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Tuesday, August 15, 2000

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
When girls' volleyball teams from California and Hawaii
take the courts tomorrow for the Iolani Invitational,
Kanoe Kamana'o will be waiting.

Iolani’s Kamana‘o
stands tall

The 5-foot-7 sophomore
will play a big role for the
Raiders' girls' volleyball
team this season

---

By Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-Bulletin

In a volleyball world dominated by height, 5-foot-7 Kanoe Kamana'o is a big exception.

The Iolani sophomore was one of 18 girls nationwide to play on the USA Youth National Team this summer.

After two weeks of training in Michigan, Kamana'o was among 12 chosen to play in a tournament in the Dominican Republic against other national teams.

The U.S. team placed second behind Puerto Rico.

"She showed herself that she can play at that level even though she's not one of the trees out there," Iolani coach Ann Kang said.

READY, SET, GO What: 18th annual Iolani Invitational. When: Tomorrow through Saturday. Championship match Saturday, 7 p.m. Where: Iolani upper and lower gyms. Tickets:$4 adults, $1 students. $12 four-day pass, $9 three-day pass.

Kamana'o, the shortest player on the national team, played libero (defensive specialist) -- a position that isn't used on the prep level in Hawaii.

"It was fun because it was something new for me," Kamana'o said. "All I did was pass. I didn't touch one ball in hitting."

Kang said the opportunity was good for Kamana'o.

"Here in Hawaii she's a really strong hitter and frontcourt player, but at that level she has to do something else," Kang said.

The next challenge for Kamana'o is to take what she learned into the prep season.

"Hopefully I bring leadership onto the court and keep everyone playing at a high level,"Kamana'o said.

The Raiders open their 2000 campaign tomorrow, hosting the 18th annual Iolani Invitational.

The four-day tournament features 20 teams from Hawaii and California, culminating in a championship match Saturday night.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Kanoe Kamana'o's Iolani teammates.

Newport Harbor, ranked No. 3 in the nation last year, will try to win its third consecutive tournament title.

Santa Margarita, last year's invitational runner-up, and Mira Costa, with former University of Hawaii player Kelli Cordray as an assistant coach, also have made the trip from California.

Local teams include 1999 Hawaii state tournament runner-up Punahou, Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Farrington, St. Francis, and host Iolani.

With a senior-laden squad last year, the Raiders had their best state tournament ever, finishing third.

"I think we can pick up where we left off," Kang said.

The Raiders have three very experienced returnees in senior setter Lauren Char, junior outside hitter La'akea Campbell and junior setter/outside hitter Blair Nonaka. And they also have Kamana'o.

"Kanoe is a key player for us," Kang said. "She leads by example. She leads more with her play than with her words."

Kamana'o strengths include her leaping ability and quickness.

And Kang said Kamana'o also has an impressive knowledge of volleyball.

"Her anticipation is good,"Kang said. "She can see the play developing when the ball is on the other side of the net."

Kamana'o is loaded with talent, but Kang said even the best players can't win by themselves.

"We have to work on team chemistry and meshing as a team," Kang said. "The girls set goals for themselves and we have goals in practice. Every day we talk about having pride in how we play and working to get better,"she said.