Summer Serves As Strengthening Season For Aiea Girls

Wednesday - July 23, 2008
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share Del.icio.us

First in a series of prep volleyball previews.

Aiea High School head volleyball coach Blythe Yamamoto’s goal for her team this past off-season wasn’t just to get better, but to become closer. To that end, the veteran coach considers the mission largely accomplished as Na Ali’i open fall camp on Monday in preparation for their 2008 season.

“The strength of this team is the team,” said Yamamoto, who begins her 13th season at Aiea. “They’ve been working really well together, and everyone has improved their game. All aspects of our game have gotten stronger.”


Yamamoto and Aiea are coming off an uncharacteristic season in 2007 that saw them drop five of their first six games before a late-season run allowed them to qualify for OIA playoffs. Na Ali’i, which has won OIA West titles in three of the last four years and eight overall during the Yamamoto era, finished 6-6 in 2007.

“I don’t even have to talk to them about (last year). They know it, and they remember. They don’t want to have another season like last year, so they’ve been working really hard.”

Their slow start in 2007 can be traced back in part to a young roster as well as a handful of key injuries. This time around, Na Ali’i will have a seasoned team of nine letter-winners, five of whom are returning starters. Leading the way are a pair of First Team All-Conference selections from a year ago in senior libero Michelle Lambayan and junior outside hitter Kelly Leopoldo. Also back in the fold are middle blockers Mele Samisoni and Danielle Grace and outside hitter Natasha Souza.


With talent balanced throughout the lineup, Yamamoto hopes they’ll have strength in depth: “Instead of just one or two (‘goto’ players), we have players we can get the ball to all over the place. That should make us stronger.”

Aiea’s public unveiling is set for Aug. 14-16 at the Longy Okamoto Invitational. Na Ali’i opens its OIA season in late August versus Leilehua.

E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS

Most Recent Comment(s):

Posting a comment on MidWeek.com requires a free registration.

Username

Password

Auto Login

Forgot Password

Sign Up for MidWeek newsletter Times Supermarket
Foodland

 

 



Hawaii Luxury
Magazine


Tiare Asia and Alex Bing
were spotted at the Sugar Ray's Bar Lounge