A rule is a rule to first-year Kohala girls volleyball coach Chyler Imai.
Even if that rule almost cost the Cowgirls a chance at one of the biggest regular season wins in program history.
Kohala already had the No. 1 seed in the BIIF Division II tournament locked up when they took the court at Konawaena on Friday night. An automatic HHSAA tournament berth also was on the line, but it looked to be going, going, gone when Kohala dropped the first two sets.
They weren’t close.
“The first two sets I had girls sit out,” Imai said. “You miss a practice, you miss a set.”
When Kohala went back to full strength in the third set, they didn’t miss much after that, rallying for a 14-25, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-12 victory in Kealakekua to clinch the regular-season title and a state slot, which gives the Cowgirls one less thing to worry about when the league playoffs begin Monday.
“I’m not sure what happened” the first two sets,” Imai said. “I don’t know if they were nervous or pressured out. I have no idea.”
Once she went back to her normal lineup in Game 3, “they needed to pick it up and did,” Imai said. “They all did well. This is really not about one person. I think they all came together.”
Kohala (11-4) has been doing as much for most of the season.
With losses to only the Big Four in Division I, the Cowgirls have a rare volleyball target on their back as they get set to host eighth-seeded Pahoa (4-11) on Monday in the first round of the Division II playoffs.
Senior-heavy Kohala already owns a home sweep against the Daggers Oct. 9. The semifinals are Wednesday at Konawaena, with the championship on Thursday in Kealakekua.
Kohala has never won a BIIF championship, though the Cowgirls have been to states the past two seasons behind perennial powers Hawaii Prep and the Wildcats.
But this is all new to Imai. She played for the Cowgirls for four years before graduating in 2012, and she never was on a team that qualified for states.
Now she coaches the team to beat.
“We have to be mentally tough, because we’re No. 1 and everyone wants a spot,” she said.
“The girls have worked hard all season. It’s special, it’s great to be a part of and the community has been great.”
Division I semifinals
No. 4 Waiakea at No. 1 Kamehameha, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Kealakehe at No. 2 Hilo, 6 p.m.
Division II, first round
No. 8 Pahoa at No. 1 Kohala, 6:30 p.m.
No.7 Christian Liberty at No. 2 HPA, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Honokaa at No. 3 Konawaena, 6 p.m.
No. 5 Ka‘u at No. 4 Makua Lani, 6 p.m.