The Iolani girls volleyball team won the ILH but fell in the state final last year. This time they hope the roles are reversed.
The Raiders beat Punahou 23-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-19 on Friday night to clinch the league’s second state berth. The Raiders will host their first-round match on Monday against an opponent to be determined.
Kamehameha, which beat Iolani in last year’s state final, won the ILH championship on Thursday. Punahou’s season is over.
The win over their rivals represents a turnaround for the program under Kainoa Obrey, giving Iolani successive years with a state berth for the first time since 2001 and 2002.
The ILH runner up has beaten the league champion in the state final in each of the last two years and four of the last 13. The league champion has not failed to win the state title three years in a row since 1974-76.
Punahou hasn’t missed states in successive years since 1989-1990-1991.
COMMENTS