[ HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL ]

Hawaii Baptist boys
continue ILH growth

Spike Night at Hawaii Baptist Academy is all about volleyball.

At a school where football players play for Pac-Five's combined team, volleyball has grown into a tradition. Call them overachievers, if you will, but the Eagles continue to compete in the toughest league in the Hawaii high school volleyball world.

HBA's girls team drew much of the spotlight over the past few seasons, nestling comfortably in the Star-Bulletin Top 10 last season. The girls remained there even after they barely missed the state tournament.

This season, the girls are rebuilding. This season, it's the HBA boys who are peaking, sitting at No. 5 in today's Top 10.

Punahou claimed all 11 first-place votes in the boys poll to remain at No. 1. In the girls Top 10, Punahou collected 12 of 18 first-place votes to retain its hold of the top spot.

The Eagles have been locked at No. 5 for three weeks.

"It's an honor, such a good thing for these kids," coach Teoni Obrey said.

The small school in Nuuanu has pushed its way into the elite company of Punahou, Iolani and Kamehameha. The Eagle boys pushed Kamehameha to three games in a tough loss before sweeping Damien to even their record at 3-3.

Along with top-ranked Punahou, Iolani, Kamehameha and Maryknoll, HBA gives the ILH five teams among the top seven in this week's poll.

The Eagles have grown since last year's 3-9 campaign.

"The kids are believing in themselves. They're a lot more confident," Obrey said. "That's the biggest change. And now, they all play year-round."

Dominic Hart, a 6-foot senior, is HBA's outside hitter.

"He's dynamic and pounds the ball," HBA athletic director Deren Oshiro said.

Junior Sean Lum anchors the middle. Joshua Thompson, a 5-11 junior, is the opposite. Setter Scott Fujimoto, another junior, is a steady influence. Six of the team's juniors played last year and gained valuable experience.

The Eagles are a long shot to place first in round-robin play and earn a state berth. That leaves the second round, which is a tournament format. HBA meets Hanalani and Mid-Pacific this week, hoping to get over the .500 mark in ILH play.

With the recent attention, the boys especially want to get on a roll. That's why Spike Night on Friday is a big deal for the Eagles.

"We bill it as a fall homecoming," Oshiro said. "It's grown to surpass homecoming, which is held in basketball season. The gym is always packed and the booster club always gives free food to everyone, even the other team."

HBA will also give away replica HBA hard hats.

"They're more like party hats with HBA stickers on the front," Oshiro said.

There could be several successful Spike Nights in HBA's future.

"The junior varsity and intermediates are doing well. The program has really grown," Oshiro noted. "There's a lot of renewed excitement for the boys program."