HOMEGROWN REPORT
Gesser endured broken bone in passing hand

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Now we know why St. Louis School graduate Jason Gesser didn't look as sharp as we are accustomed to seeing in the telecast of the Sun Bowl Dec. 31.

St. Louis School graduate Jason Gesser, right, overcame a painful injury to lead Washington State past Purdue on Dec. 31. Advertiser library photo • Sept. 22, 2001

Gesser told reporter Carter Strickland of the Spokane Statesman-Review last week that he had broken a bone in his right palm, just below the pinkie, in the regular-season finale against Washington Nov. 17. "I didn't want anybody to know about it," he said. "I didn't want to have an excuse for anything."

He didn't even tell head coach Mike Price.

Gesser's hand hurt every time he took a snap, made a handoff or threw a pass and especially when he got hit. "When it got squeezed or hit it would hurt for 30 seconds to a minute real bad," he said.

The velocity on his passes was noticeably less than usual. "When I would snap my wrist . . . I would feel it on the inside of my hand," he said.

Gesser wears a splint on his right hand at night and it will heal in time for spring practice in April, athletic trainer Bill Drake said.

VOLLEYBALL

• Taft (Calif.) JC

Coach Kanoe Bandy grew up playing volleyball in Hawai'i so it's no wonder she likes players from Hawai'i on her team. In the past season, five Hawai'i players earned all-conference honors as Taft won the Central Valley Conference with a 15-1 record and finished 18-4 overall.

Sophomore right-side hitter Haunani Momoa (Nanakuli 2000) was chosen first-team all-conference by coaches. " 'Nanz' was one of our primary passers, a strong right-side block and hit the ball very hard," Bandy said.

Left-handed sophomore middle blocker Jacquelyn Manuma (Radford '00), freshman setter Maellene Foki (Radford '01) and freshman defensive specialist Chantilly Maiava (Kaimuki) all were second-team all-conference.

Manuma also has done in the classroom and is a student leader.

"Maiava kept us in many games because she reads the ball so well; she had a phenomenal match during regional play," Bandy said. Her teammates selected Maiava as Most Inspirational Player. "She's a joy to be around," Bandy said.

Freshman Chayna Tesoro (McKinley '01) won honorable mention at setter, but was also a strong blocker, Bandy said.

Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Kapesi (Radford '01) is an aggressive player whom Bandy expects to be "a go-to player who will make a significant difference next season." Freshman Saline Samia (Iolani '01) of 'Ewa Beach battled illness and injury, but came on strong late in the season, Bandy said.

Bandy was chosen conference Coach of the Year. Her assistant was Kealii Pearl, who also has roots in Hawai'i.

Taft reached the second round of the state tournament, which was "much more than we ever expected to accomplish," Bandy said.

• Missouri Valley

If Missouri Valley women's volleyball team has its first winning season in recent memory next fall, coach Barry Nicholson says Kym Ingano will be the player most responsible.

Outside hitter Ingano, a 1999 Pearl City High graduate from 'Ewa, "is not only our primary passer, she is our primary all-around player," Nicholson says. "Whenever she is on the court, she makes our team 100 percent better. ... others on the team want to emulate her."

Nicholson said he has convinced Ingano, a "silent leader," to be a team captain in her senior season.

Ingano, a second-team all-star in the NAIA Heart of America Conference the past two years, led Missouri Valley last fall in kills (3.85 per game), attack percentage (.252), digs (3.08 per game) and aces (0.63 per game).

Ingano says Missouri Valley has been a good fit, except "I don't like the weather. It's too cold."

Six-foot redshirt freshman Tiana Williams (Wai'anae '00) is expected to move up from the junior varsity and also help the Vikings improve on their 14-17 record in Nicholson's first year as coach.

SOCCER

• Saint Mary's (Calif.)

Forward Sarah Takekawa (Kailua '01) was chosen on Soccer Buzz magazine's West Region All-Freshman team.

BASEBALL

• New Mexico

Junior Scott Tajima (Iolani '98) will start at catcher for New Mexico in its season opener Friday at Arizona. Tajima batted .307 last season as No. 1 backup.