Hawai'i high schoolers perform well at development camp
Advertiser Staff
Two players from Hawai'i won co-Most Valuable Player honors this week at a USA Volleyball boys national Development Camp at California's Long Beach State University.
Brian Zodrow, a May graduate of St. Louis School who is headed for the University of the Pacific, was chosen co-MVP of the 18-years-and-under Youth national camp, and Bronson Soares, a junior at Punahou School this fall, was co-MVP of the 16-under division at the High Performance national camp.
Three MVPs were selected by the USA Volleyball staff for each division. The camp was for players who were not selected for national traveling teams this summer.
"There is no doubt that Brian could have played on the Youth National Team," a camp administrator said. "It's a one-day tryout and he got overlooked or didn't have a great day."
Zodrow, the administrator said, had "a tremendous camp all the way through. He's very gifted and very consistent. He had the highest vertical jump in camp, around 38 1/2 inches." Zodrow is a 6-3 opposite.
Soares, a 5-9 libero or defensive specialist, made his mark in a small-court doubles tournament including players from both camps in which teammates changed every 20 minutes. "He ended up on Court No. 1. His setting, passing and ball control are all at a pretty high level because of how much beach (volleyball) he has played at Outrigger," the administrator said.
Max deWolff, a junior this fall at St. Louis School, was selected MVP for one of the four days in the Youth division camp. "He's stronger and more physical than kids his age," the administrator said. "He's like a sponge — he has the ability to listen and apply it right away, and he's an absolute animal when it comes to working hard." deWolff is a 6-5 outside hitter.
Sean Carney, a 6-2 setter who will be a sophomore at Iolani School, also was invited to the camp with players from all over nation.
• Iolani tourney: Three nationally-ranked teams, including the host, will be among 20 girls teams playing in the 19th annual Iolani Invitational Tournament, Aug. 15-18 at Iolani School.
Defending champion Harvard-Westlake of California is ranked No. 3; Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Calif., is No. 9 and Iolani is No. 43 in preseason Fab 50 rankings announced Tuesday by Student Sports Magazine.
Eight teams from California, one from Canada, three from the Neighbor Islands and eight from O'ahu will play a total of 72 matches over four days, starting at 9:45 a.m. and finishing about 9 p.m.
Tournament director Ann Kang said it is the largest volleyball tournament in the state.
Passes cost $12 for four days and $10 for three days. Single-day admission is $4 for adults and $1 for students 12th grade and under.
Teams entered:
From O'ahu: 'Aiea, Farrington, Hawai'i Baptist Academy, Iolani, Kamehameha, Leilehua, Roosevelt, Wai 'anae.
From Neighbor Islands: Lana'i, St. Joseph, Waiakea.
From California: Clovis West, El Dorado, El Molino, El Toro, Harvard-Westlake, Laguna Beach, Mater Dei, Mira Costa.
From Canada: Peace River of Alberta.
