Young Chargers Team Has Potential, Needs Experience
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usPearl City boys volleyball coach Bryson Martin is on the lookout for a good sale. Given the opportunity, he’d gladly take advantage of the kamaaina rate.
“I’m looking to find a group discount on some killer instinct for 18 kids,” the Chargers’ second-year coach joked. “We have a lot of potential - our key players just haven’t played that much (in varsity competition). We just have to find that (competitive) fire. We have to have the killer instinct every point - even when we’re down.”
The Chargers, who have only three seniors on their 18-man roster, took a 2-2 record into this week. Pearl City was to play at Mililani on Tuesday, with a key match-up set for Thursday at home against Radford. As his team approaches the midway point of the season, Martin sees the Chargers as still very much a work in progress. Pearl City won its most recent outing (25-11, 25-14 over Nanakuli) last Tuesday, despite the absence of junior middle blocker Karlo Rarangol, who was off the Island, and had an open date last Thursday. Rarangol was to return to the lineup in time for Thursday’s game with Radford.
“We had a young team last year, and we still have a young team, which is good and bad,” Martin said.“As the year progresses, we’re getting better and better. Fundamental-wise, we’re sound. What we lack is game experience and the confidence to bring ourselves up when we have a deficit. We fell short in our first couple of games because of mistakes, but it’s better to have that in the first two games than at the end when it counts. Right now, we’re still trying to find that chemistry.
“At practice we’re fine,” he continued. “We can get a little shell-shocked in games, but that’s part of being inexperienced. What we like about having a young team is that they listen and they really try.”
Pearl City’s other win was versus Kapolei (25-11, 25-9) on Sept. 2, while its two losses came to Mililani and Leilehua. Tuesday’s game at Mililani was to begin the second round of Oahu Interscholastic Western Division play.
To date, the Chargers have been led by sophomore outside hitter Donovan Nieves and senior libero Michael Tanouye. Nieves is one of the tallest members of the team at 6-foot-1, just behind Rarangol, who stretches to 6-foot-2.
“Last year was Donovan’s first year playing volleyball - he joined mostly because of his brother (Jacob) being on the team,” Martin said of Donovan Nieves.“He’s been one of our goto guys so far. Pearl City doesn’t always get lucky with tall boys. His strength is his consistency, and he’s getting better and better.”
“Mike (Tanouye) always gives his all on the court - he’s in a zone when he’s out there,” Martin continued of Tanouye. “He’d risk his body for the ball.”
Martin also has been pleased with the development of junior middle blocker Zachery Sharp, who stepped in to take Rarangol’s place when he missed matches with Leilehua and Nanakuli while away on a trip.
“He’s had big shoes to fill, but he’s pretty much done the job,” Martin said of Sharp. “His errors were minimal, and he’s not afraid to make mistakes. He’s intense - we could use a few more guys like that. He brings a great attitude.”
With Rarangol expected to return this week, Martin was looking at making some adjustments to his lineup that would allow both Sharp and Rarangol to be on the court at the same time.
Following Thursday’s home date with Radford, the Chargers and Rams were to meet again at Radford on Saturday (noon). Pearl City also has regular-season games remaining against Kapolei (Sept. 26, away), Leilehua (Oct. 3, away) Nanakuli (Oct. 5, away), Campbell (Oct. 10, home) and at Campbell on Oct. 14.
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