# Keonilei with the depth that Kamehameha carries year in year out it was tough to crack that line up her freshmen year. She waited her time and there was no denying her a starting position her sophomore year. I believe Chris Blake recognized he had a gem. It’s clear she is a winner and we’ve seen her improve her game from year to year; passing, digging and this year elevated to new heights her hitting. She plays with a confidence that her teammates feed off of. Watching her play defense is like watching a leopard stalk and attack her prey. She is tenacious and reads the game like everyone else is in slow motion. IQ through the roof. That ability can frustrate an opponent. She always looking to get better and not afraid to take the last swing. Won a championship without her sister who was the best middle in the states her junior and senior year.

# Elena jumped on to the seen as the “Baby Faced Assassin” nicknamed by Kevin Wong her freshmen year on OC16. Recognized for her offense but it’s her fluid defense and passing that separates her from being a very good 3 rotation to great 6 rotation player. It’s the subtle moves to position herself is where the homework pays off. When you watch her game it is smooth and she tends to make it look easy. Calm under pressure and seems to make the right play; 1st, 2nd or 3rd contact. Volleyball IQ is built on repetition over the years on and off the court. Read and sees things before they happen. She covers half the court on serve receive and has done it at the international level. The international balls are known to be more difficult to pass. I watched Kamehameha play a Japanese all-star team a couple of years ago and those international balls move a lot. Her play looks like she is a student of the game and her teammates gravitate towards her. Best passer in my book.

# Danielson was actually out of position early in her freshmen year but coach Crabbe realized she needed to move Falanika from libero to OH. Not sure if it was injury or necessity but it was the right move. A star was born and Mililani climbed the ranks in OIA. She has the blood line of greatness. I watched her play the last several years and it was like watching fire that you can’t contain. Small in stature but huge on courage as she attacked the blocks. She knows when to take over a match and plays to her strengths. Another high IQ player that sees the court well. Heard she is uncommitted; a school will grab her up by the end of the Hawaii combine if not sooner. Once they see her play she’ll pass the eyeball test. She knows how to direct traffic on the court and gets after it with strong motor.

# Dunford is a little unknown at the varsity level until this year. Like Kamehameha the past years depth at Punahou has made varsity turn into a waiting list to get on the roster. Kaia is a player and can pass better than most people realize. Between, Tara , Elena and Kaia they had the most court responsibility on serve receive. Punahou strengths was their size that created difficulty for defenders. Kaia is a good blocker and grew her offensive game throughout the 2019 campaign. It was fun to watch her also grow in confidence from the beginning of the season through the playoffs. She seems quiet but plays a big game. I see lots of upside and bright future at Oral Roberts.

# Tara was lights out on defense and she demonstrated her range in serve receive. She can jump in and take balls in coverage from other good passers lined up next to her. Chris Blake definitely gave her the green light. Tara and all of these 5 gifted players covered a large portion of the court on defense too. Tara’s play this year was not a surprise to me. She showed she can handle the role last year with Kamehameha starting libero out earlier in the 2018. Physically she took on hard driven balls that would knock down other defenders. She seemed to relish her job. Cal got themselves a good one. She made critical plays that helped Kamehameha win the championship. Chris and staff have a libero factory. Tara seems low key but you can tell she loves to compete. You want her in your corner.

Crabbe is looking at Elena with such a narrow-minded perspective. Attacking the ‘one team’ motto, however, is even more unacceptable. Each player on that ‘Iolani team had a role and you cannot deny that. Bias PERIODT.