Carney, a 6-foot-3 senior, redefined the role of setter in helping the Raiders win their first state championship. His primary job was to set, but he also switched instantly into a hitter at times and could hit sets as well as he delivered them.

"He brought leadership and was real tough at the net," said Kamehameha coach Pono Maa, whose Warriors lost to Iolani three times, including the state title match. "He's real versatile — he blocks, he can hit and he can hurt you with the jump serve, too. He has about five or six assets."

All of Carney's assets added up to one more reward after a vote of coaches and media: Advertiser State Player of the Year.

"He just brought so much to the table," Maa said. "Against (Iolani), you had to have not just a 'Plan A,' but 'Plans B and C,' too. Things could change not just during the match or game, but in the middle of a play. On one ball he could be hitting, and then in the transition he'll be setting again. Plus, he had a solid attitude, everything you would want in a leader."

Carney signed a national letter of intent to play for defending national champion Lewis University of Romeoville, Ill.

Carney is joined on The Advertiser All-State first team by fellow Raiders Todd Blankenship and Michael Contee, Kamehameha's Adam Tuifagu, Seabury Hall's Corey Spence, Kealakehe's Kyle Teves and Kalaheo's Sam Wilhoite.

Blankenship, a 6-2 senior middle blocker, moved over from his opposite hitter position last year.

"Todd was playing out of position, and he doesn't really have middle blocker size, but he definitely was the best out there," Maa said. "He was a clutch player and great competitor; he seemed to make huge plays when they needed it."

Tuifagu, a 6-1 senior outside hitter, shared Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year honors with Carney and Blankenship. As one of two returning starters, he helped the Warriors absorb the loss of three All-State players to graduation.

"It was tough on Adam because there was a lot of expectation as far as leadership, and he was just growing into that role," Maa said. "But he handled it very well. He carried the offensive load for us, and he did a great job overall."

Spence, a 6-1 senior outside hitter, and Teves, a 6-1 senior middle blocker, were the top players on Maui and the Big Island, respectively. Both helped their teams advance to the state semifinals.

RAMIREZ

"We had a tough time with Corey; he was hard to contain," Maa said. "He could hit quick as well as outside, and he had a good all-around game."

Wilhoite, a 6-7 senior outside hitter/middle blocker, was the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's East Division Player of the Year and led the Mustangs into the state tournament. Contee, a 5-10 senior, is the All-State defensive specialist for the second straight year.