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Seth Miller

PAC-5 football  •   #7    

Hard work is paying off for Seth Miller and the PAC-5 football team.

The junior running back turned in a prolific performance for the Wolfpack in a 32-7 win over Kaimuki in the first round of the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II Football State Championships at Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium Friday.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Miller ran for a season-high 173 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries to help PAC-5 advance into the final four of the six-team state tournament. Miller opened the scoring with his 8-yard TD run midway through the first quarter and added a pair of 1-yard plunges into the end zone in the second stanza.

"I think his production in that game reflects that our line and fullbacks do a great job, number one, and then on his side of it, he's hitting those creases hard and then he's using his vision to try to make the most of whatever opportunity is given to him. He's a pretty durable runner, which is necessary in that, but again just finding those creases and trying to break those arm tackles," Wolfpack coach Kena Heffernan said of Miller, a third-year varsity player and University Lab student.

In Miller's first two seasons, however, he was in a reserve role behind standouts such as Joshua Arcayena in 2021 and Blade Kaululaau in 2022.

"He actually put on quite a bit of weight this year. He's been working hard in the offseason to be a contributor and he's done a great job of that," Heffernan said.

Miller began his prep career as a slotback and still occasionally lines up there when he's not in the backfield.

"He's a really great receiver, but when we started giving him the ball, we saw that he does a good job of getting north-south, he has great vision, and he's versatile enough where if we put him out in an empty set, he's dangerous there also," Heffernan said.

Miller's growth has been expedited by his unrelenting work ethic.

"He's game to learn and I don't see him being afraid of much of anything. I still think there's considerable room for him to keep developing, so as good as he is now, I think he's got room to grow and get better, which is amazing to think about what the limits would be for this guy because he wants to work, he wants to get in the weight room and get things going," Heffernan added.

He noted that Miller doesn't do it in a flashy way; He certainly isn't one to draw attention to himself, more likely working quietly behind the scenes.

"He's made some big improvements from last year to this year and he continues to impress by just working at it and getting the job done. He's not trying to do anything special out there, he's just trying to run the plays the right way, trying to contribute to the team whether it's offensively or whether it's defensively and that opens up more things for him, but he's doing it for everybody else around him and he would thank his linemen first, he would thank his receivers for helping to block for him and when it comes his time to contribute and block, he's there also," Heffernan expressed.

Miller has eclipsed the century mark a couple of times this season. He ran for 135 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against Damien. Against Kamehameha II a few weeks later, Miller carried 35 times for 154 yards. He is averaging more than four yards per carry on the year.

"He's not a timid player and he does what's asked of him without complaint. Basically, he lines up and plays and does his job and that in and of itself is big. It may sound simple, but from a coach's standpoint, at least from mine, that's a huge contribution. I think for him a lot of it is definitely maturity and whether it's speed development, whether it's strength development, whether it's vision, tenacity, grit, this is what a year of training and putting everything together does," Heffernan said.

To be sure, ‘workmanlike' would be an appropriate description of the mindset that both Miller and the Wolfpack largely maintain no matter the circumstances.

"Honestly, I think PAC-5 has been under the radar … but we're OK with being under the radar and just playing. We're happy to have that opportunity to get out there and play football, so extending the week another season is something that they wanted to do as a team and he, as one of the captains, has been a focal part of that, but nothing has changed from week one to now, just that it's now starting to pay dividends. We've seen tremendous growth with this team and they're still a young team and will get better, but I couldn't be prouder of these guys – and we have two girls – of just going in and playing the great sport of football," Heffernan said.

On the very first play from scrimmage Friday, Miller ripped off a run of 13 yards. PAC-5 had 15 yards tacked on to the end of the run as a result of a personal foul against Kaimuki for a facemask penalty. Despite the tone-setting run, Miller and his teammates remained even keel, Heffernan described.

"Whether there's a big stoppage on that play or whether we get 13 yards on the play, the great part of this team I feel is they just take it as a matter of course. They're not getting hung up on any one play, which is a great thing. It's just, ‘OK, next play,' not jumping up and down, it's just, ‘OK, next play,' and then next play and next play. Again, it's just a matter of them doing their jobs. Whether it's good or bad, they're pretty subdued – ‘Let's just play ball and have fun' – which is a little different from what we see, but for them they just move on to the next play. If something goes wrong, they just flush it and this team, they work for everything that they got," Heffernan said.

The Wolfpack ran for 206 of their 291 total yards against the Bulldogs, but got a huge boost from their defense, which recorded nine takeaways in the win. Junior defensive back Jerome Lilio alone accounted for three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Sophomore defensive linemen Ghesiah Faleafine-Auwae tallied two sacks and forced a fumble and sophomore Mission Uperesa-Thomas racked up 10 ½ tackles and a forced fumble from his defensive back position.

"I believe nine turnovers is a state record. (Lilio) had a huge game, we had a bunch of linemen able to cause those fumbles and I mean, talk about a team effort," Heffernan said.

Running the football is only half of Miller's scope of duties; He is also a starting cornerback on the defensive side of the ball and will be a big factor in both facets when the Wolfpack take on No. 15 Kamehameha-Maui in a state semifinal Saturday night.

"It is gonna be huge for us for him to get his job done as a running back, as a slotback and even as a cornerback, just as everybody does. He is definitely a big piece of the puzzle that we need to move forward to try to extend the season another week," Heffernan said.

Kickoff between PAC-5 (5-2) and KS-Maui (6-1) is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Kanaiaupuni Stadium in Pukalani.

FOOTBALL

Nainoa Aguiar, Roosevelt — Scored on an 89-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Kilinahe Aki, Farrington — Recorded 7 1/2 tackles and two sacks in a win over Damien

Diesel DeMello, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Recorded 7 1/2 tackles, including 1 1/2 for losses and one-half sack, and intercepted a pass in a loss to Roosevelt 

Ghesiah Faleafine-Auwae, PAC-5 — Recorded 3 1/2 tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble in a win over Kaimuki 

Anelu Lafaele, Farrington — Recorded 3 1/2 tackles, including three for losses and two sacks in a win over Damien 

Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki — Ran 19 times for 144 yards in a loss to PAC-5

Jerome Lilio, PAC-5 — Recorded 4 1/2 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery in a win over Kaimuki 

Willis Lilly, Farrington — Intercepted two passes and made one tackle in a win over Damien 

Sitani Mikaele, Farrington — Ran 29 times for 205 yards in a win over Damien 

Paliku Nachor, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Recorded 5 1/2 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass in a loss to Roosevelt 

Kapono Na-O, Kapaa — Ran 24 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 95 yards and a touchdown on 3-of-5 passing without an interception in a win over Lahainaluna 

Erland Pahukoa, Lahainaluna — Made eight tackles and one for a loss in a loss to Kapaa 

Amar Payne, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Recorded five tackles, including 2 1/2 for losses, and two sacks in a loss to Roosevelt 

Heimana Richmond, Farrington — Recorded five tackles, including one for a loss, and scored on a 14-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Damien 

Everest Rodriguez, Farrington — Recorded five tackles, two pass break-ups and two interceptions, including that he returned 98 yards for a touchdown in a win over Damien 

Dayton Savea, Damien — Caught eight passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Farrington

Tyven Self-Gomes-Kealakai, Damien — Recorded eight tackles, including three for losses, in a loss to Farrington 

Taimane Souza-Fautanu, Roosevelt — Recorded 8 1/2 tackles, including one sack, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Kaulana Tihada, Lahainaluna — Ran 22 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns and made 5 1/2 tackles in a loss to Kapaa 

Mission Uperesa-Thomas, PAC-5 — Recorded 10 1/2 tackles and one fumble recovery in a win over Kaimuki 

Kuola Watson, Lahainaluna — Ran nine times for 96 yards and two touchdowns and made 5 1/2 tackles in a loss to Kapaa 

Kathleen Patiola Uluave

Punahou volleyball  •   #5  OH  Senior

Punahou girls' volleyball coach Tita Ahuna isn't shy about stating Lulu Uluave's important to the Buffanblu.

Not one bit, as a matter of fact.

"She's the heart and soul," Ahuna expressed of Uluave, a 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter and three-year starter.

Uluave closed the book on her decorated prep career with the completion of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I State Championships last week. And what a career it was.

As a sophomore back in 2021, Uluave helped Punahou reach the state final against Kamehameha, where she recorded a team-high 10 kills to go along with a dozen digs. Uluave was voted second team all-league by Interscholastic League of Honolulu coaches that year and picked up honorable mention All-Hawaii recognition.

Uluave's junior season saw her improve upon those accolades with All-ILH first team honors and a selection to the All-Hawaii third team.

Ahuna pointed out that while Uluave's role and level of production has evolved over the years, her attitude and on-court demeanor has never wavered.

"Lulu was always a leader. I mean, there are people who just mature into that role, but Lulu has always been a leader and that is something that you don't teach; She just has it. You know when student-athletes have that ‘it factor.' She has that ‘it factor,' " Ahuna said. "She will not give up on you, or herself, or her teammates and you could see that and you could feel it how bad she wanted it."

Ahuna believes that part of the resiliency that Uluave has developed comes from the hardships of the daily commute that she makes to school from her home on the north shore.

"She's always had that grit and I don't know if it came from her adversity that she had every single year driving from Kahuku all the way to town for school and back – those early mornings and late nights – that kind of adversity really shwos on the court that she has that grit," Ahuna added.

Uluave comes from a family of athletes. Her older brothers Alama and Semisi played football for the Buffanblu before going on to collegiate careers. They all share a love for music.

"She can sing, too," Ahuna said. "I hear them on the bus all the time."

Whether it's singing, playing volleyball, or any other endeavor she embarks upon, Lulu Uluave is always fully invested.

"I know that Lulu is always involved in something on campus," said Ahuna, an athletic director at the school. "She's always willing to help – that's just the type of person she is – and her family, they're always involved."

Uluave wears her heart on her sleeve and is unquestionably the selfless leader of the Buffanblu.

"I think her teammates look up to her and I think she's just the type of player that will always do things for the betterment of her team and not so self-centered. She's the type of leader that elevates the people around her. She makes people want to step up and do things beyond their capabilities. Lulu is a great leader and she leads by example," Ahuna said.

Uluave has been a force all fall. She put down 25 kills with 15 digs in a win over Iolani on Sept. 12. A week later she notched 16 kills with 21 digs against Kamehameha.

"She was steady throughout the season, no doubt about it, she was a force to be reckoned with, but during those four days of the state tournament her game just elevated every single night. I mean, she went into the next level and that's what you want to see when you coach athletes, to just get better every single day and peak at the right time and Lulu sure did," Ahuna said.

Uluave recorded a double-double in each of Punahou's four state tournament matches. She racked up 17 kills with 11 digs in a first-round win over Kahuku last Monday and followed that up with 19 kills, 16 digs and three aces against No. 4 Mililani Wednesday night. In a semifinal sweep of No. 3 Kamehameha-Hawaii the following night, Uluave posted 11 kills and 11 digs. She closed out the state tournament with 18 kills and 17 digs against Kamehameha in Friday's championship match.

"She just plays with a lot of heart and she's our go-to person when we need a kill, or when we need to get the team pumped up and ready to play, Lulu is the person to do it," Ahuna shared. "She's harder on herself than anybody else. Everybody else sees what she's doing on the court, but she always wants more, she always wants to get better, that's Lulu; She's always going to give it all she's got."

Uluave took 177 total swings in the state tournament. She posted 65 kills against 22 errors and hit .243 for the week. In addition to her 55 total digs, Uluave passed 78 of 79 serve-receive opportunities successfully. She also recorded five aces and was in on three blocks.

"Her passing, her defense is super steady and you can count on her. Just that tenacity, that willingness to get that ball up no matter what is what Lulu is all about; she's gonna go for it and she's gonna try her best," Ahuna said.

For her efforts Uluave was selected to the all-tournament team along with libero Reese Teves and outside hitter Haumea Marumoto. The Buffanblu fell short, however, of their 10^th state title in program history as they fell to the Warriors in four sets. Still, it was a special opportunity for Uluave to finish out her prep career in her backyard at the Cannon Activities Center on the campus of BYU-Hawaii in Laie.

"I think it meant a lot to her and her family to see her final game in Laie," Ahuna said.

Uluave will continue her volleyball career as a libero at BYU-Provo. She was among a group of nearly 60 student-athletes to sign their national letter of intent at a signing ceremony last Wednesday at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel.

"She's just a great, outstanding person. Off the court she's a good person, she likes to joke around a lot and she's the kind of player that every coach wants to have on their team," Ahuna said. "She's going to be fantastic and I know she will do tremendous things at BYU."

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Adrianna Arquette, Kamehameha — Had 17 kills, 18 digs, three blocks and three set assists in a four-set win over Punahou 

Rella Binney, Punahou — Had 35 set assists, three kills, three digs, three aces and one-half block in a three-set win over Kahuku, had 52 assists, six digs, three kills, two aces and one block in a four-set win over Mililani, had 32 set assists, 12 digs, one kill, one ace and a block in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii and had 42 set assists, 12 digs, two aces, two blocks and one kill in a four-set loss to Kamehameha 

Kalaweloilehua Chock, Kamehameha — Had 16 kills, five digs, two set assists and one-half block in a four-set win over Punahou 

Leina Chu, Hawaii Baptist — Had 31 set assists, two digs, one kill and an ace in a three-set win over Kapaa and had 53 set assists, 17 digs, three aces and one kill in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

Sofia Connor, Seabury Hall — Had 11 kills and 14 digs in a two-set loss to Hawaii Prep 

Kanoelani Contreras, Mid-Pacific — Had 28 set assists, 20 digs and one ace in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist 

Kiana Cueto, Damien — Had 15 kills, 17 digs, three aces and one-half block in a four-set win over Kau, had 12 kills and 12 digs in a three-set win over Waialua, had 15 kills, seven digs, two aces and one-half block in a four-set loss to University Lab and had 16 kills, 11 digs and three aces in a three-set win over Hawaii Baptist 

Kealohi Dudoit, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 15 digs and one ace in a three-set loss to Punahou 

Liliana Dutcher, University Lab — Had 14 kills, 10 digs and one-half block in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

Brooke Eglinton, Mid-Pacific — Had 19 kills, two digs and one-half block in a five-set win over University Lab 

Emmi-Lin Felten, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 17 digs, two set assists and one ace in a three-set loss to Roosevelt 

Natalie Fukumoto, Moanalua — Had 15 digs and four set assists in a three-set loss to Kamehameha 

Kamaluhia Garcia, Moanalua — Had 22 kills, seven digs, 3 1/2 blocks and one set assist in a three-set win over Kalani 

Piilani Hirahara, Roosevelt — Had 32 assists, six digs, two aces and one kill in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Maela Honma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 20 kills, 17 digs, two set assists and one ace in a three-set win over Roosevelt, had 10 kills and 10 digs in a three-set loss to Punahou and had 17 kills, five digs, two aces and one set assist in a two-set win over Baldwin 

Keanu Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 35 set assists, 11 digs, three kills, one ace and one-half block in a three-set win over Roosevelt 

Kaila Kalama-Bajet, Damien — Had 16 kills, nine digs and three aces in a four-set win over Kau, had 16 kills, seven digs, one ace and one-half block in a three-set win over Waialua, had 25 kills and nine digs in a four-set loss to University Lab and had 18 kills and four digs in a three-set win over Hawaii Baptist 

Maiah Kalima-Izumi, University Lab — Had nine kills and 16 digs in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

Danbri Kealoha-Bates, Kapolei — Had 16 digs in a three-set win over Waiakea 

Charis Kai, Mid-Pacific — Had 24 digs and four set assists in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist and had 20 digs, nine set assists and three aces in a five-set win over University Lab 

Avery Kirkham, Maui Prep — Had 14 kills, 10 digs and five aces in a five-set win over Waipahu 

Shaeniah La Foundation, Waipahu — Had 17 kills, 15 set assists, eight digs, four aces and one-half block in a five-set loss to Maui Prep 

Emma Lilo, Kamehameha — Had 43 set assists, 10 digs, three kills, one block and an ace in a four-set win over Punahou 

Ashli Lum, Kamehameha — Had 16 digs and two set assists in a four-set win over Punahou 

Lacey Manzano, Damien — Had 17 digs, four set assists and one ace in a three-set win over Waialua and had 19 digs, one kill, one ace and a set assist in a four-set loss to University Lab 

Haumea Marumoto, Punahou — Had 20 kills and five digs in a four-set win over Mililani and had 15 kills, one dig and one-half block in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Amanda Naipo, Baldwin — Had 12 kills, 10 digs and one set assist in a four-set win over Kapolei 

Ariana Naipo, Baldwin — Had 16 kills, eight digs, two aces and one set assist in a four-set win over Kapolei 

Mayah Nakasato, University Lab — Had 35 set assists, nine digs and one ace in a three-set win over Seabury Hall, had 40 set assists, six digs, 1 1/2 blocks and one kill in a four-set win over Damien and had 56 set assists, eight digs, three aces, 1 1/2 blocks and one kill in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

Marisa Nakata, Hawaii Baptist — Had 18 kills, 11 digs and three aces in a three-set win over Kapaa, had 22 kills and one solo block in a three-set win over Hawaii Prep, had 37 kills, 20 digs and one block assist in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific and had 10 kills, 10 digs and two blocks in a three-set loss to Damien 

Aleamaikalani Paiva, Waipahu — Had 14 digs, 11 set assists and five aces in a five-set loss to Maui Prep 

Leila Paraoan, Kapolei — Had 14 kills, five digs and two aces in a three-set win over Waiakea 

Lilinoe Paschoal, Baldwin — Had 40 set assists, six kills, two digs, two aces and one-half block in a four-set win over Kapolei 

Malinah Purcell-Telefoni, Kapolei — Had 15 kills, two aces, 1 1/2 blocks and one dig in a four-set loss to Baldwin 

Camerin Quinata, Waipahu — Had 19 digs, five set assists, three kills and one ace in a five-set loss to Maui Prep 

Kelsey Reul, Maui Prep — Had 17 digs, three set assists and one ace in a five-set win over Waipahu 

Brooke Samura, Hawaii Prep — Had 17 set assists, 14 digs, two kills and two aces in a two-set win over Seabury Hall 

Anny Scott, Kapolei — Had 41 set assists, five digs, one kill and an ace in a three-set win over Waiakea 

Kahlan Soon, Waipahu — Had 16 set assists, 10 digs, eight kills, three aces and one-half block in a five-set loss to Maui Prep 

Tai Sorenson, University Lab — Had 23 digs, one set assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific 

Payton Smith, Mid-Pacific — Had 24 kills, nine digs, one ace and one-half block in a five-set loss to Hawaii Baptist and had 20 kills, eight digs, one set assist and an ace in a five-set win over University Lab 

Nikko Stack, Mid-Pacific — Had 15 kills, 16 digs, two aces and one-half block in a five-set win over Hawaii Baptist 

Miliana Sylvester, University Lab — Had 25 kills, five digs and three blocks in a four-set win over Damien and had 25 kills, 4 1/2 blocks and three digs in a five-set win over Mid-Pacific 

Ayre Takamoto, Kalani — Had 30 set assists, six digs and two kills in a three-set loss to Moanalua 

Reese Teves, Punahou — Had 17 digs and one set assist in a three-set win over Kahuku and had 16 digs, two aces and one set assist in a four-set loss to Kamehameha 

Lexie Uchima, Waiakea — Had 16 digs in a three-set loss to Kapolei 

Kaleinani Watson, Kamehameha — Had 17 digs and two set assists in a four-set win over Punahou 

Kenna Wengler, Damien — Had 46 set assists, five kills, three digs, two aces and one-half block in a four-set win over Kau, had 48 set assists and six digs in a four-set loss to University Lab and had 37 set assists, 11 digs and one-half block in a three-set win over Hawaii Baptist 

Caitlin Wong, Hawaii Baptist — Had 20 kills, 22 digs and one ace in a five-set loss to Mid-Pacific