Lionel Gannon is as skilled a volleyball player that veteran coach Alan Cabanting has worked with over the years, but there's one intangible that sets him apart from the rest: humility. 

Gannon, a senior outside hitter for the state champion Moanalua boys volleyball team, served as the driving force behind the team's run to a perfect 16-0 record this season, which was capped off by an unprecedented Division I title last week. 

The 6-foot-3 Gannon averaged seven kills a set and hit .358 over the course of three matches on his way to being named the most outstanding player of the New City Nissan/HHSAA State Championships. 

"I'm very happy for him," Na Menehune coach Alan Cabanting said. 

"Early in the season, when everybody wasn't quite set up with what their role was going to be on the team, we knew we could just go to him," he added. 

Even before last week's state tournament, Gannon was stellar in the Menes' three OIA tournament matches as well. He tallied 14 kills with five aces in a quarterfinal sweep of Campbell and followed that up with 17 kills, six digs and five more aces in a semifinal sweep of Radford. Two days after that, Gannon recorded 24 kills, 10 digs, two aces and was in on four blocks in a four-set win over Mililani in the OIA championship match. 

Cabanting noted that in Gannon's first season on the varsity squad as a junior last year, he served as more of a role player. Over the course of his senior campaign, however, Gannon affirmed his place as the team's go-to hitter. 

"Last year we had very good leadership in Malu Wilcox, our setter, and then there were other hitters there, Zeke (Afalava-Sablan), that Lionel complemented well, but he was quietly contributing where he could, whereas this year we knew that when we needed it, we could go to him, but what's awesome is when we didn't need to, he was OK with not getting set (because) he knew that in the long run we needed everybody to contribute," Cabanting elaborated.  

Cabanting, the veteran coach who has led Moanalua to 15 OIA championships between both the boys' and girls' programs, has coached his share of standout athletes in his time. Gannon may not be the most physically imposing, but his craftiness as a pin hitter has certainly served him well. 

"I think he's one of the most skilled hitters that I've seen in terms of the variety of attacks he has. There's been previous hitters I've had that either they had power, or they were physical, but Lionel just has variety in his shots. He has some beach shots, some wipes, he likes to run these inside plays where he can attack really sharp cross court (angles), but for the most part the variety of his shots is what makes it very difficult to defend," Cabanting said. 

Cabanting noted that when Moanalua took on the likes of Southern California powerhouses Mira Costa and Redondo Union during the non-league portion of its schedule this spring, Gannon rose to the occasion. 

"We depended on him to be competitive with those teams, but the other guys were kind of still trying to figure out their roles and so those moments when we faced the top teams, he was there, he was out go-to guy and we could rely on him while we were trying to figure out what the rest of the team's role was," Cabangtin said. 

While Gannon and fellow pin hitter Jarryn "Loa" McCutcheon were established commodities, Cabanting knew that the development of role players like Jerome Obrero, Jett Filisi, Puka Tauane and Taylor Chung would prove to be crucial to the team's success. 

"At times this year we'd practice so that everybody could contribute and so it was nice that when they figured it out, Lionel was still the go-to guy," Cabanting said. 

That was evident last week, when Gannon amassed 63 kills in Moanalua's three state tournament matches. He committed only 15 attack errors over the course of 134 total swings. 

In Wednesday's sweep of Hawaii Baptist in the tournament quarterfinals, Gannon hit .424 (19 kills against five errors on 33 attacks). He also had four digs, three block assists and one ace against the Eagles. 

Gannon shouldered even more of the load in Thursday's semifinal match against Mid-Pacific. He took 57 total swings and parlayed that into 26 kills against only three errors for a .404 kill percentage. Gannon registered eight digs, two aces and was in on three blocks in the four-set victory over the Owls. 

"We kind of came out of the woodworks really sluggish that night, so it was one of the matches that we had to go to Lionel more than we wanted to, but when we played Punahou the balance really helped us out," Cabanting said. 

Against the Buffanblu in Saturday's title match, five different players recorded at least five kills and 11 swings. McCutcheon hit .256 (17 kills against seven errors on 39 attacks), Tauane hit an efficient .562 (nine kills on 16 swings with no errors), Chung tallied seven kills on 13 swings (.308 kill percentage) and Obrero chipped in five kills on 11 swings (.273%). 

"It wasn't just Lionel that night. We knew we needed to go to him when we needed it, but against Punahou all the other guys contributed: Jerome and Puka on the (right) side put away balls in moments that made us balanced, Taylor in the middle same thing, which made Punahou have to respect them and so when we did go to Lionel and Loa, there were holes in the block and we were able to pick that apart, but it couldn't happen if the other guys weren't hitting balls as well," Cabanting said. 

Gannon, by comparison to his off-the-charts production in the semifinals, was held relatively quiet by the Buffanblu. He put down just nine kills through the first four sets, but set 5 was a different story altogether. Gannon put away kills to account for six of Moanalua's first seven points in the final set. The Menes jumped out to a 5-1 lead that proved to be crucial toward the final result. 

"It really showed in the fifth set what he's capable of and how he can carry this team," Cabanting said. 

"That 5-1 start in set 5 gave us a big cushion that we needed because it was 14-11 when they started to charge and those four points ended up being critical for us," Cabangtin added. 

Na Menehune hung on to claim set 5 by a score of 15-13. Gannon, who plays all six rotations, racked up nine of his 18 kills in the final set. 

While Gannon ended up leading Moanalua in kills for the match, a closer look at the box score reveals that he did a whole lot more than put away balls. Gannon was a perfect 46 for 46 on serve-receive opportunities. In fact, he was on the receiving end of more than half of Punahou's 83 total serves. 

"It was definitely big. We knew we were a great passing team so it didn't matter if they would pick on Lionel or pick on Loa — we knew they wouldn't pick on our libero (Darric Abe), but one of those two guys — so the confidence was there in our passing, (but) it was the attacking and the hitting that it was like, ‘Who's going to show up tonight?,' " Cabanting said. 

He went on, "For that match against Punahou, everybody showed up. Jett, our sophomore middle, had an awesome block to shut down (Cam) Porter before they could get close to us in that fifth set. Jerome had another big block for us and so in this moments, we knew that whether it was going to be Loa or Lionel, their passing would still be there."

To Cabanting's point, Gannon was 62 of 63 in serve-receive opportunities in Moanalua's three state tournament matches. 

Although he has carried the team at times this year, Gannon would be the last person one would find pounding his chest or gesturing across the net after a big play, which, as Cabanting describes, endears him to his teammates. 

"There's this quiet confidence about him where he's confident in what he does, but he doesn't appear arrogant to his teammates and that's why it makes it so cohesive for this team because every time he did something it didn't look arrogant to them and they really liked that and they were able to contribute to their goal because he wasn't that kind of an athlete that might intimidate others, but because of that quiet confidence in him this team was really able to be like, ‘OK, I can work with him. I can be a part of the goals he's trying to accomplish," Cabanting said of the captain.  

Moanalua's triumph Saturday was monumental in more ways than one. Not only was it the school's first state championship in the sport of boys volleyball, it also marked the first time a school outside of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu won the top-tier state crown since Roosevelt completed a three-peat in 1979. Prior to Saturday, only three public schools had ever won the D1 state title (Hilo in 1969, Farrington in 1970 and '71 and Roosevelt from 1977-'79). 

Cabanting, a science teacher at Moanalua, acknowledged the many individuals who supported his players and team all year. 

"There's definitely all the people in the volleyball program, but also the teachers and administration that have helped with the kids, especially because these past couple of days has been finals week and everybody was stepping in to kind of navigate it through and were understanding and really, without the Moanalua community, I don't think we could have had this amazing and historic season," Cabanting said. 

Cabanting's squad was one of three Moanalua teams to win state championships Saturday. The boys' track and field team and the girls' flag football team also captured state titles that same evening. 

"I think the community's been beaming with pride and there's just this unity between all the sports and the pride of what it means to be a Na Menehune at Moanalua. Even in the community they're recognizing the boys, so it's been nice," Cabanting said. 

Gannon will continue his volleyball career at Golden West College (Huntington Beach, Calif.). He and the rest of the Moanalua class of 2026 will graduate Tuesday night from Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. 

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Darric Abe, Moanalua — Had 14 digs and two set assists in a five-set win over Punahou 

Hayden Agbayani, Maryknoll — Had 37 set assists, two digs, one kill and one block assist in a four-set win over Kauai and had 46 set assists, four digs, two aces and one kill in a five-set loss to Pearl City 

Kanalu Akana, Punahou — Had 35 set assists, six digs, five kills and one block assist in a three-set win over Radford, had 42 set assists, three kills, three digs, two aces and one block assist in a three-set win over Mililani and had 48 set assists, four kills, two digs, two block assists and an ace in a five-set loss to Moanalua 

Kyran Canete, Pahoa — Had 15 kills, seven digs and an ace in a five-set loss to Hana 

Christian Cruz, Moanalua — Had 30 set assists and six digs in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific 

Ryan Devaney, Pahoa — Had 47 set assists, six digs, five kills and a solo block in a five-set loss to Hana 

Kaito Duranceau, Mililani — Had 18 kills, six digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Konawaena 

Brennan Flores, Mid-Pacific — Had 14 digs and four set assists in a three-set win over Maui 

Pierson Fox, Kauai — Had 17 kills and six digs in a four-set loss to Maryknoll 

Andrew Guzman, Maui — Had 30 set assists, nine digs, one kill and a block assist in a three-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

McKenna Hepton, Mid-Pacific — Had 15 digs, four kills, one block assist and one set assist in a three-set win over Maui 

Elau Hoopai-Waikoloa, Hana — Had 39 kills, 16 digs, four aces, three block assists, two solo blocks and two set assists in a five-set win over Pahoa and had 17 kills, four digs and an ace in a three-set win over Hana 

Kiai Ilae, Maryknoll — Had 23 kills, two digs, one block assist, one set assist and an ace in a four-set win over Kauai and had 30 kills, 13 digs, two block assists, one set assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Pearl City 

Micah Kalima-Keohohina, Radford — Had 10 kills, 15 assists and three digs in a three-set win over Kekaulike 

Laakea Kamahele, Le Jardin — Had 22 kills, 14 digs, three block assists, two solo blocks, two set assists and one ace in a four-set win over Kapolei, had 17 kills, four aces, three set assists and two digs in a three-set win over Hana and had 20 kills, five digs, three block assists, two aces and a set assist in a three-set win over Pearl City 

Kolby Kawaa, Moanalua — Had 30 set assists and two aces in a five-set win over Punahou 

Seth Kimura, Mililani — Had 10 kills, 11 digs, two block assists, two set assists and one ace in a three-set win over Konawaena 

Keanu Lee, Maryknoll — Had 16 kills and eight digs in a five-set loss to Pearl City 

Justin Lopez, Kauai — Had 34 set assists, six digs, two kills and two block assists in a four-set loss to Maryknoll 

Jarryn McCutcheon, Moanalua — Had 17 kills, seven digs, one solo block and one block assist in a five-set win over Punahou 

Nikola Miocinovic, Mid-Pacific — Had 32 set assists, nine digs, five block assists and four kills in a three-set win over Aiea and had 35 set assists, nine digs, five block assists, one solo block, one kill and an ace in a three-set win over Maui and had 44 set assists, 10 digs, two kills and two block assists in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Sava Miocinovic, Mid-Pacific — Had 15 kills, six digs, two set assists and two aces in a three-set win over Aiea and had 23 kills, four digs and one solo block in a three-set win over Maui and had 27 kills and six digs in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Ellison Morgan, Konawaena — Had 13 kills, 11 digs, one block assist and a set assist in a three-set loss to Mililani 

Brennan Nakayama, Le Jardin — Had 32 set assists, 12 digs, two block assists and one kill in a four-set win over Kapolei, had 32 set assists, four digs, two block assists and one kill in a three-set win over Hana and had 39 set assists and five digs in a three-set win over Pearl City 

Marley Ngirmidol, Pearl City — Had 46 set assists, four kills, two digs and one block assist in a four-set win over Kau and had 46 set assists, 15 digs, four kills and one block assist in a five-set win over Maryknoll 

Reven Otsuka, Pearl City — Had 15 kills, nine digs and one solo block in a four-set win over Kau and had 16 kills, seven digs, two set assists, two aces and one block assists in a five-set win over Maryknoll 

Karsen Polido-Tuaifaiva, Kau — Had 12 kills and 10 digs in a four-set loss to Pearl City 

Cameron Porter, Punahou — Had 14 kills, six digs and one set assist in a three-set win over Radford, had 18 kills, five digs, three block assists and two set assists in a three-set win over Mililani and had 25 kills, six digs, three block assists, one solo block, one set assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Punahou 

Luke Prangnell, Maui — Had 16 kills, 15 digs and one solo block in a three-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

Jason Rivers, Hawaii Baptist — Had 17 kills, two digs, one block assist and one set assist in a three-set loss to Moanalua and had 14 kills, seven digs, one solo block and a set assist in a two-set win over Konawaena 

Julian Romine, Mid-Pacific — Had 14 kills, seven digs, three block assists, one solo block, one set assist and an ace in a three-set win over Aiea, had 12 kills, 10 digs and one set assist in a three-set win over Maui and had 19 kills, four digs, three block assists and two solo blocks in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Tanoaalofa Scanlan, Punahou — Had 15 kills, seven digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Mililani and had 15 kills, 13 digs and five block assists in a five-set loss to Moanalua 

Austin Sou, Kapolei — Had 33 set assists, six kills six digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Le Jardin 

Josiah Talamoa, Pearl City — Had 20 kills, six aces, three digs, two block assists and two set assists in a four-set win over Kau, had 28 kills, five digs, four set assists, one solo block, one set assist and one ace in a five-set win over Maryknoll and had 16 kills and a block assist in a three-set loss to Le Jardin 

FLAG FOOTBALL

Alexiis Amanonce Feliciano, Campbell — Threw for 177 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-23 passing with one interception in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and threw for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-21 passing without an interception in a win over Kamehameha 

Taimane Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-26 passing with one interception and ran 13 times for 131 yards in a win over Kailua, threw for 295 yards and five touchdowns on 31-of-45 passing with two interceptions in a win over Waimea, threw for 326 yards and six touchdowns on 25-of-31 passing without an interception and ran for another touchdown in a win over Waipahu and threw for 464 yards and eight touchdowns on 37-of-44 passing without an interception in a win over Maryknoll 

Cayden Aranio, Waimea — Caught four passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Kapolei 

Alexia Barrera, Kalaheo — Intercepted two passes and had four flag pulls in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Kirie Bowman, Kalaheo — Had three sacks in a loss to Maryknoll 

Bayle Brooks, Kapolei — Caught 13 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Maryknoll 

Madie Buczyna, Hawaii Prep — Ran eight times for 82 yards and a touchdown, caught five passes for 55 yards, had nine flag pulls and two pass break ups in a loss to Waipahu 

Selena Castro-Antonio, Waipahu — Had nine flag pulls, including three sacks, and broke up a pass in a win over Hawaii Baptist and had seven flag pulls, including one sack, and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Sophie Foster, Mililani — Scored on a 44-yard interception return for touchdown, had six flag pulls and one pass break up in a win over Waianae 

Breidi-Ann Higa, Moanalua — Threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-38 passing with an interception and ran for a touchdown in a win over Campbell 

Kekelaokalani Kalauokaaea-Kahele, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Caught eight passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kauai and had two interceptions, two flag pulls and one pass break up and caught a touchdown pass in a loss to Kalaheo

Aydrianah Kam, Kapolei — Had four flag pulls, including three sacks, in a win over Maryknoll 

Kaylyce Kaupe, Kapolei — Caught 10 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waimea and caught 11 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Maryknoll 

Shaydennurijah Key Bryd, Moanalua — Caught five passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Leilehua 

Puaena Herrington, Maryknoll — Threw for 123 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-25 passing with one interception and ran 23 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Honokaa, threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-27 passing without an interception and ran 19 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kalaheo and threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-40 passing with one interception in a loss to Kapolei 

Breidi-Ann Higa, Moanalua — Threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-37 passing without an interception in a win over Leilehua and threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-32 passing with one interception in a win over Konawaena 

Styralynn Hoakalei Reyes, Moanalua — Had 10 flag pulls, including four sacks, in a win over Campbell 

Kaylyce Kauwe, Kapolei — Caught seven passes for 117 yards and three touchdowns and intercepted a pass in a win over Waipahu 

Jourdyn Kekauoha-Viena, Kalaheo — Caught a touchdown pass, intercepted a pass, had one pass break up and a flag pull in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Jodie Keo, Moanalua — Caught eight passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Konawaena and caught two touchdown passes, had six flag pulls, two pass breaks up and one interception in a win over Campbell 

Lindsey Kouchi, Punahou — Had seven flag pulls, including four sacks, in a win over Nanakuli 

Kekai Loo, Baldwin — Had 11 flag pulls in a loss to Mililani 

Kailea Moniz, Honokaa — Threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-30 passing without an interception and ran 17 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Molokai, ran 13 times for 129 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Maryknoll and threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-34 passing without an interception and had 11 flag pulls in a win over Punahou 

Zennalen Nelson, Mililani — Caught a touchdown pass and ran for another in a win over Waianae and ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown, had two flag pulls and one interception in a win over Baldwin 

Lauren Okuda, Hawaii Baptist — Had 10 flag pulls and two pass break ups in a loss to Waipahu 

Aleah Ortiz, Kailua — Scored on a 48-yard interception return and had six flag pulls in a loss to Kapolei 

Cayden Parado, Campbell — Caught three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, had two flag pulls and two pass break ups in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and had four interceptions, one pass break up and two flag pulls in a win over Kamehameha 

Kaylyn Rae Pascual, Kapolei — Caught nine passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kailua 

Kianah Racca, Kauai — Intercepted two passes and had two sacks in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Kiana Ramos, Punahou — Threw for 226 yards and six touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing with one interception in a win over Nanakuli 

Navaeh Ranis, Baldwin — Caught 10 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, intercepted two passes, including one she returned 50 yards for a touchdown, and had two flag pulls in a win over Punahou 

Aisyss Respicio-Ragocos, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Intercepted two passes, broke up another and had one flag pull in a win over Kauai 

Madison Rodrigues, Waianae — Had 10 flag pulls and one pass break up in a loss to Mililani 

Alizae Royelle Maialoha, Mililani — Had four flag pulls, including three sacks, in a win over Waianae, had five sacks in a win over Baldwin 

Zoe Silva, Maryknoll — Caught 10 passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns and had nine flag pulls and an interception in a win over Honokaa, caught 12 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns and had three flag pulls and one interception in a win over Kalaheo and caught 11 passes for 230 yards and touchdowns and had 11 flag pulls in a loss to Kapolei 

Iaorana Simanu, Moanalua — Caught eight passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Konawaena, caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in a win over Campbell 

Jailyn Smith, Moanalua — Had five flag pulls, including three sacks, and one pass break up in a win over Leilehua and scored on a 30-yard fumble return for touchdown and had four flag pulls in a win over Campbell 

Jaynalyn Sotelo, Campbell — Threw a touchdown pass, intercepted a pass and had five flag pulls in a loss to Moanalua 

Zaira Sugui, Moanalua — Had 11 flag pulls and one pass break up in a win over Leilehua and had 12 flag pulls, including one sack, and a pass break up in a win over Mililani 

Aubrie Tabiesa, Honokaa — Had 10 flag pulls and an interception in a loss to Maryknoll 

Kiele Tachibana, Punahou — Intercepted two passes and had two flag pulls in a win over Nanakuli 

Lilyanah-Tiare Tamale, Kapolei — Had nine flag pulls and one pass break up in a win over Baldwin 

Myla Tuitele, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 10 flag pulls, two interceptions and one pass break up in a loss to Campbell 

Camila Valdivia, Kalaheo — Ran 13 times for 125 yards in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii