Sportsmanship, Volunteerism Key For Trojan Standout

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Mililani High’s Melissa Monette plays in a recent doubles match at Central Oahu Regional Park. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

A two-week layoff between matches may seem an eternity for Mililani’s Melissa Monette and partner Kim Takara, especially after winning the OIA girls’ doubles tennis title in their most recent appearance. Monette doesn’t mind a little rest. As a senior, she has a busier schedule than most girls her age with her involvement in outside activities and community service projects.

Last year, she was named one of America ‘s top 10 youth volunteers, winning the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for her outstanding volunteer service in the process. She was selected from a field of close to 20,000 applicants and received a personal award of $5,000 and a $5,000 grant from Prudential Foundation for the nonprofit of her choice, among other benefits. Monette was recognized for founding a nonprofit organization that provided more than 13,000 pounds of fresh produce and canned goods to low-income senior citizens and homeless people over a two-year period.

“I enjoyed volunteering, and I just kept doing it,” said Monette, who met former first lady Laura Bush on her trip.“I got a lot of (life) experience in participating in different activities.”

In recent days, her time is taken up mostly with getting ready for the state tennis tournament. She and Takara also won the Red West title on their way to capturing the overall OIA championship April 24.

“I like having the time (between matches) - it gives us a week to prepare for the state tournament, which is just enough time to recuperate. We’ve still been training every day. We can’t change too much. We’re just strengthening the things we’re good at and practicing different sets against different people.”

Monette’s relationship with tennis has been cozy since the second grade, when she stopped playing soccer (another Mililani specialty) to take lessons. By the sixth grade, she already was taking lessons from her current high school coach, Mae Ann Beamer.

“My dad (Mike) used to play, and he fooled around with us on the court when we were younger,” she recalled. “I continued playing and went to lessons. (Coach Beamer) has taught me everything I know. She teaches us good sportsmanship and how to play hard.”

Last season, Monette was paired with Kaylee Yamamoto, and they did well, winning two rounds of the state tournament. This season, Beamer shifted her to play with Takara, who had been the partner of Adrienne Hamada, who is playing singles this time around.

Monette and Takara quickly became a solid pair, as projected.

“We clicked right away,” Monette said. “We just had to figure out the strengths of each other and learning to attack at the net. We were friends last year, but hardly played together until this year.

“It’s worked out really well. We complement each other. Both of us are really strong on volleys, and our ground strokes are good - that’s what makes us strong. She can always pump me up, and she always knows exactly what to say to me.”

Monette will attend University of Hawaii-Hilo in the fall, mainly on academic scholarships, but also will compete on its tennis team.

“(Playing college tennis) has always been in the back of my mind since when I started high school,” she said. “The more time you spend on a sport, you get better. In high school, tennis has been almost every day and a few days a week in the off-season. I get tired in general, but I don’t get tired of tennis. Once I’m on the court, I am excited and I want to play.”