VIDEO: HBA volleyball player Sarah Palmer takes to the court

She may not be playing in the feature match Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

And her team might not get top billing in Sunday's newspaper sports sections or TV sportscasts.

That's because Sarah Palmer — arguably the state's top all-around player — suits up for Division II Hawai'i Baptist Academy.

And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I enjoy being here," said Palmer, a 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter. "At a bigger school, you don't get to know all of your classmates, but here everybody is like family. And it doesn't matter if you go to a smaller school — it depends on what you do on the court."

Palmer and her HBA teammates have proved that time and again over the past three years, not only by winning the past two DII state championships but also by knocking off DI powerhouses 'Iolani and Kamehameha.

The Eagles (18-2 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu) enter the DII state tournament ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, out of 72 DI and DII teams across Hawai'i.

"They're a tough team, no matter what division you're talking about," said Kamehameha coach Chris Blake, whose Warriors are the four-time DI state champs but lost to Hawai'i Baptist, 20-25, 25-20, 26-24, at home four weeks ago. "A big part of it is Coach Myles (Shioji) — he runs a great program over there. And part of it is the great defense they always play.

"And then when you have two terminators on the outside like Sarah and C'era (Oliveira), that just takes it to a whole new level."

Palmer is quick to credit the Eagles' success to a team effort.

"It's not just me or C'era; everybody contributes," Palmer said. "Even the players on the bench are always pushing us on the court. We all work hard and play together as a team."

That togetherness comes almost naturally to the Eagles, nine of whom entered the school in kindergarten — including all eight seniors. Palmer said being childhood friends gives her and her teammates chemistry and bonding that other programs have to work to build.

"We all hang out together off the court, we tease each other," Palmer said. "If someone is down, we know not just what to say, but also what NOT to say. It's because we know each other so well."

It often is Palmer who picks up her teammates with her play, whether via a thunderous spike, dramatic block, acrobatic dig or clutch jump serve or pass.

"I liken her to a 'five-tool player' in baseball — someone who can do anything you need," Blake said. "I've definitely seen her growth as a player over the past four years, and her court vision has improved so much, as well as her leadership when the chips are down."

Although Palmer is one of the state's top attackers, she has verbally accepted a full scholarship offer to play libero or setter at the University of Texas.

Her all-around excellence carries over to the classroom, where she holds a 3.49 GPA with a schedule that includes pre-calculus, forensic science, world literature, economics, political science and layout and graphics.

Shioji and HBA athletic director Deren Oshiro said Palmer — who was the 2008 Gatorade State Player of the Year — may be the most decorated team sport athlete in school history, but she still keeps everything in perspective.

"A lot of the seventh- and eighth-graders look up to her, but she doesn't walk around like she's special ... she's a good role model," Shioji said. "She's always looking out for her teammates and puts the team first."

Palmer said win or lose this week, she will cherish every moment.

"I'll be glad to have shared it with close friends and end it with people I'm really close to," Palmer said. "It's been a good run."

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