CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Moanalua's Patti Hardimon led the Menehunes past McKinley yesterday in the Iolani Volleyball Invitational.
Moanalua’s Hardimon Her basketball skills are undisputed. But it's volleyball that might be Patti Hardimon's future.
thrives on the court
The senior's volleyball talent
By Grace Wen
begins to rival
her basketball abilities
gwen@starbulletin.com"Volleyball is more interesting," said the four-year varsity starter for Moanalua High School. "I can hang more with volleyball than basketball. I like playing outside, but I'm more comfortable in the middle.
"I'm more of a quick hitter. If there's a big block, I just try to work around it. I try to keep the other team on their toes."
Hardimon demonstrated that yesterday as she crushed a variety of quick sets to lead Moanalua to a fast sweep of McKinley at the Iolani Volleyball Invitational.
The four-day tournament began yesterday and continues through Saturday, with the championship match slated for 8 p.m. The top two teams from each pool advance to the double-elimination championship bracket.
Moanalua had never played in the Invitational during Hardimon's career, so she wants to make the most of it.
By finishing with a 6-2 record in pool play last night, the Menehunes advanced to the championship bracket. Iolani and two California teams -- Harvard-Westlake and Murrieta Valley -- also made it into the four-team bracket.
"She's well-rounded. She's a good team leader," Moanalua coach Sheri Sagayaga said. "She's the most consistent player.
"She's very mature and competitive. She's intense and she's looking for a volleyball scholarship."
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Tessa Sonobe and Lindsey Olmstead blocked a shot against McKinley in the Iolani Volleyball Tournament yesterday.
Hardimon's competitive drive is her trademark. Despite playing most of the basketball season out of position, Hardimon still earned second-team all-state honors. She nearly led Moanalua to an upset of eventual champion Kamehameha in the state tournament.
In volleyball, Hardimon garnered third-team all-state recognition last year, though the Menehunes lost in the second round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs.
The undersized middle thinks Moanalua can have an even better season. The Menehunes lost one starter from last year's team and they've added several members from a junior varsity squad that captured the OIA championship last year.
"We have a big team," Hardimon said. "If one person goes down, there's always somebody that can come in and take their spot. There's a lot more encouragement and cheering on our bench. We'll be able to do good this season."
The three-year captain will be counted on for her stability and leadership. And for scoring points with her new sizzling jump serve.
Hardimon has been honing it for a while, and she showed it off, serving out the final three points of the Moanalua's first game against McKinley yesterday.
"I've been working on it since last year, but I wasn't too confident with it last year," Hardimon said. "But this year, my coach said to just serve it."
