That left Nu'uhiwa and the coaching staff searching for new ways to keep the offense flowing, and the result was another perfect (19-0) season and state title.

It also resulted in Nu'uhiwa being named The Advertiser's State Player of the Year in a recent vote of coaches and media.

"Pohai is the kind of kid who just is a winner — no matter what you give her, she is going to find a way to win," Punahou coach Scott Rigg said. "She just said, 'Whether Aneli's with us or not, we're winning.' She was such an impact player; her leadership and confidence was contagious."

Rigg said that without Cubi-Otineru — an explosive outside hitter who has signed with the University of Hawai'i — assistant coach Randy Nako worked with Nu'uhiwa and the other players on a plan to move more toward a strong middle attack.

"We focused more on a good middle (offense), which is hard to find in high school, where most everybody goes with the high outside set," Rigg said. "Randy did a great job working with the girls and shifting the team's attitude (about offense). And Pohai did a great job adjusting."

Nu'uhiwa is joined on the All-State first team by sophomore teammates Elizabeth Ka'aihue and Larissa Nordyke, Kahuku junior Camilla Ah-Hoy, Moanalua senior Danie Hout, 'Aiea junior Lelani Klemen-Maeva, Hawai'i Baptist senior Jayme Lee and Kalani senior Tamari Miyashiro.

Ka'aihue, a 5-8 opposite, and Nordyke, a 5-9 outside hitter, picked up the hitting and blocking slack in Cubi-Otineru's absence. Nordyke took over Cubi-Otineru's role as the "H-1," or first hitter, and notched 15 kills in a key early-season victory over Kamehameha.

Ka'aihue, meanwhile, provided stability as a constant threat.

"Liz was just Liz — she just showed up and played well every single night," Rigg said. "Larissa did a great job as H-1, because that's a big role. She had a banner year, and she's still improving."

Ah-Hoy, Hout and Miyashiro were the top three players in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's highly competitive Eastern Division. All three are listed as outside hitters but did much more for their teams, never coming out of the rotation.

Ah-Hoy (5-10) led the Red Raiders to their second OIA championship in three years. Hout (5-8) led Moanalua to a third-place finish in the state tournament, after the Menehunes had lost 11 seniors and five starters to graduation.

And Miyashiro (5-8) showed no weaknesses as one of the state's best all-around talents — hitting, blocking, setting, digging, passing and serving the Falcons to a fifth-place finish in the state.

Hout and Miyashiro are repeat first-team selections.

Klemen-Maeva (5-11) emerged as a dominant force in leading Na Ali'i to a state tournament berth — the only one from the OIA West in the past two years.

Lee, a 5-2 defensive specialist, epitomized the Eagles' undersized but scrappy team that made a run at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title.

Rigg was named Coach of the Year for the second straight time.