HPU Adds Kailua VB Talent
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usFormer Kailua High stand-out Makamae Recca is among four new additions to the HPU women’s volleyball team. Freshmen Chelsey Buyuan and Jamie Asuncion also were added to the fold along with Division I transfer Pihana Kea.
The 5-foot-9 Recca, who is a freshman, is the sister of current HPU player Sanoe Recca and will see time at outside hitter. Makamae was the OIA Division II Player of the Year last fall. As a junior, she also helped lead Kailua to a runner-up finish in the OIA White Conference in 2008. Sanoe Recca is a sophomore at HPU and played at Kamehameha-Kapalama in high school. She appeared in 24 matches a year ago for HPU with 11 starts and recorded 111 kills, 132 digs and 34 blocks.
“I am really excited about our additions at outside hitter,” HPU coach Daryl Kapis said. “Makamae, along with newcomer Courtney Smith, will give us a lot of firepower,” added Kapis, who is coming off his best season as HPU’s head coach, having led the 2009 Sea Warriors to 14-11 finish overall (11-5 in the PacWest). “With the combination of our returnees and newcomers, I believe we will have a good chance of accomplishing our goal of a PacWest Championship.”
Buyuan (5-foot-6) comes to HPU after four seasons at Waiakea High. Playing mainly as an outside hitter, she earned All-League and AllState honors her junior and senior seasons. Buyuan will be the first player from the Big Island to play for HPU since 2001.
“I am excited to have Chelsey joining our program,” said Kapis. “Hopefully this will open the door for more outer island players to come to HPU.”
Asuncion (5-foot-5) joins the Sea Warriors after a standout career at Sacred Hearts. Buyuan and Asuncion, coupled with returnees Tricia Yoshimura and Kyra Pelayo, will make a formidable back-court. “With the addition of Chelsey and Jamie, we will have the strongest backcourt in my five seasons at HPU,” said Kapis. “All four will be solid contributors this season.”
Kea played in 15 matches as a setter last season for Division I University of the Pacific, recording 227 assists. The 5-foot-7 sophomore played high school ball at Punahou, guiding her team to a 2008 state runner-up finish.
In other news, senior middle hitter Kelly Balanay (6 feet) was voted the PacWest Women’s Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year recently. The Sea Warriors also were picked fourth in the conference order of finish.
Balanay, a three-time AllPacWest pick, was second in kill percentage last year after posting a .306 average. She registered 289 kills on 641 attempts and ended the season eighth in the conference in kills per game (2.95). Her point total also featured 70 block assists, 21 block solos and 14 aces. She was the lone HPU player on the Preseason All-PacWest Team.
The Lady Sea Warriors open the season at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Vulcan Classic in Hilo, taking on Ashland University.
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