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Castle joins exclusive mix
of title contenders

A new challenger has joined Kahuku and Kalaheo at the top of the Oahu Interscholastic Association boys volleyball hierarchy.

Even before the first serve of the season, the OIA Division I race had two clear front-runners in the East's Red Raiders and the defending league champion Mustangs.

But with a silver division win in the Longy Okamoto Tournament and tough play against Interscholastic League of Honolulu power Iolani in the championship match of the Waimea Invitational, Castle has joined the championship mix in the eyes of many in the division.

"I've heard Castle is really good, a real tough bunch," Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni said.

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The Knights boast one of the tallest teams ever under 23-year Castle coach Pat Gomes-Woolsey.

With an average height of 5-foot-11, Gomes-Woolsey said her team will be able to do a lot more blocking than in the past, when most of her players stood at a mere 5-5. Add to that the fact the Knights return all but one player from last season and it's easy to see why expectations are high.

"It's been a really long ride, especially for those who were freshmen and sophomores a few years ago," Gomes-Woolsey said. "We never thought we'd be at the point we are at now."

Gomes-Woolsey added that her team is very balanced and that no one particular player stands out. In contrast, Kalaheo and Kahuku both return All-State players from last season, when the two teams finished 1-2 in the league.

Leoni said all five of his returning starters participated in club volleyball over the summer, and all came back to much improved.

"I feel we have probably the best team ever for Kalaheo," Leoni said. The Mustangs return All-State honorable mentions in seniors Elias David, Chris Tumaneng and Mana Guerreiro.

This year, Kalaheo is not only looking to repeat as OIA champion, but also to improve upon last year's state quarterfinal appearance. The Mustangs' goal is to "do the best Kalaheo ever did, which is fourth place in states," said Leoni. "So anything better than fourth place would be a success."

While the Mustangs eye a high finish, the Red Raiders are looking to simply make the playoffs. That's because they are without All-State selection Okesene Ale Jr., who played in the preseason but chose not to return to the team, instead deciding to focus on basketball.

"It's a big downfall for us," Kahuku coach Howard Kaululaau said. "But I think we'll be OK with what we got."

The Red Raiders have five returnees, including outside hitter B.J. Yeager and All-State honorable mention Charles Bell. Besides Castle and Kalaheo, Kahuku must also compete against Kaimuki, McKinley, Moanalua and Roosevelt in the OIA East.

In the OIA West, young and inexperienced seem to be the key words in describing most of the teams. No team embodies this more than Leilehua. The Mules came into this season with no returning starters and freshmen filling up half the roster. In addition, their lone senior, middle blocker Chad Wilson, is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

"They do the best they can, and mostly need to communicate and relax. Then we can be real competitive," Mules coach Ernest Balignasay said.

The OIA West is made up of Leilehua, Campbell, Kapolei, Mililani, Nanakuli, Pearl City and Radford.

"There are three or four teams in contention," Balignasay said. "Pearl City, Mililani, Campbell, Nanakuli, they're all in it."

Hoping for a resurgence is Pearl City, which after dominating the OIA for much of the last decade, is trying to make it back to the state tournament after a two-year absence. Pearl City coach Bryson Martin, who led the Chargers to three OIA titles in the late 1990s, said his team is young. Gary Panui, Abraham Kauhane and junior Jovi Casares are Pearl City's leaders.

One team the OIA West squads don't have to worry about is last year's regular-season champion Waipahu, which was demoted to the newly created Division II. The Marauders return most of their starters, including six seniors, from a team that went 9-1 last season after a dismal 2003 campaign.

Middle/outside hitters Arthur Fanene, Malosi Saolotoga and Pioli Salamiko anchor a stacked Marauder squad that has high expectations.

Also in the division are Farrington, Kalani, Aiea, Kailua, Kaiser, Thompson, Waialua and Waianae.