Kahuku Leads In Girls VB Honors
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usIn coach Uila Fotu Vendiola’s view, Kahuku’s outgoing senior class will exit the Red Raider volleyball program with work well done.
“They were billed as the Fantastic Four for our home-coming game, and that’s been their nickname since,” Fotu Vendiola said of seniors Shanlei Kaulula’au, Leilani Tafuna, Alayna Galeai and Nina Blake. “Collectively, they brought so much to our team that they’re going to be missed next year.”
The foursome were rewarded for their efforts recently when the Oahu Interscholastic Association announced its All-Conference selections. Kaulula’au was named to the East’s First Team, while Tafuna, Galeai and Blake earned Second Team honors. Selections are made by the conference coaches.
Kahuku enjoyed another stellar season, its first under Fotu Vendiola, finishing fourth in the state volleyball tournament last month in addition to placing second to Moanalua in the OIA title game. The Red Raiders were seemingly only a couple of plays away from even better results.
“Overall, the coaching staff was pleased with our season,” Fotu Vendiola said. “We felt like we were so close in some big games. There were a few games where we could have done better, but we learned some valuable lessons that are going to help us as we get ready for next year.”
For the season just passed, the Red Raiders’ on-court play was led largely by Kaulula’au.
“She was one of our most steady players,” Fotu Vendiola said of Kaulula’au.
“We relied on her a lot throughout the season. One of her assets was that she was very versatile. At the end of the season, she was mostly a right-side hitter, but she was a setter earlier on.
“We looked to her for offense - she has a nice jump serve, which worked well for us. Her defense also came along by the end of the season.”
Tafuna, a three-year varsity player for Kahuku, figured equally big in the team’s success, according to her coach. As a sophomore, she was a part of a team that won an OIA title under Fotu Vendiola’s predecessor, Mon AhHoy. Kahuku qualified for the state tournament in each of her three varsity seasons.
“She brought a lot of experience, which was important for us,” Fotu Vendiola said of Tafuna. “When she’s doing well, it helps the rest of her teammates to do well.”
Junior Nile Te’o also made the Second Team from Kahuku, while sophomore Sherie Recca was named to the Second Team. Kailua coach Melanie YamaguchiTaufa’asau was selected as the East’s Coach of the Year, after leading the Surfriders on a late-season run that culminated in a 7-9 record.
In Division II, Castle senior Kelsie Bajet was named to the OIA’s First Team after leading the Knights to a 9-4 record in the White Division as well as a state tournament appearance.
“She was a real big part (of our success),” Castle coach Brannon Bajet said of Kelsie, who is also his younger sister, “not just with her playing, but with her leadership. She played her heart out, and she was someone the others could look up to. The main thing with her was her court awareness, and she also has good ball-handling skills.”
Teammates Osana Aukuso and Chantalle Dela Courture were named to the Second Team.
Juniors Mariah Panapa and Kiana Wasson were First Team selections from Kalaheo. The Mustangs, who won the OIA’s Division II title in 2006, finished their regular season at 8-5.
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