Lady Bulldogs Face Anuenue In Key OIA Volleyball Match
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usFor all the advantages of playing at home, the Waialua girls volleyball team is warming up to playing road games. The bigger the crowd, the better, figures Bulldog coach Todd Cambonga.
“That makes it more fun,” he said.“A lot of our girls used to get a little rattled when it was loud in the gym, but they’re used to it now, and they know they have to perform.”
The Bulldogs, who took a 2-2 record into their match with Kaiser over the weekend, delivered big in their latest road appearance, defeating a Waipahu team in a riveting five-game match less than two weeks after losing at home to the Marauders.
“The crowd at Waipahu is really supportive, but I thought our kids handled it very well,” Cambonga said. “Our passing was good, and our all-around game was good. It was a tough match. We went five games after losing to them in just three (at home).”
This week the Bulldogs are consumed with another set of challenges. They host Anuenue in a key OIA White Conference match Wednesday and travel to Kapolei on Friday. Both matches begin around 7 p.m.
“Anuenue’s program is doing really well - they’ve come a long way,” Cambonga said. “Their JV team recently beat Waipahu’s JV team, and it’s a very good Waipahu team. We know Kapolei is really strong. They’re like Mililani when it first opened, and the Kapolei crowd is really supportive.
“Everyone on our team has to do their job with just the basics. Our passing has been on the money in the games we’ve won.
We need to stay focused and believe in ourselves, and we can give both teams a run for their money. They’re good - they just don’t believe it yet.”
For their part, the Bulldogs have put the emphasis on themselves lately as opposed to their upcoming opponents. The loss of middle blocker Kaimana Carvalho to an ankle injury has increased the responsibilities of the rest of the players who make up Waialua’s rotation, according to their coach.
“It was tough at first - we lost a player who could play both in the front and the back,” said Cambonga of Carvalho, whose status is week-to-week, “but everyone knew they had to step it up, and they have. I’m real pleased with the progress we’re making. They’ve worked at it and put in the time, and they’re doing their best and giving their best.”
With an interchangeable lineup, Waialua’s players are often asked to play multiple positions, making for ultra-competitive practices. Veterans Kaci Wilia, Savana Ash and Leia Lendio are the Bulldogs’ team leaders.
“It helps them to push each other every day in practice,” he said. “We’re always fine-tuning.”
The Bulldogs still have regular-season games remaining with Thompson Academy (Sept. 24, home), Kapolei (Sept. 27, home), Nanakuli (Sept. 30, away; Oct. 1, home) and Kailua (Oct.1, home). The OIA White Conference play- offs begin Oct. 21.
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