Kapolei Girls Need Experience, But Team Attitude Is Great
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usFor all the talent Naidah Gamurot has seen pass through her Kapolei volleyball program in recent years, another intangible is on display this preseason.
“I like the character and personality of this team,” she said. “Last year we were all experience and all power, but this team will be solid because of their attitude.”
Last season the Hurricanes delivered the school its first OIA volleyball title en route to a fifth-place finish at the DII state tourney. Their only loss came to eventual state runner-up Word of Life in the state quarter-finals, finishing with an overall record of 18-1. That kind of resume would normally prompt a promotion back to Division I,but the OIA will re-evaluate Kapolei prior to the 2010 season.
The team is in the reload mode, having lost the talented trio of Tehani Kaaihue, Marie Nataliela and Courtney Seminavage, among others, to graduation, and the current roster has just three senior returnees to go with 11 first-year varsity players. Despite that, the team’s recent appearance in the Longy Okamoto Invitational preseason tournament was seen as cause for optimism, as they placed seventh out of 20 teams. The good news is the return of libero/outside hitter Luana Scheer, hitter Milo Lafitaga and blocker Vanessa Banogon. All are expected to have expanded roles this time around, especially Scheer.
“I sat down and had a talk with Luana, and she knows her role. Last year she didn’t have to be a leader because we had Maria and Tehani. We were set for three years straight (with leadership).”
Scheer was a libero last year, but was a hitter in the recent tourney and could play a number of positions this fall.
“She’s versatile and really fast. She can pick up everything in the back, and she can jump. She’s a good overall athlete and one of our most consistent passers.”
Gamurot is looking for Lafitaga to have an impact as a hitter, meanwhile, after playing behind Nataliela and Kaaihue last season. Like Lafitaga, Banogon is 5-7 and will play in the right front.
“She has a really good attitude, and we’ll be playing her on the left front. Vanessa has one of the higher reaches on the team, and she’s really picked it up this season.”
All jobs are open, however. “They all want the (starting) spot - they know it’s open. Defense is ahead of the offense right now, but that’s a good thing.”
Kapolei opens its OIA season at 11 a.m. Saturday at Waialua. Next they have a much-anticipated match with Kailua on home turf Aug. 26. Kailua finished second to Kapolei in the OIA in DII last season.
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