Neighbor Island teams are making the most of their preseason schedule, battling travel, fatigue and top-notch competition to prepare themselves for the regular season.

The Kaua'i and Moloka'i girls volleyball teams wrapped up their second consecutive weekend of play on Saturday at the Ann Kang Invitational Volleyball Tournament at 'Iolani School. Both teams also participated in the Kaua'i Challenge earlier this month. With school beginning July 30, the teams have spent almost as much time in the classroom as they have on the volleyball court.

"We wanted to get in as much preseason as possible before our season," said Moloka'i coach Matt Helm, whose team opens Maui Interscholastic League play Aug. 31 at Maui High.

"You see what it's about and the girls understand what it takes to get to that level," Helm said.

After three days of play on Kaua'i, the Farmers spent nearly an entire day getting back to Moloka'i. They squeezed in two days of practice, then left Wednesday for Honolulu.

Helm said some players were fatigued during matches at the Ann Kang Invitational, a four-day, 20-team tournament that included top teams from Hawai'i and California.

Moloka'i split its match with Oxnard (Calif.) yesterday, losing the first game 25-14 before rallying for a 25-22 win in the second. The Farmers, who finished sixth at the state Division II tournament last year, then swept Wai'anae, 25-20, 25-21, to finish third in its consolation pool.

Kaua'i will be back on Friday for a tournament at McKinley, making it three straight weekends of volleyball. Coach Rich Roberts said his team's preseason tournament, which had 24 teams from Hawai'i and California, helps pay for the trips. The competition also adds variety since there are only two other teams — Kapa'a and Waimea — in the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation.

"For the KIF, since we play each other four times in each round, this is great for helping us mentally," said Roberts, who added his team is caught up with school work. "The caliber of teams here (at the Ann Kang Tournament) are awesome."

Kaua'i senior Kara Cummings also likes the variety of opponents and said the team looks forward to competing and traveling during the preseason.

"For me it's fun because I love the sport," said Cummings, whose team finished third in its consolation pool. "We get to know each other, bond and we look forward to it."

Two-time defending state champion Kamehameha defeated Redondo Union (Calif.), 25-19, 25-22, for the tournament title Saturday. The Warriors, ranked fifth in http://PrepVolleyball.com's preseason poll, became the first team from Hawai'i to win the tournament since Pearl City in 1997.

Kamehameha last won the tournament in 1992.