Na Ali’i Rake In First-team Honors For Four Players
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usEven weeks after the end of their season, Aiea’s balance on the girls volleyball court continues to show itself. When the OIA Red West coaches gathered recently to vote on All-Conference teams, Na Ali’i dominated the process much as they dominated the competition on game nights this season, with four Aiea players earning First Team honors.
Highlighting the list was junior setter Danielle Grace’s being named Player of the Year in the Red West.
“Grace is a lefty, long and lanky - and she has a perfect body for volleyball,” Aiea head volleyball coach Blythe Yamamoto said. “She has a lot of athleticism and a lot of potential. She improved a lot from last year.”
Outside hitter Kelly Leopoldo, middle blocker Mele Samisoni and senior Michelle Lambayan were also named to the first team from Aiea. “Kelly is only about 5-foot-4, or 5-5 if she’s lucky, but good things come in small packages,” Yamamoto said. “She consistently gets her kills, and she’s great, defensively. Mele is an explosive player who can dominate at the net. Michelle is a high-energy player who was our only four-year letter-winner. We’re going to miss her ball-handling.”
Kaala Leopoldo, Ashlei Liilii, Ayanna Lindborg and Natasha Souza were all named to the Honorable Mention team from Aiea. All fall and in the summer months Na Ali’i were driven to make amends for an uncharacteristic 2007 season that saw them finish 6-6. They re-grouped big-time this year to win the West with a 12-0 record (they finished 15-4 overall) and went on to earn a berth in the Division I state volleyball tournament, finishing as the consolation champion.
If all goes according to plan, the team will continue its upward mobility with Leopoldo, Samisoni and Grace all expected to return next season. Interest in volleyball within the community also has multiplied in recent years, according to Yamamoto, which figures to fuel the talent pool.
“This always has been a baseball community, but we’re seeing the younger kids begin to play volleyball more,“she said.“It’s really good to see the community getting behind volleyball. It can only help us. We also had a lot of football boys out supporting us during the season. Hopefully, they’ll come out (for the boys team) in the spring.”
Matala Keiki was Pearl City’s lone First Team selection, while Tiana Inong, Tonisha Buford, Keani Passi and Reyna Acosta were named to the Second Team from the Chargers. Nicole Boyer, Marie Fujii and Tabytha Inong received Honorable Mention.
Oli Kila was a Second Team selection for Campbell, which also placed seven players - Ariel Medlin, Jazmin Brown, Ashlyn Oliverios, Ama Lui, Randi Shoening, Chelsea Wilson and Brittney Hiu - on the Honorable Mention team.
In Division II, Kapolei’s Tehani Kaaihue was named the White Conference Player of the Year, after leading the Hurricanes to the OIA title as well as a fifth-place finish at the state tournament. The Hurricanes, who also placed Kirsten Otsuka and Marie Nataniela on the White’s First Team, finished their season 18-1 overall.
Gabrielle Matautia, Courtney Seminavage, Luana Scheer and Emily Patacsil earned Honorable Mention from Kapolei. Waipahu placed three players - Kelcey Viliamu, Bryana Manzano and Shanice Julio - on the White Conference’s First Team, while Dara Dutro-Aiwohi and Jessica Lozano made Honorable Mention. Waipahu coach Mary Ancheta was selected as the White’s Coach of the Year.
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