Pearl City Scores 3 All-Conference All-Stars
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usHaving good players who are even better people has always been a goal for Pearl City head volleyball coach Stephanie Shigemasa. Her latest edition easily fits that bill.
“We were real fortunate to have real good girls - behavior-wise,” she said of her 2010 team. “It makes coaching so much more enjoyable. I’m just real proud of them.”
The afterglow of Pearl City’s season remained late last week when the OIA released its All-Conference lists. The league’s Red West all-stars include Charger seniors Keani Passi, Tonisha Buford and Marie Fujii on the First Team. They also placed Brandee Chun, Kaya Chong, Sina Mauga and Kacie Chinen on the Honorable Mention team.
The OIA’s All-Conference lists are chosen in a vote by league coaches. It was hardly a surprise for Pearl City to be well-represented, as it finished first in the West at 11-1 (15-4 overall and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in eight years.
“As coaches, we felt like we had a really strong team at the beginning of the season,” said Shigemasa, who was named the Red West’s Coach of the Year by her peers. “We worked them really hard mentally and physically this year, and I’m just glad they got to go and experience states.”
Seven players were seniors, highlighted by Passi, an outside hitter and Red West Player of the Year.
“Keani was one of our strongest hitters,” Shigemasa said of Passi. “She was strong with her offense this year, and she also had a lot of support from the players around her.”
Among them was team setter Fujii, who put the attack in motion. “She brought stability to our game,” Shigemasa said.
Buford overcame an ankle injury that sidelined her for the OIA tournament, but she bounced back for a strong showing at the state level.
“She worked hard to come back real quick,” Shigemasa said. “I was real happy she was able to come back for the state tournament, being that she’s a senior.”
Senior Ashley Li’ili’i was Aiea High’s lone First Team selection, while her team-mates Kaala Leopoldo and Kerstyn Randall were both named to the Red West’s Second Team.
Janiece Judkins, Roina Maafala and Megan Maafala-Maiava were named Honorable Mention from Aiea.
Toemotu Motu was a First Team honoree from Kapolei, which went 7-5 in league play (third place) under Naidah Gamurot. The Hurricanes also boasted Honorable Mention picks Ashalyn Umiamaka, Carmen Laau, Vashni Helenihi, Charlinda Ioane and Alisha Gipson.
Catrina Masaniai and Vycenthia Misiafa were named to the Red West’s Second Team from Waipahu. The Marauders also placed both Kaiulani Abasial and Kelli Nakayama on the Honorable Mention team.
Campbell placed five players - Ashlee Kealoha-Leopoldo, Katerina Vaesau, Brandi Wilson, Chantay Samante and Nicole Va’a - on the Honorable Mention team.
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