Pearl City Faces Defending Champ Aiea In Saturday Game
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThere are seven teams in the OIA Red West, and six of them have spent the last two prep volleyball seasons chasing Aiea, which has run the table in the league with 24 straight wins dating back to August of 2008.
Count Pearl City among those teams, although it has certainly been in striking distance of the title. Last year, Pearl City’s only two losses came at the hands of Aiea.
For her part, coach Stephanie Shigemasa isn’t over-hyping Saturday’s 11 a.m. meeting between the schools at home, noting that an equally big match against Waianae looms on Thursday. But she recognizes the opportunity her team has in getting off to a good start. A win over the defending champion would nicely position the Chargers for the first round.
“Because it’s early in the season, it could be a plus or a minus,” Shigemasa said. “We don’t have that much time to prepare for them, but it’s also something to look forward to. Waianae is always pretty tough, too.”
The Chargers aren’t short on veterans. Seniors Tonisha Buford and Marie Fujii are back, and so is junior Brandee Chun. And unlike in some years, the team’s 2010 edition also brings another quality.
“This year we have a pretty tall team,” Shigemasa said, noting that seven players are 5-foot-7 or taller, with a pair stretching to 5-10.
“We have the hitters with size, but it’s our passing and our defense that are going to make us stronger.”
Both Aiea and Pearl City have undergone some staff changes. Shigemasa added former University of Nebraska and University High stand-out setter Fiona Fonoti (Nepo) to her staff, which also includes longtime assistant Baron Nakano. Aiea’s long-time coach, Blythe Yamamoto, left in the off-season to concentrate on coaching at Chaminade as an assistant. Na Ali’i boys coach Erin Okamoto-Coker is now the new girls coach at Aiea.
“They have good coaches, so it should be real interesting,” Shigemasa said. “Our mental focus will have to be good. Aiea is a tough team with a never-say-die attitude. We need to be the same to be able to compete with them.”
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