Redshirt freshman middle blocker Paepaetele Poasa, out of Farrington High, answered the call at the California junior college.

"I chose Pae because she is very organized and after last year of being a redshirt she has become bound and determined to play well," Bandy said in an e-mail. "Pae is very focused this year and although she is freshman eligibility, she leads as though she has been in the program for two years."

Pearl discovered her cancer two weeks into the season, in September. She has rare wing sarcoma, or cancer of the muscle or bone. A Taft College press release said two percent of cancers are this type, and that patients are able to carry on a normal life with a treatment program.

Bandy and Pearl, who have family from Hawai'i, took off for several practices to go to doctors appointments, including chemotherapy treatments. Pearl will have surgery to remove her left scapula (shoulder blade) and have an artificial one inserted as soon as her radiation is completed.

"At this point in time, Kealii is very strong-willed and determined to continue working with the team," Bandy said. "She even drags herself to games during the weeks she has been in chemotherapy."

The Cougars (12-1) — with six players from Hawai'i on the roster — lead the Central Valley Conference and are ranked fifth in the California Community College Women's Volleyball Top 25 poll.

"When I found out about Coach Lii, I was shocked and hurt because I never thought something like this would happen to her," Poasa said in an e-mail. "Since Coach Lii and Coach Kanoe have been traveling back and forth going to appointments, our team has gotten closer by praying and working hard, to get better in practice."

Poasa runs practices while the coaches are away. Usually, she holds conditioning drills that Pearl has planned out.

"The team has had to take on tremendous independence," Bandy said. "I think if you met Kealii, you would feel the hold that she has on these players in a very short period of time.

"She had only worked with the team for two weeks before being diagnosed. The team was devastated. We came together as a team and have been each other's strength. We have cried together, laughed together and played some tremendous volleyball together."

The other five players from Hawai'i are freshman middle blocker/setter Pikake Nutter-Gaudet (Leilehua), freshman outside hitter Christi Haia (Sacred Hearts), sophomore setter Lehua Yap (Nanakuli), freshman outside hitter Kaena Apana (Nanakuli) and sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Janice Fonoti (Farrington).

Bandy, who also is the school's athletic director, said the team had to decide to help out at practices or she would have to resign as a coach.

"They jumped in and have done everything they can possibly do to make this all work," she said.

Bandy said she is still in charge of coaching and teaching during practices and matches, but needed Poasa to lead the team for conditioning.

"To have Pae run practice for us is good I guess because she's the type of person that can get the job done right then and there," Yap said in an e-mail. "Pae is always serious and focuses when she is on the court."

Yap, a first-team all-conference selection last season, leads the conference with 12.44 assists per game, and averages 3.01 digs per game.

"The Lii experience has motivated each and every one of us," Apana said in an e-mail. "It did not bring us down, but it did make us want it even more. Our team is like a big family. We all care for one another."

Apana leads the team with 4.90 kills and 4.73 digs per game, and Fonoti leads with 1.122 blocks per game, and averages 2.74 kills and 3.24 digs. Poasa averages 0.878 blocks, 2.38 kills and 2.91 digs. Nutter-Gaudet averages 4.56 kills and 3.23 digs.

"Coach Kanoe trusted me with running practice without her so I tried my best to keep my coach happy and also make my team work harder and stronger," Poasa said.

The team has decided to dedicate the season to its ailing coach.

"Kealii is the key to our success this year and the team has been key to Kealii's healing," Bandy said.