In a season that had two of the top programs — Kahuku and Punahou — break in new coaches, it took familiarity to take the title.
Kamehameha’s Chris Blake won his seventh girls championship on Friday night, tying Dan Kitashima of Kamehameha. Kitashima won his first in 1994 and his last one in 1999, going an astounding 243-20 in his career. Blake helped Kitashima win five of them as an assistant. Blake is a mere 206-24.
Blake spent three years as an assistant at ‘Iolani before taking over for Joey Miyashiro at Kamehameha in 2003. His Warriors have been in every state final since.
State girls volleyball championships
Dan Kitashima, Kamehameha, 7
Chris Blake, Kamehameha, 7
Kuuipo Lum, Kamehameha, 5
Raplee Fitzsimmons, University, 5
Peter Balding, Punahou, 3
Glennie Adams, University, 3
Myles Shioji, Hawaii Baptist, 3
Diana McKibbin, Punahou, 2
Luella Aina, Hilo, 2
Rudy Sambrano, Waipahu, 2
Robin Goo, Roosevelt, 2
Sonja Samsonas, St. Francis, 2
Donna Mae Chun, Radford, 1
Mary Perry, Punahou, 1
Daniel Kealoha, Kailua, 1
Ann Kang, Iolani, 1
Mona Ah Hoy, Kahuku, 1
Scott Rigg, Punahou, 1
Randy Nako, Punahou, 1
Eric Perry, St. Francis, 1
Jonathan Tom, Sacred Hearts, 1
Matt Helm, Molokai, 1
Kahinu Lee, Konawaena, 1
Add in boys titles, and Blake still has something to work for. Punahou’s Chris McLachlin has won 11 of those and Peter Balding has five boys crowns to go with his three girls titles.
All this talk of coaching legends brings up something only the internet can solve. Get a time machine and collect all of the players in their prime and throw them in a gym. Which team wins?
(Apologies if I left out any obvious ones)
All-Chris Blake team
Devan Bukoski
Kanani Herring
Misty Ma’a
Alohi Robins-Hardy
Bekah Torres
Taylor Akana
All Dan Kitashima team
Nani Cockett
Celia Goods
Aven Lee
Rachel Watson
Lily Kahumoku
Kealani Kimball
A VERY “obvious” under Kitashima:
REBECCA DOWNEY (to a top 10 WVB program, at the time, UOP)
Many of the DII coaches that have won state tournaments are still coaching in high school. Not very many of the DI coaches are still around. What are these former coaches doing these days?
2014 appears to be Blake’s final season before stepping down. Unless some Hawaiians skilled in vball are found, the program is headed into leaner times following this season. The program has been very fortunate to have many great players who were developed through club volleyball, and most not at Blake’s own club, that last year’s JV & Inter results indicate that the well may have run dry. Expect the teams to rally around their director, but also expect him to quit following this upcoming season to avoid having now to develop players instead of inheriting them.