Lady Knights Enter Post-season Play
By Jack Danilewicz
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The Castle girls volleyball team’s first priority as it prepares for the upcoming OIA post-season is to avoid beating itself.
Indeed, if anything, the 2008 Knights could be cataloged among the “opportunistic” during the recently completed regular season, which saw them go 9-3 in the OIA’s White conference. That’s all well and fine with coach Brannon Bajet, whose team opens the post-season at home versus Nanakuli at 6 p.m. next Tuesday.
“Our strong serve and our ability to capitalize on other people’s mistakes (has gotten the Knights by),” said Bajet. “In this division, defense is the key, and right now we’re an average defensive team. We’re a competitive defense, but we give up a lot of points, too. We need to continue to serve strong and touch up our defense.”
The OIA tourney runs Oct. 21-22 and 28-30 at various sites. The title game is Oct. 30 at McKinley, and the top three finishers earn the league’s berths for the upcoming DII state volleyball tournament. For the Knights, this week’s OIA playoffs represent a second chance after falling short of their goal to win the White in the regular season. Kailua took first with a 11-1 mark, its only loss coming to Kapolei, which finished undefeated from the West at 12-0.
“The girls are really focused right now,” Bajet said.“They had a goal to win a DII title, and now they’re looking to try and achieve their next goal in the playoffs. Mentally, I think we’re a little more focused than we were in the beginning of the season. They’re not as relaxed as they were before.
“Inconsistency,” added Bajet. “We can be good one game and totally different the next. We’re trying to find momentum.”
Seniors Osana Aukuso and Martella Malufau have been among their steadiest performers. Aukuso was a Second Team All-Star last season and has had a solid fall this year. Bajet said Malufau “has been a big asset for us both in her hitting and her blocking.”
The Knights also feature seniors in defensive specialist/libero Hi’ilei Haru and outside hitter/setter Jeanise Royos in addition to a supporting cast of talented underclassmen in Malina Kekahuna, Jaylene Royos, Tiara Kalopodes, Brittany Lane, Malie Garcia, Joshell Lilio and Erika Jarrett.
Jeanise Royos and Hi’ilei Haru were both named to the White Conference’s Honorable Mention team in 2007.
Although they finished their regular season strong, Bajet welcomed the 13-day break from competition between the season finale and next Tuesday’s game against Nanakuli.
“We didn’t have a bye week, so it’s a good thing - it gives the girls a break and some time to heal. We can focus on upcoming games. They’ve been utilizing their practice time and doing a lot of mental practice.”
The Knights defeated Nanakuli (25-16, 27-25, 25-16) in the only meeting between the teams on Aug. 27, but Bajet isn’t taking anything for granted for this matchup.“They caught us off guard the first time, and we gave up a lot of points,” he explained.
Should the Knights get by Nanakuli, they would earn a trip to Kapolei on Friday to meet the Hurricanes, who were the West’s top seed.
The New City Nissan Division II State Volleyball Tournament is set for Nov. 5-8 at Stan Sheriff Center.
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