The giggles and laughter coming from the Kamehameha Schools' Ke'eaumoku Gym late Monday afternoon were almost constant, even more so than from the nearby elementary school courtyard.

Practice was in session for the three-time defending state champion Warriors girls volleyball team, which will begin defense of its crown in tomorrow's Hawai'i High School Athletic Association/New City Nissan Championship quarterfinals.

But for the 16 girls on this year's squad, game preparation means having fun with each other as well as taking care of business.

"It sounds corny, but I really think what makes them succeed is their love for each other, their trust in each other," said Kamehameha coach Chris Blake, who is quick to share a joke or chuckle during practice himself. "They believe in each other."

The team concept, the internal support among teammates, has been a central — but perhaps overlooked — element in Warriors' success over the past five years (three state titles, two state runner-up finishes).

It has been magnified this season, however, after the graduation of four starters and one reserve who went on to play for NCAA Division I programs. Despite the mostly new lineup, Kamehameha went 17-2 in the ultra-competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu and won its fourth straight ILH title.

And the Warriors did it in surprisingly convincing fashion, with back-to-back sweeps of first-round champion Punahou.

"They're playing very well," Punahou coach Jim Iams said after Saturday's title-clinching sweep. "It's not easy to do what they've done, and I give them credit for their focus and intensity. The bottom line is that they were the better team today."

Emphasis on team.

PREPARED BY PRACTICE

Among the 2008 graduates was Kanani Danielson, who was known as Kanani Herring in high school and was a three-time Advertiser State Player of the Year.

Danielson is now a starting outside hitter for No. 9-ranked University of Hawai'i.

Other graduates include three-time All-State middle blocker Bekah Torres (University of Pacific), All-State outside hitter Jordan Meredith (Boston University), Tati Santiago (Nevada) and Ashley Williams (Syracuse).

But hitters Taylor Akana and Whitney Viveiros held their own against Herring and Co. in practices all last year, so Blake and returning starters Caitlin Andrade and Alex Akana are not surprised by their ability to ease into bigger roles this season.

"I knew we could do it again with these girls, I did not question it one bit," said Andrade, a setter who was an Advertiser All-State second-team selection in 2007. "I saw them do it last year."

Viveiros, a 5-foot-10 senior, said she gained valuable experience as a backup to Danielson and Meredith as a sophomore and junior.

"It was big shoes to fill, but I learned a lot playing against them in practice," Viveiros said. "It really prepared me for this season."

The practices include high-intensity and fast-paced — but fun-filled — scrimmages in which the first team to score seven points wins.

Often, the starters will be matched against the three top reserve hitters/blockers and top three back-row specialists, a unit affectionately referred to as "The Machine."

"Practice-time was our game-time, and it's still like that this year," Viveiros said. "Some of our best matches are in practice. Everybody goes hard."

VETERAN LEADERSHIP

Andrade and Alex Akana said they and the other returnees would not be satisfied with a "rebuilding year."

Blake said he assigns the task of the team's T-shirt design to the players every summer, and this year's slogan — printed on the back — is:

"In order to succeed, You must know what you are doing, You must love what you are doing, and believe what you are doing."

Blake said the season has mirrored that slogan in many ways, with some early ups and downs but a stronger push toward the end. He added that the returnees have taken the lead in showing the newer players the way.

"There's a difference in knowing the path and walking the path," Blake said. "The girls know that our job is not done, and they know what they have to do to get better."

Alex Akana, a 5-11 senior middle blocker who will play alongside Andrade at San Jose State next year, said they did not set their goals any lower despite losing many key starters.

"People thought this would be a rebuilding year, but we told the new girls this really isn't," Akana said. "We knew what it takes to be in this spot. All the little things count — it's the hustle plays, keeping serves in ... And even when we're down, we're still believing in ourselves."

SETTING THE STANDARD

Andrade, a 5-9 senior, has been the steady hand guiding play on the floor.

"She does so much to make the team what it is," 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. But in the last two weeks, she set three of the best matches (a victory at 'Iolani and two sweeps of Punahou) I've seen. She's really been a leader."

In Saturday's sweep of the Buffanblu, Alex and Taylor Akana led Kamehameha with nine kills each. Sophomore Talia Jardin added seven kills, Viveiros had six.

In addition to spreading the attack and keeping the Punahou defense guessing, Andrade also served an ace and won a key joust at the net to tie the third set at 24-24, after the Warriors had trailed 22-17. They ended up winning, 27-25.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

Another overlooked cornerstone of Kamehameha's dynasty has been its defense.

For all the offensive fireworks provided by Danielson, Torres and Meredith during the state title "three-peat," Danielson said much attention was paid to blocking, digging and passing.

"It was always drilled into our heads — defense, defense, defense," Danielson said. "You can't do anything on offense unless you pay attention to serve-receive and defend your side of the court."

Blake said one of the keys to Saturday's ILH title victory was the Warriors keeping balls alive and playable to convert into points on offense.

"One of the strengths of our team is its ability to play defense," Blake said. "It takes hard-nosed defense to get the ball back up when we're out of our system and still give us opportunity for good swings."

THE PLAYERS' PROGRAM

Blake, a 1991 Kamehameha graduate, became the Warriors' head coach in 2003 after being an assistant at his alma mater and 'Iolani.

Blake said he learned much from former Kamehameha coach Dan Kitashima and the late 'Iolani coach Ann Kang, especially about the team concept.

"The strength of our team is in our team," Blake said. "Anybody and everybody contributes. The program is about the girls, and they deserve all the credit."

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com.