Surrounded by three All-State attackers who are now playing NCAA Division I volleyball, Kamehameha setter Caitlin Andrade's value during the 2007 season may have gone underappreciated, maybe even unnoticed.

But not this year.

Andrade, a 5-foot-9 senior, clearly was the steady hand that guided the Warriors to a fourth straight state championship despite a mostly new lineup. She capped a brilliant year with 25 assists in the state title match.

Andrade was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and now she adds another affirmation of her value by being named Advertiser State Player of the Year after a recent vote of coaches, officials and members of the media. She had one returning attacker and four new starters to work with this season.

"Cait does so much to make the team what it is," Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said. "Last year she had the terminators who could always put the ball away, but this year she has had to do a better job of getting the ball to the right people in the right places. She's had to be more cerebral."

Andrade showed patience as the new starters developed confidence, and when they did, she maximized their abilities. In three must-win victories to close the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season, Blake said she set "three of the best matches I've seen. She's really been a leader."

Andrade is joined on the Advertiser All-State first team by fellow Warriors Alex Akana, Whitney Viveiros and Lesli Akeo, in addition to Hawai'i Baptist's Sarah Palmer and Kelly Chang, Punahou's Anuhea Keanini and Kahuku's Nile Te'o.

Akana, a 5-11 senior, was Kamehameha's only other returning starter and became a front-line force as a middle blocker/opposite. Viveiros, a 5-10 senior outside hitter, spent two years as a backup but emerged as one of the state's top attackers this season.

Palmer, a 5-9 junior outside hitter, helped the Eagles win their second straight DII state title with 34 kills in a five-set championship victory over Word of Life, and Chang — a 5-2 senior libero — epitomized HBA's nimble defense and deft ball-handling.

Keanini, a 5-6 senior outside hitter/setter, was Punahou's undisputed leader and helped the Buffanblu reach the state title match. Te'o, a 5-5 outside hitter, led Kahuku to a 16-0 O'ahu Interscholastic Association season.

Blake, who guided the Warriors to a 20-2 record, was named Coach of the Year.