Caption: Endurance, HBA’s mascot, walks through the crowd during halftime at Spike Nite. Photograph by Ava Quinlan ’28.
On October 3, the Eagles competed against Le Jardin’s Bulldogs in HBA’s annual Spike Nite. The two schools have a history of competing for the top spot in their league, and this year HBA was able to pull off a victory. The Eagles had a rocky start, with the Bulldogs winning the first set 25-21, but the Eagles stepped up their game and won the rest of the sets, 25-18, 25-11, and 25-20 respectively.
A packed gym of HBA supporters gave the Eagles motivation as they solidified their advance to the state championship. Many fans were decked out with face paint showing off playing jersey numbers and volleyballs. This unified display of black, white and gold, HBA’s school colors, along with the fan’s spirited cheers, was a strong statement of school spirit, and helped spur the team to victory.
Sophomore Keira Liew, a second year varsity player, shared that she was ecstatic, relieved, and exhausted after the Spike Nite win. “Being that this is my second year on the team, I have a better understanding of what it takes to compete and win, which is working hard every single day to train my mind and body. I really enjoyed playing in the match with the high energy from our student section cheering us on,” she said.
This year, Spike Nite was also senior night for the team, and celebrating it with a large home crowd made the evening even more special for the graduating players. Senior Kate Iida, a third year varsity player, reflects on her last high school volleyball season. “Playing for the last time as a senior was incredibly bittersweet. Volleyball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and suddenly the countdown to the end of the season came just like that. They really mean it when they say it goes by fast, but you don’t really understand it until you’re looking back and realizing that even those 6 a.m. practices don’t seem so bad anymore,” she said. To the underclassmen, she offered this advice: “For anyone interested in playing volleyball, I would say to never let anyone beat you down. The game is more mental than it is physical. And remember to be comfortable with being uncomfortable because that’ll set yourself apart from everyone else.”
Freshman Allie Tom, a first year varsity player, was pleasantly surprised at the significance of Spike Nite. “Playing at senior night was such an impactful and unforgettable moment for me,” she said. “The energy of the crowd, the cheers, and the love that filled the gym made it one of the most memorable nights of my life. In that moment, I could truly feel God’s presence with me, reminding me that every opportunity, every cheer, and every step on the court was a blessing from Him. I’ll never forget that night and how it showed me the beauty of hard work, faith, and His plan coming to life.”
The team moved on to compete at States after winning Spike Nite. They made it through the first round of States, winning three out of four sets against Waipahu. They were defeated by Seabury Hall in the next round and finished the championship in 5th place. Junior Maya Kim, who was red shirted last year, finally got the opportunity to play at States for the varsity team. She described her experience as being both thrilling and “nerve-racking.” She said, “Like with any tournament, being in the elimination rounds will always put some kind of unwanted pressure on you. It doesn’t matter how good you are. I was, for the most part, excited and grateful that I was able to be a part of a team that managed to get so far.”
Despite their 5th place finish, the players shared how much they were proud of their team’s overall performance. Senior Rhyan Cobb Dumlao, a third year varsity libero, offered her perspective, saying, “During States, we had a tough loss against Seabury, but we still fought back and put in our best effort against Roosevelt and won. The bench had great energy and the people on the court really showed their perseverance and gave it their all. Throughout this whole season, all my teammates have improved so much and I am so proud of every single one of them.” Tom, too, came out of States with a positive experience. “This was my first time playing in a state tournament, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. The tension was high, and every game felt like a battle, but our team showed so much grit and heart to fight for every point. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to compete at that level and to play alongside such amazing people.” From Tom’s point of view, what she treasures most is the “journey [the team] shared together and the way God worked through it all.”
Photo Gallery
Photographs by Ava Quinlan (’28)
