Young Team Is Maturing Quickly
By Jack Danilewicz
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The Aiea girls volleyball team may have its youngest roster in coach Blythe Yamamoto’s 11 seasons this fall, but the phrase “rebuilding year” was never mentioned during the pre-season.
Indeed, some in the volleyball community - though Na Ali’i might be a year away from the success they’ve grown accustomed to - are re-evaluating their projections for 2007 given the team’s rapid growth over the past month.
“The pieces are starting to come together,” said Yamamoto, who has only four upperclassmen with eight other roster spots divided between freshmen and sophomores. “With each day that we’re in the gym, practicing or playing a match, we’re getting better and better. We hope to be in mid-season form soon.”
Aiea finished in the top eight in both the Longy Okamoto and Kamehameha pre-season tournaments, despite missing players who were out injured. And they were a few points away from stealing their Oahu Interscholastic Association West opener versus Mililani Aug. 28. Although the Trojans prevailed 26-24, 24-21 in that match, Yamamoto was encouraged by her team’s play.
“I wasn’t disappointed in the loss,” said Yamamoto, who has led Aiea to four straight West titles and seven overall during her 11 years at the school. “I never worry about wins or losses - it’s about how we’re playing on our side. We had a couple of injuries and a new lineup, and the kids adjusted well. Mililani is a more seasoned team, and that showed near the end. It’s a growing process.”
Aiea will get another shot at Mililani Sept. 20 during the league’s second go-around, but Yamamoto’s attention this week is focused on Radford, whom they play at 6 p.m. Thursday.
“Radford is a very strong offensive team. They’re big, and they’re athletic. They have a lot of power hitters.”
For their part, defense has been Aiea’s forte to date, as evidenced by Na Ali’i's strong showing against Mililani.
“I was really happy with our defense (against the Trojans). We’re getting close. This team is one of the more athletic teams I’ve had, and that helps.”
As expected, Aiea has relied on libero Michelle Lambayan, sophomore outside hitter Kelly Leopoldo and senior setter Tati Burgos so far. Burgos missed a week with an ailment, but returned to practice last week and figures to be in the lineup this week.
“Those three have been holding us up,” Yamamoto said, “and we’ve been getting support from some of our younger players.”
Yamamoto is also expecting Na Ali’i to benefit from the recent return of sophomore middle-blocker/outside hitter Danielle Grace, who missed all of the Kamehameha tourney in addition to the Mililani game. She was to return to the lineup in time for last Thursday’s game with Pearl City.
“You could tell we missed her from the lineup,” Yamamoto said of Grace, a 5-foot-9 sophomore who plays in the middle and outside. “She had been tentative at the beginning of the Longy Tournament, but by the end she was really starting to swing and play.” She got hurt the day before the Kamehameha Tournament.
Freshman Kerstyn Randall and sophomores Mele Samisoni and Ayanna Lindborg have also figured big in Aiea’s lineup lately.
“They’re responding well (to varsity-level volleyball),” Yamamoto said. “When Mele is effective, our offense runs more easily. Kerstyn is starting to swing and feel more comfortable, and Ayanna is one of our better passers and the key to our defense.”
Yamamoto sees “a tight race” ahead in the West, meanwhile. Following Thursday’s Radford game, Na Ali’i will play at Waianae Sept. 11, before an open date on Sept. 13.
“I’ve seen everyone but Waianae so far, and on any given day any team can beat anyone. This is the most even I’ve seen the West in a long time.”
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