Parker Girls Volleyball Wins Back-to-Back BIIF Championships: A Full-Circle Finish!

After a season loaded with injuries, some very tough losses, and some of the toughest competition on the island, Parker Girls Volleyball had one more opportunity to go one better. They finished the season 10-5 and entered the BIIF championship as the #2 seed against their perennial rivals, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy. It was a thrilling 5-set battle that saw Parker come back from a 2-set deficit to win their second straight BIIF title! After an unassailable 16-0 season the year before, this year's team took a very different path to the top, and it ended the same way as the year before: by beating the same team. 

After their historic 2025 season, expectations were very high for Parker Volleyball. Getting back to that level of success wasn't nearly as straightforward. The schedule was tough with a number of Division I opponents, and the team had to compete against some of the very best programs on the island. Injuries also made it difficult to maintain the same lineup all season, creating opportunities for players to step into new roles and take on new responsibilities. There were unexpected losses, some very tough games, and times during the season when you just had to regroup and keep going.

For a team that had such a successful season the year before, it was an opportunity to grow in a different way. Coach Sharon Peterson was constantly hammering home the message to the team throughout the season that "we are constantly learning". That was the mantra the girls carried through the season, through the good and the bad, and it reminded them that every game was another chance to learn.

Despite the problems they'd had along the way, Parker were still determined to reach their goal, and they achieved it by qualifying for the BIIF final. The team they faced in that final was probably the most appropriate of any. The very team that had beaten them in their first game of the season was the one they had to face. With all the experience the girls had gained since that first game, it was the perfect opportunity to prove just how far they'd come.

The championship game at HPA was by no means an easy win. HPA were well represented in the stands, with their student section absolutely roaring throughout the game. With the bulk of the crowd obviously behind their opposition, Parker had to bring their own energy and be absolutely focused on the court.

After a season of injuries, losses, and tough games, you'd have thought Parker would be the last team to come out on top. The girls were absolutely ready to fight, and they certainly weren't going to hand their title over.

Parker got off to a good start with a 25-21 in the first set. HPA responded in the second set with a 25-20 and carried that into the third to win 25-20. Suddenly they were down 2-1, and the championship was slipping away.

But the girls weren't finished with it.

The fourth set shifted the momentum. Poppy Breen and Madi Kinkade in the middle were absolutely on top of the net, block after block. That completely upended HPA against their 7-foot middle blocker and gave Parker the defensive stops it needed. On the outside, Rachel Shotwell and Ha'a Llantero Napihaa were on fire, finding the gaps and scoring the points Parker needed. Basil Au was excellent as a setter, keeping the attack going and creating the opportunities. In the back row, Alyna Bulgarella was a real rock as a libero, keeping the difficult balls in play and giving Parker another chance to attack. Siena Long was a real asset in the opposite and in the set as well. 

The energy on Parker's side was absolutely infectious. Every block was another burst of excitement, every kill another lift for the team, and every saved ball another reason to keep going. They fed off each other, and the momentum that had been HPA's was beginning to shift back to Parker. The fourth set was a statement that they weren't going to be beaten. Parker won 25-16 to force a fifth and final set.

It was all down to the final 15 points, and the gym was absolutely on fire. Both teams played for every point; Parker was fully in it, and they communicated through every play and trusted each other. Starting with a 6-0 lead, they pulled away point by point and eventually closed it out 15-11. That final point saw Parker win the match 3-2 and take its second BIIF title in a row!

Coach Greg Peterson talked about the sheer amount of energy that was absolutely in the air, and that was the thing that carried the girls through to the championship. "Energy is what this team is all about, and we had absolutely massive amounts of it in that match last night, which was the reason we won," he said. You could see it in the stands if you were there. The buzz, the encouragement, the sheer amount of support between the girls was abundant, particularly in the 4th and 5th sets as they came back.

Championship Match Results: Parker defeats HPA 3-2

Set 1	Parker 25-21
Set 2	HPA 25-19
Set 3	HPA 25-20
Set 4	Parker 25-16
Set 5	Parker 15-11

The girls enjoyed the overwhelming excitement when that final whistle was blown. 

This was the second time in Parker School history the girls volleyball team had won the BIIF championships. Even better, it was against HPA. They'd lost to HPA to start the season, and months later they beat them in the game that counted. Quite the full circle!

The championship game was the pinnacle of the season, but it was a true team effort. We had three seniors, five juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen this year, and each of those guys brought something different to the team throughout the season.

For the seniors, Siena Long, Kenzie Pajinag, and Acacia Land, another championship was the perfect way to end their season. They entered the season expecting to repeat last year's championship run, and their final season was the opposite. Siena was an excellent addition to the team and showed up consistently with full-out effort, putting points on the board for Parker. It was a season of obstacles and opportunity to grow. To finish their high school volleyball careers with another BIIF title was absolutely special. They can be proud that they helped bring another championship to Parker, and they can walk into the future knowing the next group will have something to build on.

The Juniors were a major factor in the team's success. Basil Au set the offense, while middle blockers Poppy Breen and Madi Kinkade provided a real presence in the middle. Rachel Shotwell and Ha'a Llantero Napihaa were the primary outside attackers and provided the kills that helped Parker get back on track against HPA. Freshman Alyna Bulgarella started at libero, getting everything up like an unstoppable force. 

One of the great things about the team was just seeing everyone find their place. It was a season where injuries and the squad's fluidity meant everyone had to step up in a different way. It was all about the blocking, the attacking, the setting, the serving, and just keeping the rally going when it was difficult. Every single thing counted. With Sharon Peterson still coaching, the girls brought their individual strengths together and finished the season with another title.

Celebrating a block from Poppy Breen ‘28 with our cheer. 

Looking Toward Another Season

Although the BIIF title was a huge achievement, the girls' season continued on Oahu at the State Tournament. They were up against some of the very best volleyball programs in the state at that tournament, many of them coming from much larger schools with huge rosters and a lot more experience. 

Of course, after the excitement of winning another BIIF title, everyone would have loved to see the team go on and win a few more at States. The results weren't quite what we'd hoped for, but it was a very valuable experience. It was a great opportunity to go up against some of the larger programs, see what it takes to get to the state level, and identify where they still have room to improve. It also gives the returning girls something to look forward to and work toward next season. States is a tough stage to be in, but this group has plenty of time to keep growing and make another run.

For the seniors Siena Long, Kenzie Pajinag and Acacia Land, the championship was the end of their volleyball journey at Parker. For the rest of the team, though, there's absolutely plenty more to look forward to. Most of the starting group are juniors, so Parker will return next year with a very experienced group of players. Basil Au, Poppy Breen, Madi Kinkade, Rachel Shotwell and Ha'a Llantero Napihaa will all be back next year, and the younger girls (Ava Daoust, Aurora Dorrance and Alyna Bullgarella) will be continuing to build up their varsity experience. With Coach Sharon Peterson still in charge, the next goal is already in sight: a third straight BIIF title!.

This season hasn't exactly gone

in the way the girls had envisaged, of course, with injuries running through their season and a number of tough opponents along the way. There have been losses and a lot to be learned. In the end, though, they were a unit, and they delivered a brilliant 5-set win. That's what makes the title win so special.

Last year's team made history with their first title. This year's team proved they could defend it. With two consecutive BIIF banners up at Parker and so much of the team back, the girls are now looking to make it three. Well done to the entire Parker Girls Volleyball team on another absolutely fantastic season!