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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Nationally ranked 'Iolani opens tonight

Advertiser Staff

The 'Iolani girls volleyball team, ranked 34th nationally, opens Interscholastic League of Honolulu play tonight.

'Iolani is ranked No. 34 in www.Prepvolleyball.com's preseason national top 100 poll, which was released yesterday. www.PrepVolleyball.com is considered to be a leading source for high school volleyball news.

'Iolani, last year's state runner-up, hosts St. Andrew's at 6 p.m. 'Iolani returns setter Mali'e Yoon, middle hitter Chelsea Hardin, outside hitters Mahina Haina, Alissa Youart and I'isha Keliikoa, and libero Jana Tokuhama.

Three-time state champion Kamehameha, ranked 76th nationally, lost a bulk of its starting lineup from last year. Kamehameha hosts Le Jardin in its ILH opener tonight.

Back for the Warriors are setter Caitlin Andrade and middle hitter Alex Akana. On the outside are Whitney Viveiros and Taylor Akana.

Receiving mentions from www.Prepvolleyball.com were Hawai'i Baptist and Punahou. Hawai'i Baptist is the defending Division II state champion and returns outside hitters Sarah Palmer and C'era Oliveira. The Eagles were the Silver Champion at 'Iolani's Ann Kang Invitational earlier this month. Top returnees for Punahou include outside hitter Anuhea Keanini and setter Pihana Kea.

The O'ahu Interscholastic Association also opens its volleyball season tonight with six Red Division matches.

Radford, the Bronze Champion at the Ann Kang Invitational, plays at Campbell. Kahuku, the Flight Champion at the Ann Kang Invitational, plays at Moanalua, the defending OIA Red champion.

The OIA White season starts tomorrow.

La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) topped the national poll, followed by Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), Lee's Summit West (Lee's Summit, Mo.), Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) and Plant (Tampa, Fla.).