Aiea Girls Volleyball Has Become A Formidable Team
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.usIf the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s postseason girls volleyball tournament were a dance, Aiea would be the individual lurking by the punch bowl, waiting to whisk away your date.
At first glance, Na Ali’i's 5-6 record doesn’t seem that imposing, but a closer look at their season reveals a team hitting its stride, putting Aiea among teams you wouldn’t want to face at the start of playoffs.
“We’re pretty confident right now,“said coach Blythe Yamamoto. “We’ve seen a total turnaround just in our attitude when beginning a match.We finally settled into a lineup, and the kids are definitely playing their best volleyball right now. That’s what it is all about - peaking at the right time - which we are.”
Only three weeks ago, with a 1-6 record, a postseason appearance seemed highly unlikely, even for Na Ali’i, who have won the OIA West seven of the last 11 years.With only four seniors back, and a supporting cast evenly divided between juniors and sophomores, inexperience played a role in Aiea’s slow start.
“We just needed them out there playing and knowing they could do it,” Yamamoto said. “It’s been a gradual transformation. Our game with Mililani (a 30-29, 25-22 loss Sept. 20) was a real eye-opener. They were in first place. We didn’t play our best against them, but we were right there with them, and we knew we could iron out some things. It was a turning point. The girls realized then that they could play with anyone.
“The next time out, we beat Pearl City in three games, and that was a big confidence-builder. After starting the second round dead last, we can now end up (seeded) anywhere between third and fifth.”
Pairings for the OIA Tournament, which begins Wednesday, were to be announced over the weekend. The top five finishers at the tournament earn berths to next month’s New City Nissan Division I State Volleyball Championships. Aiea, which is seeking a fourth straight state tournament appearance, will look to its new-found cohesiveness to lead the way in this week’s OIA tourney, according to Yamamoto.
“They’ve jelled as a team - everyone is playing really well together. Kelly (Leopoldo) has been awesome - she’s pretty much been our most well-rounded player - and Mele (Samisoni) and Danielle Grace have both picked it up.”
The rotation also features seniors Michelle Lambayan and Tati Burgos, freshman Kerstyn Randall and sophomore Ayanna Lindborg.
Yamamoto also attributed her team’s turnaround to improved play when on the attack.
“In the beginning, it was our defense, and we still think we’re playing well there, but our offense has really picked it up. Having your offense come around makes it a lot easier for your defense, and defense is something we can always rely on.”
As is always the case at tournament time, teams must first make sure they aren’t undone from within with unforced miscues, in Yamamoto’s view.
“The team that makes the least amount of errors is usually the team that’s going to win,” she said, “and it is usually the team that can stick together through the tough times. Every game we play (in the OIA tournament) is going to be good for us. If we could sneak into the state tournament, it would be unbelievable for this group. They have the potential.”
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
