings era, the Raiders have bounced between first and third place and have only been fourth once through all 29 weeks of rankings. The longest streak at number one for the Raiders stands at five weeks, a three week span to close out 2018, and two weeks at the top to open up 2019.

Punahou made it to the HHSAA tournament championship game this season, but came up short to the Warriors in a close four set match (25-21, 21-25, 16-25, 21-25). The Buffanblu are the only team to appear in all 29 power rankings and not win a title. Punahou took the top spot in the rankings three times in 2019.

Mililani was only ranked once in the 2017-18 season, but turned a new leaf in the 2018-19 season and has been ranked every week since. The Trojans placed 3rd in the 2018 state tournament, defeating the Kahuku Red Raiders, and also saw a peak ranking of third in the Power Rankings that season.

Moanalua has no titles to its name, but has been a part of the Power Rankings in 27 out of the 29 weeks of its existence. In 2019, the Na Menehune made it to the state semifinals, but were defeated by the Warriors, who went on to win the state tournament. Na Menehune highest ever ranking was fourth, in the week prior to the state tournament in 2017.

KS-Hawaii was a spotless 15-0 in BIIF play this 2019-20 season, ranking in every Power Rankings during the season, starting in the ninth spot and finishing eighth. The Warriors did not appear in the state tournament in 2017, but placed fifth in 2018, a season that saw the Big Island Warriors peak at number four in the rankings.



BUFFANBLU THE BENCHMARK IN BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Punahou has undoubtedly been the team to beat in boys volleyball for what seems like forever. Despite the fact that Iolani, Kamehameha, and Moanalua have appeared in all 20 weeks of the power rankings, Punahou has taken the top spot every week except for two weeks in 2018, when Iolani got a taste of top billing.

The Buffanblu hold an almost flawless average rank at 1.1, nearly a spot higher than the second place Raiders. Between 2004 and 2019, Punahou took every state championship title except for 2008 (Iolani) and 2011 (Kamehameha).

During the Power Rankings era, Punahou has won all three state tournaments.

Although their season came to an unexpected and abrupt halt due to concerns over the coronavirus, Punahou placed number one in the first and only Power Rankings of the 2019-20 season, with Iolani right behind in second.


TOP BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS BASED ON AVERAGE RANK, APPEARANCES (2017-present)

 TeamAverage rankPtsWeeks rankedPtsTot
1 PUN 1.1 1 20 1 2
2 IOL 2.35 2 20 1 3
3 KSK 3.05 3 20 1 4
4 MOA 4 4 20 1 5
5 MIL 6.31 5 16 5 10
6 HBA 6.86 8 14 6 14
7 KSH 6.77 6 13 9 15
8 KSM 7.28 10 14 6 16
8 KAIS 7.78 10 14 6 16
10 HILO 6.8 7 10 10 17
11 KHEO 7 9 8 11 20
12 WNAE 8.5 13 8 11 24
13 WAIP 8.6 14 5 13 27
14 WKEA 8.33 12 3 16 28
15 LEI 9.4 17 5 13 30
16 RAD 9 15 2 17 32
16 CAST 9 15 2 17 32
18 KAP 9.5 18 4 15 33


QUICK HITS

Iolani has never ranked below fourth in the Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, and the only team other than Punahou to be ranked at the top. The Raiders followed up a semifinal placing in 2018 with a title game appearance in 2019.

Kamehameha won their last state title in 2011, defeating the Punahou in three straight sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-23). In 2017, the Warriors played in the final match of the season, but fell to Punahou, and have not qualified for the state tournament since. The Warriors highest showing in the Power Rankings is second, achieved at the midway point of the 2019 season.

Moanalua started the 2020 season 2-0 in OIA Division I league play and were ranked third in the power rankings. The Na Menehune nearly defeated the Buffanblu in a five set thriller in the semifinals of the 2019 state tournament, but lost the 5th set 15-5. Na Menehune ranked second in the Power Rankings for four consecutive weeks, in the final rankings of the 2018 season and through the first three weeks of 2019.

Mililani has never won a state championship in program history. However, the Trojans have been ranked in all but four Power Rankings since inception. In both 2017 and 2018, Mililani placed sixth in the state tournament, losing in straight sets during the quarterfinals. The Trojans highest placing is fourth in the rankings, a spot they held for three weeks in 2019.

Hawaii Baptist saw a peak ranking of fourth during their 2018 campaign, competing in ILH Division I. Prior to the start of the Power Rankings, the Eagles won seven consecutive Division II state championships, from 2011 through 2017.

KS-Hawaii was ranked throughout the 2019 season, peaking at the fifth position before eventually finishing ninth in the final Power Rankings. The Warriors made it to the state championships in 2017, but were defeated by the Buffanblu in a tough four set match.

SL staffer Brien Ing contributed to this story.





Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


MORE STORIES

Aiea downs Radford to claim first OIA D2 title since 2017

Na Alii led early and rapped out 13 total hits to pull away from the Rams to clinch their first OIA Division...

Pagampao powers No. 1 Mililani past No. 7 Kapolei for 12th OIA crown

The senior belted three home runs, including the go-ahead and game-ending blasts, to lead the Trojans...

Kapolei dethrones Campbell to set up OIA D1 title tilt with Mililani

The Hurricanes pulled away from the Sabers in the final frame while the Trojans held off a late charge...

Surfriders cash in on Na Alii miscues to claim 15th league crown, ninth under Ishigo

Kailua sent eight batters to the plate and scored five runs in a tide-turning bottom of the third inning,...

Waianae rolls past Radford to claim first OIA championship since 2017

Shysten Nagasako did work on both the mound and at the plate in the Seariders' mercy-rule shortened win...

No. 1 seeds Aiea, Kailua to face off for OIA Division I baseball crown

Na Alii posted a 3-1 win over Roosevelt behind Aidan Yoshida's complete game, while two pitchers combined...