This season, the ‘Iolani girls volleyball team proved that heart, discipline and teamwork wins championships. This resilient, young team built a strong, unified culture, which helped them push to accomplish remarkable things this year. Fueled by last season’s disappointment of losing in the state championship, the girls pushed themselves even harder to achieve their shared goal of becoming the top girls’ volleyball team in the state. Their discipline and commitment to practice paid off, as they dominated the competition and finished with an impressive 17-1 overall record, including 12 sweeps, and securing their spot as No. 22 in the nation. In the end, the ‘Iolani girls varsity volleyball team won the 2025 Hawaii High School Athletic League (HHSAA) Division 1 state championship and Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) Championship.

A championship mindset became one of the biggest keys to the team’s success. Senior Maddix T. ’26 said, “We all felt the pain and the heartbreak when we lost last year, so I think that coming off of that, we didn’t let it beat us twice.” Every drill, every conditioning session and every late-night practice was fueled by the determination to rewrite their story. The push to win was there, and when they embraced this mindset, the girls transformed, turning losses into the stepping stones of a foundation for the championship run that they ultimately achieved.

This year truly showed how much the players grew, not only as elite volleyball players, but as teammates who trusted each other on and off the court. Leadership was shown not only by the seniors, but by other players on the team as well. Discussing her team’s dedication, Maddix said, “[The team was] super mature…they knew what our goal was. They wanted it also, and they were willing to put in the work inside and out of the gym.” As the team’s only seniors, Maddix and Bailey N. ’26 played key roles in its development, offering leadership grounded in their knowledge.

A strong sense of family and chemistry made this team stand out from the rest, and it was something you could feel both on and off the court. Maddix said, “We got even closer. I think if there’s one word to describe it, it would be family, and each year… the ‘Iolani program creates a sisterhood or a family among each other, but this year I think it was something really special.” That connection wasn’t just something they talked about; it was evident in the way they practiced, supported one another and pushed through tough moments. The team didn’t rely solely on one person. Instead, everyone bought into the idea that they were stronger together. In the end, Maddix said, “Our main thing was to play for each other…to trust each other and to play for each other because no matter through the ups and downs of the game, we’re gonna have each other’s back.” This mindset was what carried them through the season and made their bond feel different from that of any other team.