Kalani girls given volleyball top seed
| • | State tournament schedules |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
How her Kalani High girls volleyball team handles adversity doesn't surprise first-year coach Aven Lee. What did throw her off was the announcement that the Falcons (14-0) were seeded first for this week's Nissan Girls' Volleyball Championships.
Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Punahou (17-0) is seeded second, Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion St. Joseph (16-0) is third and Maui Interscholastic League champion Seabury Hall (11-1) is fourth.
"I'm surprised," Lee said. "They usually give (the top seed) to the ILH."
Usually, except what might have factored in was the Falcons beat the Buffanblu in the preseason Ann Kang Invitational. In fact, Kalani's only two losses this season are to the top two teams of that tournament: California's Mira Costa and Newport Harbor.
"They were still in tryouts, so that could be the reason (we beat Punahou)," Lee said.
Joining the seeded teams in the tournament are: Moa-nalua (12-2), Ka-huku (11-4) and Roosevelt (10-5) of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association; Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Kaua'i; ILH runner-up Kamehameha; Maui Interscholastic League runner-up Kamehameha; and Hawai'i Prep (13-3) and Kealakehe (13-4) of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.
The announcement of Kalani's top seeding comes almost a year after it forfeited a state tournament berth for using an ineligible player.
"Many tears were shed," recalled senior setter Marisa Okamoto. "We worked so hard to get to states. It was a heartache."
Although time had since healed their hearts, the Falcons' will continued to be tested. They would go through injuries that forced players into different roles. They simply accepted them.
"The players that are able to play have stepped up their game," Lee said. "They have had to take on more roles. Instead of playing only the front, some had to play some back row. They were willing to take that challenge."
What makes the Falcons fly is their ability to keep their egos in check. While junior Tamari Miyashiro might be noticed more because she will usually get most of the kills — the glamour stat — she is the first to say that her accomplishments come with the other five doing their job. The unselfishness was very noticeable to newcomer Amber Kanoa, a junior who transferred from Sacred Hearts. Her play in Kalani's OIA title win — the school's first since 1972 — against Moanalua last week went without fanfare, assistant coach Joey Miyashiro said. But Kanoa doesn't mind.
"We play as a team, not individuals," Kanoa said. "There's no star or a single player that stands out."
Even freshman Melia Iwamoto said her older teammates don't treat her as a lesser player because of her youth.
"They treat us like equals," Iwamoto said. "They don't treat us any different than anybody else."
She is especially fond of Okamoto, whom she said has no qualms about adjusting sets for the hitters.
"She's like my mom," Iwamoto said. "She can change a set so perfectly. She's awesome. She can't be replaced."
Okamoto, who has been on the varsity since her sophomore year, is confident the girls are in good hands in years to come. Five juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen are expected to return. Three juniors — Miyashiro, Dara Waialae and Keri Hee — will be earning their fourth varsity letters by the end of their senior year.
"I'm pretty sure they can do it again next year," Okamoto said.
• • •
• Maui surprise: One surprise tournament team is the MIL's second team, Kamehameha-Maui.
The Warriors are in their first season of varsity competition, and secured a state berth by winning the MIL postseason tournament. They stunned regular-season champion Seabury Hall in the semifinals, handing the Spartans their first MIL loss in two years.
Kamehameha-Maui has eight sophomores and five freshmen. Donald Kealoha, who coached Maui High to 10 MIL titles, is its coach.
Seabury Hall, meanwhile, brings one of the best players in the state in 6-foot-4 middle blocker Lecca Roberts, who has verbally committed to play at Pepperdine.
The girls' tournament will be played at Hemmeter Fieldhouse tomorrow through Thursday. Friday's matches will be at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
