Elliazer and Soares Bring Height and Talent To Mililani
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThose among Mililani’s Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division foes who thought the Trojans might downshift into a rebuilding phase this season may want to re-evaluate their position.
While it is true the Trojans graduated six starters from 2006, off-season transfers Allie Elliazer (St. Andrew’s Priory) and Candace Soares (Hawaiian Mission Academy) have had an immediate impact since joining the program and are intent on keeping Mililani in the mix again this season.
“They both have all of the skills,” Mililani coach Dexter Young said of Elliazer and Soares. “The ability to make a play out of nothing is something that we haven’t had here before, and both of them have it.”
Both players will make their debut for the Trojans on Thursday, when Mililani plays matches against South Torrance (CA), Upland (CA) and Waimea in day 1 of the Kauai High School Pre-Season Volleyball Challenge. The event, which runs through Sunday, should be a good tuneup for Mililani as it prepares for its regular season,which begins Aug. 28 against defending West champion Aiea.
Although they are newcomers to the program, in Elliazer and Soares the Trojans will have a couple of seasoned players to build around this fall. The only returning starter when they began fall camp a couple of weeks ago was senior middle blocker Olivia Freitas. A while the aforementioned trio’s supporting cast will be comprised mostly of players who are short on varsity experience, there appears to be no shortage of talent on campus. With most of its players are active in clubs throughout the year, the Trojans have more collective experience than it would appear.
“We have true volleyball players now,” said Young, who has a 17-7 record in the West in his two years with the Trojans. “Ninety percent of our kids come to us from the Mililani Club, which is coached by David Lee, so we have a lot of kids with tons of experience.”
The Trojans will also have size on their side this year, according to Young.
“Right now, I feel best about our defense and our block,” he said. “We’ve grown in overall height, so we should be able to put up a stronger defense (than in past years).”
Soares is a 5-9 hitter, while Elliazer, whose mother Lani was a former University of Hawaii player, stands 5-8.
“Candace comes to us from a well-respected Jammers Club, where she was coached by Debbie Yee,“said Young, who is assisted by Val Crabbe. “She can hit all of the combinations.Allie’s greatest point is her leadership on the court. She’s really strong in every skill, and she’s a real fighter.”
Young is also “really high"on setter Mariah Choo and libero Tiare Barroga.
“Mariah has the toughest job - she has to provide Allie and Candace and Olivia with the sets,” he said.“You can have good hitters, but you have to get the ball to them.
“Tiare is the main cog in this. She’s by far the best passer on the team and,with the rule change,she’ll be able to serve now as a libero. She can dominate a game with her serve.”
While the Trojans are guaranteed to play at least eight matches this week in the Kauai tournament, they figure to benefit from more than varsity game experience.
Young also sees the trip as a chance to build cohesiveness.“We went last year, and we liked it. This year, we’ll actually be staying in a high school classroom, so that should help bring us closer together.”
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