Blue is new in girls volleyball this season, a division meant to increase participation and help players develop.

The O'ahu Interscholastic Association launched its Blue division last night with matches played before the junior varsity and varsity teams. The Blue teams are open to players between ninth through 12th grades and was created after suggestions from coaches and administrators.

Donovan Martinez, Kaimuki's girls varsity coach and head of the volleyball program, hopes the blue team will help players gain game experience, something they might not get if they were on the JV or varsity squads — or if they didn't make either of those teams.

"It gives them the game-time experience that might not have been there in the past," Martinez said. "It's an opportunity for them to participate in extracurricular activities.

"It's a good opportunity to expand the program."

Blue teams will compete under the same Division I and Division II classifications as their schools' varsity programs, and will have their own OIA playoffs at the end of the season. Blue players can also move up to the JV or varsity teams, similar to how JV players move up to the varsity during the postseason.

At McKinley, more than 50 girls showed up for volleyball tryouts, and coaches tried to split them among the program's three squads.

"There's more opportunities because if all of us went out for the varsity, most of us would be on the bench during the game," said Kylie Sato, a sophomore on McKinley's Blue squad.

Junior Leilani McKenna, who, like Sato, had played on McKinley's JV squad, had a similar view to playing for the Blue team.

"I think it gets more players involved," McKenna said. "It gives you more experience than sitting on the bench."

Regan Agena, varsity girls coach and head of the Farrington program, said he's using the Blue team to develop "up-and-coming" players.

That will help players like McKinley junior Jenna Mau, who used to play club volleyball, but hasn't played the sport for a few years.

"It feels more competitive, but that's good," Mau said.

McKinley Blue coach Ryland Watanabe said the response from players has been positive.

"The girls enjoy it because it's a chance to get playing time and game experience," Watanabe said.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.