Versatility is the key
to success for Moanalua
girls volleyball team
It's in the little things that a championship is built upon. For Kahuku, that means the ol' bugaboo of good, consistent passing could make or break its state title hopes.
It's an Achilles heel that has tormented a number of teams that otherwise have enough talent to make the playoffs. For Moanalua, which handed Kahuku its first league loss Thursday (21-25, 25-15, 25-23), passing, digging, blocking and hitting were all in place.
No, the Menehunes (6-0) weren't perfect--10 unforced errors in Game 3 kept Kahuku close--but they are playing the best volleyball in the OIA. Ranked No. 2 in the Star-Bulletin top 10, Moanalua is also, perhaps, the most versatile team in the OIA. When front-line players dig, pass and set as well as Danie Hout, Chelsee Ialea and Briana Amian, it's a relief for coach Thomas Lake.
"I make them play all over the place at practice," said Lake, a veteran club coach who became Moanalua's head coach last year. "We don't have the typical outside hitters and defensive specialists."
Kahuku (5-1) was strong in the opening set, but Moanalua's adjustments compounded the Lady Raiders' inability to set consistently.
"We kept going down the middle (on serves), but we hit our spots in the second and third set," Lake said. In addition, the Menehunes junked their normal 5-1 set in favor of a 6-2 after the opening game.
"We were trying to hide Lena (Yee), but they're so big across the front," Lake said. Shaye Katada and Hayley Ka'ae -- normally a middle --entered the lineup as setters, though Yee still played a crucial part.
"I was a little bit surprised. I didn't know it would be that effective, but with rally scoring, it's all about getting your rhythm," Lake noted.
In the end, Kahuku's inconsistency with sets hurt. Big hitter Camilla Ah-Hoy had only eight of her 16 kills after Game 1. Hout finished with 21 kills, including six in the final set.
"Kahuku's still physically the strongest team in the OIA," Lake said. "We can still get a lot better."
Amian, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, showed some jitters in the opening set. Though she had three roofs in game one, she didn't swing with authority until the third set, when she had six kills. "The first set was a wake-up call. We were really slow," she said.
Hout believes the Menehunes won't have a problem staying focused. "It feels so good. We've never been undefeated this far into the season," the senior said. "But we're not going to get big-headed about it."Ê
State format is 12 teams: Answering a rumor that surfaced with at least one girls volleyball coach, a state tournament official said the format is for 12 teams.
Word had gotten around that the format might expand to 16. However, the official squelched the rumor quickly. Decisions regarding formats for state tournaments are decided months in advance.
That means there won't be any extra wiggle room for any teams currently on the league playoff bubble.
More crossover?: Oahu Interscholastic Association softball coordinator Elden Esmeralda is working with Interscholastic League of Honolulu softball coordinator Brad Kitsu to organize an early season tournament in which teams from the two leagues play against each other on Thanksgiving weekend.
Games will be played at various home fields and at Central Oahu Regional Park.
One problem, however, is timing. The tourney is slated for the same weekend as the popular Waimea Invitational on Kauai. "Our intent is not to take away from Waimea, but with Division I and Division II, it would give people more opportunity to play each other," said Esmeralda, who has been the only athletic director at Kapolei since its doors opened in 1998.
Ten OIA teams are already committed, including Kapolei, Castle, Leilehua, Moanalua, Nanakuli and Waianae. "There's so many quality programs, and the level of play has definitely stepped up. You want to see more girls out there playing," said Esmeralda, whose experience includes a stint as AD at Moloka'i in the mid-1990s.
Kapolei, the defending state softball champion, has the arsenal for another successful season. Two of the three prolific Manuma sisters are back. The oldest, Valana Manuma, graduated in June and accepted a scholarship to play softball at the University of Hawaii.
Kitsu, who is athletic director at Academy of the Pacific, met with ILH coaches yesterday to discuss participation in the tourney. "It's good to get the teams together. Some of them in different divisions wouldn't get to play the other teams," he said.
www.mohs.k12.hi.us
Athletes of the Week
>> Spenser Rigg, Punahou volleyball: Hit .727 in wins over La Pietra and Word of Life. Also tallied 12 digs and two blocks.>> Jinho Tohara, Kealakehe football: 214 rushing yards on 21 carries in a win over Kohala. Since returning from an early-season injury, the senior has 745 yards on 80 attempts for six touchdowns in three games.
Honor Roll
Football
>> Shaun Kauleinamoku, St. Louis: Six receptions, 77 yards, two TDs in win over Punahou.>> Krypton Taito, Waipahu: 13 carries for 106 yards in Marauders' comeback over Campbell.
>> Kelroy Kohatsu, Kailua: 10 of 12 for 303 passing yards in 42-7 win over Kaimuki.
>> Keaka Kapa, Kailua: Three receptions for 145 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown catch in Kailua's win over Kaimuki.
>> Kiran Kepo'o, Iolani: 19 of 33 for 383 yards and four TDs in a 38-13 win over Pac-Five.
>> Micah Kalama, Iolani: Nine catches for 189 yards, including a 49-yard scoring reception against Pac-Five.
>> Kekai Kealoha, Iolani: Seven receptions for 107 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown catch against Pac-Five.
>> Bryant Moniz, Leilehua: 17 of 28 for 295 yards and three TDs in a win over Kapolei.
>> Chustin Senas, Leilehua: Eight catches for 188 yards, including touchdown receptions of 65 and 20 yards.
Bowling
>> Jarret Mizo, Roosevelt: 240 high game and 687 series in Roosevelt's sweep of Kailua.>> Jayson Nip, Iolani: High game of 258 and 620 series in sweep of AOP.
>> Vaseem Anwar, Maryknoll: High game of 225 and 616 series in Spartans 2-1 win over Punahou.
Cross country
>> Lauren Ho, Hawaii Baptist: Won the Kamehameha Invitational girls race in 18:06.53.>> Nicole Anderson, Iolani: Placed second at Kamehameha Invitational in 18:37.41.
>> Maris Van der Lee Baldwin: Won the Lahainaluna Invitational girls 2-mile race in 13:25.
>> Kainoa Guerin, Baldwin: Won the Lahainaluna Invitational boys race in 17:49.
Air riflery
>> Feng Ning, McKinley: 237 high score in Lady Tigers' win over Farrington.>> Andrew Doi, Roosevelt: High score of 260 in Rough Riders' win over Kalani.
Water polo
>> Daniel Lim, Tai Sunnland, Iolani: Three goals each in the Raiders' 12-7 win over Kamehameha.
High school football
ILH
| Division I | League | Overall |
||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Saint Louis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 170 | 77 |
| Kamehameha | 1 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 117 | 48 |
| Punahou | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 69 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 97 | 128 |
| Division II | League | Overall |
||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Iolani | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 72 |
| Pac-Five | 0 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 57 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 115 | 146 |
| Damien | 0 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 47 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 70 | 78 |
OIA
| Red East | Conference | Overall |
||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Kahuku | 4 | 0 | 0 | 161 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 206 | 60 |
| Castle | 4 | 1 | 0 | 128 | 101 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 187 | 131 |
| Kailua | 2 | 1 | 1 | 126 | 80 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 159 | 114 |
| Roosevelt | 2 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 63 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 101 | 96 |
| Farrington | 2 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 100 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 95 | 165 |
| McKinley | 0 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 99 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 71 | 167 |
| Kaimuki | 0 | 5 | 0 | 45 | 168 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 45 | 232 |
| Red West | Conference | Overall |
||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Mililani | 4 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 187 | 39 |
| Leilehua | 4 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 63 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 74 |
| Nanakuli | 2 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 118 |
| Kapolei | 2 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 89 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 95 | 151 |
| Aiea | 2 | 3 | 0 | 84 | 85 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 125 | 126 |
| Waianae | 1 | 3 | 0 | 72 | 67 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 74 | 102 |
| Pearl City | 0 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 132 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 83 | 148 |
| White | Conference | Overall |
||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Waipahu | 4 | 1 | 0 | 133 | 84 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 139 | 133 |
| Campbell | 4 | 1 | 0 | 203 | 52 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 203 | 54 |
| Moanalua | 3 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 82 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 130 | 102 |
| Radford | 3 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 104 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 139 |
| Kalaheo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 109 | 110 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 115 | 140 |
| Kaiser | 2 | 3 | 0 | 129 | 114 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 143 | 134 |
| Waialua | 1 | 4 | 0 | 61 | 137 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 58 | 150 |
| Kalani | 0 | 5 | 0 | 58 | 174 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 79 | 193 |
KIF
| Conference | Overall |
|||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Waimea | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 60 |
| Kauai | 2 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 99 |
| Kapaa | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 63 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 110 |
MIL
| First round | Overall |
|||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| x-Lahainaluna | 3 | 0 | 1 | 113 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 181 | 50 |
| x-Baldwin | 3 | 0 | 1 | 135 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 149 | 20 |
| King Kekaulike | 2 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 88 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 88 |
| Pac-Three | 1 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 102 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 103 | 116 |
| Maui | 1 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 136 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 71 | 148 |
| KS-Maui | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 84 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 101 |
x-first round ends in tie
Note: second-round champ will be overall champ
BIIF
| Conference | Overall |
|||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PF | PA | W | L | T | PF | PA |
| Hilo | 5 | 0 | 0 | 216 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 243 | 46 |
| Hawaii Prep | 5 | 0 | 0 | 238 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 265 | 102 |
| Konawaena | 4 | 1 | 0 | 142 | 96 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 134 |
| Kealakehe | 3 | 2 | 0 | 127 | 78 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 146 | 106 |
| Waiakea | 3 | 2 | 0 | 113 | 93 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 133 | 127 |
| KS-Hawaii | 2 | 3 | 0 | 93 | 99 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 110 | 113 |
| Keaau | 2 | 3 | 0 | 94 | 162 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 94 | 162 |
| Honokaa | 1 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 128 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 62 | 174 |
| Kohala | 0 | 5 | 0 | 87 | 249 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 87 | 249 |
| Ka'u | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 200 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 255 |
