Reigning All-Hawaii Girls Volleyball Player Saige Kaahaaina-Torres puts up a set for middle Sasha Petticord against the Buffanblu Tuesday night. Michael Lasquero | SL

View image 1 of 2

Iolani junior S/OPP Kristen McDaniel puts down a kill against Punahou in the first set of an ILH Division I contest. Greg Yamamoto | SL

View image 2 of 2

---

Reigning All-Hawaii Girls Volleyball Player Saige Kaahaaina-Torres puts up a set for middle Sasha Petticord against the Buffanblu Tuesday night. Michael Lasquero | SL

View image 1 of 2

Iolani junior S/OPP Kristen McDaniel puts down a kill against Punahou in the first set of an ILH Division I contest. Greg Yamamoto | SL

View image 2 of 2

---

For the first time in her high school career, Iolani senior Saige Kaahaaina-Torres finally got to do something that she'll be doing in her collegiate career this past Tuesday night.

The reigning All-Hawaii Girls Volleyball Player of the Year split time at the setter position as the Raiders debuted a 6-2 offense in their 25-15, 33-31 win over visiting Punahou to wrap up Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I first round play with a 4-2 record.

Kaahaaina-Torres, who will play collegiately as a setter for the University of Missouri, was never utilized as a setter in an ILH match up until this point.

As a sophomore, Kaahaaina-Torres saw most of her time on the court as a right side hitter. In her junior year, she blossomed into one of the state's top outside hitters to help the Raiders capture their first state title since 2001.

Kaahaaina-Torres was thankful for the opportunity to do what she loves against the Buffanblu.

"It was amazing," said Kaahaaina-Torres, who had 17 assists and nine kills in the win. "I love setting, that's my passion. That's what I want to go to college for, to set. Given the opportunity, I was really grateful for it and I think the team did amazing."

Iolani junior Kristen McDaniel, the Raiders' starting setter in a 5-1 offense, was also solid with 16 assists, eight digs and six kills. Like Kaahaaina-Torres, McDaniel saw most of her time on the court as a right side hitter.

"It was a little throwback to last year, I really enjoyed," McDaniel said on running the 6-2. "We're comfortable with all the lineups that we have. I think it's a really good thing that we all can gel together so I think this lineup is really successful."

As a left-handed hitter, McDaniel also gives the Raiders another threat that opposing teams have to prepare for.

"I think it gives us a little bit more balance," said Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey. "A lefty is always difficult (to defend) because not everybody has one and they hit different angles. That definitely helped out."

Obrey added that the move to try out a 6-2 system was because his team was dealing with injuries to a couple of rotational players.

With just one day of practice to install the new offense, it's safe to say the adjustment was a success.

"It's cool to see the girls come out and play even though we made a little switch, to just own it. To embrace it and do the best that they can," said Obrey.

Punahou, who gave Iolani its first loss of the season, did not expect the move.

"It definitely took us a whole set to adjust to that," said Punahou coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson. "Last time we did a pretty good job against them. I thought it was good on their part that they switched their lineup. They flipped it and they involved more hitters, and it opened up their offense."

Kaahaaina-Torres agreed that the lineup gives the Raiders more options.

"I think definitely with that different lineup, it opens up a lot more options for our hitters, and I think when they were given the opportunity of it, they took full advantage of it."

Elena Oglivie had 11 kills and seven digs to lead the Raiders' offense. Middle Sasha Petticord has seven kills and three blocks in her first game back from an injury and Izzy Sakoda had five kills to round out the Iolani attack.

With two other middle blockers out with injury, freshman middle Cameryn Nagaji also saw time in the lineup and got in on a block that gave Iolani a 23-14 lead in the first set.

While Obrey was noncommittal on whether to not his team would use this new lineup moving forward, the rest of the league should be put on high alert. In the ultra-competitive ILH D1, which Maryknoll coach Luis Ramirez called a "dead pool," adaptation is crucial to survival.

As second round play shifts to a best of 5 series, it will be interesting to watch the chess match between the four teams for the rest of the season.

The Raiders, who are participating in the Nike Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas this weekend, will resume league play against the Spartans on Sept. 26.