Coaches know best.
Or maybe not. For a second week in a row, Kamehameha is atop the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top 10. The Warriors defeated Mid-Pacific last week to finish ILH play 6-3, behind eventual first-place finisher Punahou.
Kamehameha collected six of 10 first-place votes while Punahou garnered the other four. One point separated the two powerhouse programs.
Punahou (7-2) is No. 2 for a second week in a row despite being the only team from the ILH, or any league, to earn a state-tournament berth so far.
The return of national-team outside hitter Devin Kahahawai plus the expected return of 2020-21 Gatorade player of the year Maui Robins from an ankle injury are likely the reasons why more than half of the panel voted for Kamehameha.
‘Iolani, which handed Kamehameha a loss late in the regular season, remains at No. 3. The Raiders swept No. 4 Moanalua in an exhibition match over the weekend. Each team missed key players due to injuries and college trips.
The remainder of the Top 10 remained intact as the ILH campaign entered a brief hiatus before the playoff tournament. The ILH Division II playoff tournament begins on Tuesday. The ILH D-I playoff tourney begins on Nov. 9.
Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top Ten
Nov. 1, 2021
Rank School (first-place votes) points, last week’s ranking
1. Kamehameha (6) (6-3 ILH) 95 1
2. Punahou (4) (7-2 ILH) 94 2
3. ‘Iolani (5-4 ILH) 77 3
4. Moanalua (4-0 OIA) 72 4
5. Damien (7-1 ILH D-II) 52 5
6. Mililani (5-0 OIA West) 48 6
7. Kahuku (4-1 OIA East) 34 7
8. Kapolei (4-0 OIA West) 31 8
9. Baldwin (6-0 MIL) 21 9-t
10. Le Jardin (6-2 ILH D-II) 13 9-t
Also receiving votes: Kamehameha-Hawaii 6, Maryknoll 3, Seabury Hall 3, Waianae 1.
What factors are taken into consideration when ranking schools? Does the current performance not factor in? Regardless of what athletes are playing, predictions should not be factored into ranking it should be the school’s current performance.