The Road to the Postseason

Article Written By: Kennedy Velasco - @kennnchapo

Honolulu, HI

There was little room for error Thursday night when reigning state champs and undefeated ‘Iolani walked into Kamehameha gym. Two of the top teams in Hawai‘i volleyball met with the regular season nearing its end, and by the end, the Raiders had once again shown why they have been one of the hardest teams in the state to slow down. The 'Iolani Raiders entered Thursday ranked No. 1 in the state and Kamehameha-kapalama Warriors entered ranked No. 3. The top Hawai'i powerhouses continue to show the state why they have been so dominate and never let the team get an easy point. It was a test against another team near the top of Hawai'i volleyball, and ‘Iolani came through despite being pushed.

‘Iolani defeated Kamehameha 3-1, but it was not an easy match. The match was competitive from the opening serve, with Kamehameha refusing to let the Raiders pull away. The Warriors answered ‘Iolani first-set win by taking the second, and the third set became a battle that could have shifted the entire match. ‘Iolani found a way to close it out in the third, before taking control in the fourth. The difference was not simply one big run or one dominant player. ‘Iolani offense continued to find answers, led by three players who have become central to the team's identity: Taimane Ainu‘u, Poema Kalama-Kingma and Georgie Lee.

Junior Setter and University of Texas commit, Taimane Ainu‘u, has been the heartbeat of the Raiders offense. As the setter, she is constantly making decisions that can determine whether a rally ends with an ‘Iolani point or an opportunity for the other side. Her job is to read the defense, find the opening and deliver a hittable ball, often within a matter of seconds. Against a team like Kamehameha, where every possession can become a long rally, that responsibility becomes even more important. What makes Ainu‘u so dangerous is that she is not limited to simply setting the ball. She can attack when the opportunity is there, serve aggressively and keep defenses guessing. Her ability to contribute in multiple areas has become a major part of the Raiders balanced attack.

Then there is Senior OH/OPP and University of Oregon commint, Poema Kalama-Kingma. She gives ‘Iolani another major offensive presence. She's the player who can become increasingly important as a match develops because opposing defenses cannot afford to concentrate all of their attention on the weapons that 'Iolani has loaded on their squad.

And then there is Georgie Lee. The Senior OH/OPP and USC commit, has shown that she can be the player to deliver when it matters most. She has established herself as one of the team most dangerous attacking options, and her ability to terminate rallies puts constant pressure on opposing defenses. Her presence changes the way teams have to defend ‘Iolani. A blocker cannot simply wait for one particular attack because Ainu‘u has the ability to distribute the ball elsewhere. That creates opportunities for Kalama-Kingma and the rest of the Raiders lineup. The more weapons ‘Iolani has on the court, the more difficult it becomes for an opponent to predict where the next point will come from. What makes the Raiders difficult to deal with is that their three key players do not have to do the same thing to make an impact. Ainu‘u creates opportunities, Kalama-Kingma provides another attacking option and Lee finishes points.

Their roles overlap at times, but they complement each other more than they compete for attention. When Ainu‘u is serving well, she can put pressure on an opponent before the rally even begins. When she is distributing the ball effectively, defenses have to account for multiple attackers. When Lee finds a rhythm, opponents have to adjust their blocking. When that happens, openings can appear elsewhere, giving Kalama-Kingma and the rest of the offense opportunities to take advantage. That is what makes the trio more than just three talented players. Together, they give ‘Iolani a structure that allows the team to keep attacking even when an opponent takes away its first option.

That was shown on Thursday night against Kamehameha. The Warriors were able to take the second set and make the third extremely close, but ‘Iolani did not allow the momentum to stay on Kamehameha side. The Raiders won the third 25-23 and then separated themselves in the fourth, finishing the match with a 3-1 victory.

that structure held up against Kamehameha. The Raiders did not sweep and dominate every set. They were challenged and had to fight through a close third. when the match reached its most important moments, ‘Iolani was able to make the plays necessary to finish.

Kamehameha was close to getting the answer in slowing down the reigning state champs. Sophomore OH/OPP, Moana Purcell, is one of the Lady Warriors leading offensive play maker. The young rising star kept the offense going, especially in the second set where the Warriors would make the Raiders pay on their errors. Senior MB, Kealoha Lyons, was another big piece for the Warriors against the Raiders. Both offensive players are few of the stars that the Warriors will continue to rely on as the postseason shows up.

With the postseason approaching, those are the moments that matter. ‘Iolani schedule now moves toward the ILH tournament, with the Raiders already positioned at the top of the state rankings and continuing to build momentum. But before the postseason becomes the focus, Thursday's match offered another glimpse of what has made this team so difficult to beat.

The postseason will bring different challenges, tighter matches and even less room for mistakes. But if Thursday night was any indication, ‘Iolani has the players and the composure to handle them.

Final Score: 'Iolani 3 - Kamehameha-Kapalama 1

25-21 I 20-25 I 25-23 I 25-18

For more pictures, head over to our photo gallery

Pictures taken by: Kennedy Velasco - @kennnchapo

'Iolani vs Kamehameha-Kapalama Photo Gallery