Kahuku ‘Clinic Happy’ In Summer

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Whether or not there are any Division I college prospects within the Kahuku girls volleyball program remains to be seen, but they recently got a glimpse of what they can expect should they make it to the next level.

The Red Raiders recently participated in a three-day clinic with Utah Valley State University coach Sam Atoa, where they learned his system in addition to fine-tuning their fundamentals.

“The pace was double what the girls are used to,” said Miko Blake, Kahuku’s junior varsity coach and an assistant to Red Raiders varsity coach Uila Fotu Vendiola.

“You have to remember that his clinics are usually 18 hours long, so he had to reduce it to 12 because of limited time in the gym. If we had had an 18-hour clinic,they would have crawled out of the gym at the end,” he added with a laugh.

Atoa, who is in his 10th year as the head coach at Utah Valley, led his team to its most successful NCAA season in 2007 as the Wolverines set a school record with 21 wins while winning their second Division I Independent Championship. For those accomplishments, he was named the Independent Coach of the Year for a second time. During his tenure, the Wolverines have posted a 215-93 record overall, including a 77-62 mark in five NCAA Division I seasons.

Atoa played for Brigham Young University from 1984 to 1988 and was named a Collegiate Club All-American. Nicknamed “Sam the Wham,” Atoa led the Cougars to three consecutive National Collegiate Club Championships. He was an assistant coach for the BYU men’s program from 1989 to 1991. His summer volleyball camp programs also have been conducted in Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Idaho.

“When you meet him, you can feel the confidence and knowledge that he brings to coaching,” Blake said.“It’s basic fundamentals first, in every aspect, and he’s a very defensive-minded coach. He tells his girls that if they’re not willing to sacrifice on defense that they’ll find themselves not only on the bench, but they won’t be there at all. Defense is everything to him.”

For their part, the girls are a month away from the opening of their own fall camp, when official tryouts will be held and a final roster for 2008 will be determined. Hopes are high for Kahuku, which finished 14-5 overall last year and is expecting 13 lettermen back from a team that rated among the youngest in the league in 2007. A pair of all-league performers in outside hitters Nile Te’o and Taeja Afalava are among the returnees.

Atoa’s visit was perhaps well-timed.

“It was the highlight of our summer,” Fotu Vendiola said. “We’re hoping to make it an annual event. They (UVS) will be here in November for games with BYUH and Hawaii, so we hope to host them and support them while they’re here.”

July has long been one of the busiest months of the year for college-sponsored volleyball camps. Several members of the Kahuku program who were already scheduled to attend BYU’s camp in Provo, Utah this month have also decided to stay in Utah an additional week at their own expense to attend a “Team Camp” Atoa will conduct at UVSU shortly thereafter, according to Blake.

“They liked his system and his coaching, and they’re willing to make the sacrifice to stay on another week,“said Blake, who estimated that seven Red Raiders will make the trip.“They really enjoyed the clinic here, and I think it’s going to help our girls to see what we’re up against this year.”

With Kamehameha having graduated much of its state title team from last fall, Blake sees the race this season as “wide open.”

“That’s exciting for our team,too,” he added.