PUKALANI, Maui - The Hana High School girls volleyball team worked through any nerves or anxiousness it may have had, opening its season away from home with a 25-8, 25-19, 25-21 victory over King Kekaulike in a Maui Interscholastic League match last night.

The Dragons (1-0) dominated early on but held firm as Na Ali'i (1-1) found their footing and a little spark to challenge.

''I think they just did a great job,'' Hana assistant coach Rozitta Ho'opai said to The Maui News. ''They practiced hard all this time - we didn't have a chance to go to preseason this year, so a lot of community members came out to help out, which was a big help.

''There were a lot of jitters out there and we had a lot of first-time players on our court tonight.''

Shandi Ho'opai led Hana with nine kills, while Lena Kawaiaea contributed eight.

Miracle Helekahi served three aces and Tasha Emmsley had four. Jy-Len Ho'opai had 19 assists to lead the Dragons.

Hana started the match with a kill from Shandi Ho'opai off an assist by Jy-Len Ho'opai before jumping out to a 14-4 lead. King Kekaulike struggled with faults and various mental errors before tipping the ball out of bounds to give Hana the game, 25-8.

''(I told them) to keep working on the fundamentals, the things we've been working on,'' said Na Ali'i coach Kaipo Thomas. ''A lot of the first game was jitters and jitters will screw up an entire offense, entire defense and everything else.

''I told them just to keep thinking about the mechanics and keep playing aggressive - don't be scared to lose but be aggressive to win.''

His pep talk caught on among the players. King Kekaulike, which earned two key serving points from Kupahu Nalani, kept within two to three points of Hana early in the second game until an ace by Helekahi and kills from Alohi Kapoi and Shandi Hoopai allowed the Dragons to gain a little breathing room midway through.

However, Na Ali'i came storming back with a five-point run, tying the game 17-17. The teams traded points until an assist from Jy-Len Hoopai allowed Shandi Ho'opai to punch one over the net for game point.

''I think just focusing on themselves and what they need to do for themselves and becoming a team was really important for them (during that game),'' Rozitta Ho'opai said.

Added Shandi Ho'opai: ''I just pick them up and we play together (when it gets close like that.)''

Hana never trailed in the third game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead.

''We have a few girls that sat out tonight because of grades and other disciplinary things, so we weren't at full force, but hey, Hana played great - I don't want to take anything away from them, they earned it tonight,'' Thomas said. ''We are a young team that has to find our identity.

''Even though it was a loss, there are some good things we can take from it and learn, you know, and keep adding to our good foundation.''

For the Dragons, however, it was promising start to the season.

''I think it's a big motivator,'' Rozitta Ho'opai said. ''We came a long way from last year.''