Waialua Girls Volleyball Team Working Its Way Into Shape
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usTodd Cambonga wasted little time putting his stamp on the Waialua volleyball program. The Bulldogs’ boys coach since last spring, one of his first duties after joining the girls’ program was to implement the grueling preseason conditioning sessions at a nearby beach.
“It was pretty exhausting,” said Cambonga. “I didn’t participate with the boys, but I ran with the girls for a week, and I think I lost six pounds.”
Should the Bulldogs be a factor in the OIA White Conference race this fall, they’ll no doubt look back to their off-season workouts. But Cambonga likes the level of competition he’s seeing at his early-season practices. Thirty-nine girls are vying for playing time on Waialua’s three girls volleyball teams.
“This year, they have to work harder in order to play,” he said. “What I like best about this team is their ability to adjust well. We came in with a new look and switched around a lot of things. We’re not very tall at Waialua usually, but they make up for it with heart.”
Prior to arriving at Waialua, Cambonga was a longtime men’s assistant coach at Mililani, where he works as a special education teacher. He and brother Christian Perry, who is Waialua’s JV coach as well as a varsity assistant, also run Kolohe Athletics, a North Shore volleyball club. As a longtime resident of Haleiwa, Cambonga has always been interested in the Waialua job and was a girls assistant coach there in the ‘80s.
“I had been wanting to coach there a long time, but they always had a coach,” he said.“It’s my way of giving back to the community.”
In addition to a demanding off-season program, his players were also active in community service, including a cleanup of the beach they use regularly. This week, they’re focused back on the court and will play in the McKinley Pre-season Invitational Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pairings for the tournament were to be announced after press time, but the event figures to be a good springboard into the season, which begins early next month.
Cambonga was pleased with his team’s play at the recent Hanalani Pre-Season Tournament. The Bulldogs went 6-6 in the four-team tourney, which also featured Division I Leilehua, as well as Christian Liberty and host Hanalani.
“They’re pushing each other, and they’re willing to work hard and learn,” he said.
He’s counting on senior Kaci Wilia and juniors Savannah Ash, Leia Lendio and Kaimana Carvalho to lead the way early on. “All four are willing to put in the extra time in the gym to get better. They all work very hard and have similar qualities.”
Among the new adjustments was Wilia’s transition from middle blocker to outside hitter, the position she played for most of her volleyball career.
“She’s done unbelievably well there,” he said of her switch. “She’s our kill leader so far, so she can put the ball down, and she’s a leader by example, and she’s vocal. She’s kind of a coach on the floor.”
More changes include Ash’s switch from outside hitter to setter and Carvalho’s transition from outside to the middle. “Kaimana is probably the shortest middle in the OIA at 5-6, but she has good reach and great jumping ability - she can get up there with the taller girls,” Cambonga said.“Savannah is an explosive player. She’s dynamic, and she has steady hands.”
Cambonga is also excited by Lendio’s play as the team’s defensive specialist. “She’s one of a few of our girls with club experience, so she came to us with excellent skills. She’s a very aggressive player in the back, and she’s very determined.
“The other girls are all coming along well, too,“he added.“We have a lot of work to do still, but it looks promising for us.”
Waialua finished 6-7 last year in the OIA White Conference, behind Campbell and Waipahu.
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