Post by VollyDolly on Jun 30, 2007 20:40:22 GMT -5
Juniors chase national volleyball title
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
There are times in Hawai'i when there simply aren't enough volleyballs to go around.
Between now and July 11, 30 Hawai'i teams will compete in Minneapolis and Atlanta at the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships. One is second-year club 'Imi 'Ike, seeded ninth in the uber-competitive 18-open girls' division.
The club was started last year by former Rainbow Wahine associate coach Charlie Wade. It is now nurtured by associate Mike Sealy and manager Ryan Tsuji.
Wade's vision was to have a program that would prepare the state's best for college. What he did not foresee was a club that created an informal Rainbow Wahine reunion pipeline.
'Imi 'Ike's most recent scrimmages looked like a before-and-after infomercial for Hawai'i's four-time national champions.
All-State players Kanani Herring, Elizabeth Ka'aihue, Kapua Kamana'o, Larissa Nordyke and Rebekah Torres have been taking on former Rainbow Wahine All-Americans Kim Willoughby, Lily Kahumoku and Kanoe Kamana'o. OIA stars Brianna Amian and Jazmine Ma'afala are holding their own against Therese Crawford, Nohea Tano Laboy, Lauren Duggins-Chun and Sarah Mason.
The older players are getting a workout and, often, a surprising challenge. The younger girls are getting an eye-full.
"They are just so nonchalant and so talented," Ka'aihue said of the former 'Bows. "They don't even have to warm up. They just step on the court and they have presence. They just take over. Kim and Lily, it's such an honor to play them.
"We've been in the presence of really awesome volleyball players. No other club has played talented people like we've played so we're fortunate."
Laboy now lives in Tennessee with husband Travis, who plays football for the Titans. She had her second child five months ago and is home for a visit before NFL camp opens next month. She still has an uncanny ability to put a volleyball down, or dig one up. And she knows talent when she sees it.
"They have an awesome team," she said of 'Imi 'Ike. "They've got all the weapons they need. They're quick — like most Hawai'i players are because they're not 6-4. They look really good. Kanani is really explosive and their libero is amazing."
Herring, a two-time State Player of the Year about to begin her senior year at Kamehameha, has verbally committed to UH for 2008. Ka'aihue is the libero, and will be with the Rainbow Wahine this fall.
Amian is headed to San Jose State, Ma'afala to Southern Idaho and Nordyke to UC Irvine. Kapua Kamana'o and Chanteal Satele will join Megan Burton — a member of the inaugural 'Imi 'Ike team with UH freshman Dani Mafua — at St. Mary's.
'Imi 'Ike is an all-star team with an "attitude problem" — as in, they don't seem to have one. Laboy senses the team's chemistry even in her quick visits, Herring has felt a bond from the beginning and Ka'aihue is grateful there is absolutely "no drama." Tsuji is even more thankful.
"What has surprised me the most is how well they all get along," Tsuji said. "I've heard some horror stories about all-star teams that fall apart because none of the players are used to sitting on the bench and it becomes very self-centered.
"This team is just the opposite and is so supportive of each other and really enjoys being around one other. There are times we have the OIA Player of the Year and members of the all-state first team sitting on the bench cheering on their teammates, where they could easily be the star player on another team. It's something you can't coach, but I'm glad we have."
The club is ranked fourth by prepvolleyball.com. It earned an at-large bid to JO's with a "preseason" where it lost to just one team — Long Beach Mizuno, anchored by 6-foot-4 all-world Stanford recruit Alix Klineman. 'Imi 'Ike's strength is that can't-be-coached chemistry, an incredibly irritating habit of getting every ball back and a relatively complex offense.
"You have to find that extra energy and way to go around them," Herring said of playing much bigger opponents. "You can't go through them. If you develop speed and different schemes to get around them you'll find a way. You've just got to keep them moving."
'Imi 'Ike wants to win in Minneapolis and anything less would be a disappointment, even with Klineman's huge shadow dominating the tournament. She is great, but after staring down international players like Kahumoku, Crawford and Willoughby, the intimidation factor is negated.
"Klineman is more of a straight-down hitter because she gets so high," Ka'aihue said. "Kim just blasts it. It's dodge ball back there ... just kidding."
Herring is still awestruck at playing people she last saw while she was a child asking for autographs. Her finest moment so far came when she slid a ball past Willoughby's solo block.
"It was amazing to be up with her and not just looking from the side," Herring said. "It was cool. Who knows if I'll get that experience ever again."
The atmosphere has only enhanced Tsuji's desire to coach. He watched Crawford and Willoughby sharing stories and advice with Herring the other night and saw three generations of great Hawai'i hitters with a tight new bond.
" I think our club has helped to bridge this gap between the generations as well as introduce the former players with the future of Wahine volleyball," Tsuji said. "And it can't help but boost your confidence when you block Kim Willoughby or Lily Kahumoku."
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.
www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070630/SPORTS05/706300342/1050/SPORTS05
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
There are times in Hawai'i when there simply aren't enough volleyballs to go around.
Between now and July 11, 30 Hawai'i teams will compete in Minneapolis and Atlanta at the USA Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships. One is second-year club 'Imi 'Ike, seeded ninth in the uber-competitive 18-open girls' division.
The club was started last year by former Rainbow Wahine associate coach Charlie Wade. It is now nurtured by associate Mike Sealy and manager Ryan Tsuji.
Wade's vision was to have a program that would prepare the state's best for college. What he did not foresee was a club that created an informal Rainbow Wahine reunion pipeline.
'Imi 'Ike's most recent scrimmages looked like a before-and-after infomercial for Hawai'i's four-time national champions.
All-State players Kanani Herring, Elizabeth Ka'aihue, Kapua Kamana'o, Larissa Nordyke and Rebekah Torres have been taking on former Rainbow Wahine All-Americans Kim Willoughby, Lily Kahumoku and Kanoe Kamana'o. OIA stars Brianna Amian and Jazmine Ma'afala are holding their own against Therese Crawford, Nohea Tano Laboy, Lauren Duggins-Chun and Sarah Mason.
The older players are getting a workout and, often, a surprising challenge. The younger girls are getting an eye-full.
"They are just so nonchalant and so talented," Ka'aihue said of the former 'Bows. "They don't even have to warm up. They just step on the court and they have presence. They just take over. Kim and Lily, it's such an honor to play them.
"We've been in the presence of really awesome volleyball players. No other club has played talented people like we've played so we're fortunate."
Laboy now lives in Tennessee with husband Travis, who plays football for the Titans. She had her second child five months ago and is home for a visit before NFL camp opens next month. She still has an uncanny ability to put a volleyball down, or dig one up. And she knows talent when she sees it.
"They have an awesome team," she said of 'Imi 'Ike. "They've got all the weapons they need. They're quick — like most Hawai'i players are because they're not 6-4. They look really good. Kanani is really explosive and their libero is amazing."
Herring, a two-time State Player of the Year about to begin her senior year at Kamehameha, has verbally committed to UH for 2008. Ka'aihue is the libero, and will be with the Rainbow Wahine this fall.
Amian is headed to San Jose State, Ma'afala to Southern Idaho and Nordyke to UC Irvine. Kapua Kamana'o and Chanteal Satele will join Megan Burton — a member of the inaugural 'Imi 'Ike team with UH freshman Dani Mafua — at St. Mary's.
'Imi 'Ike is an all-star team with an "attitude problem" — as in, they don't seem to have one. Laboy senses the team's chemistry even in her quick visits, Herring has felt a bond from the beginning and Ka'aihue is grateful there is absolutely "no drama." Tsuji is even more thankful.
"What has surprised me the most is how well they all get along," Tsuji said. "I've heard some horror stories about all-star teams that fall apart because none of the players are used to sitting on the bench and it becomes very self-centered.
"This team is just the opposite and is so supportive of each other and really enjoys being around one other. There are times we have the OIA Player of the Year and members of the all-state first team sitting on the bench cheering on their teammates, where they could easily be the star player on another team. It's something you can't coach, but I'm glad we have."
The club is ranked fourth by prepvolleyball.com. It earned an at-large bid to JO's with a "preseason" where it lost to just one team — Long Beach Mizuno, anchored by 6-foot-4 all-world Stanford recruit Alix Klineman. 'Imi 'Ike's strength is that can't-be-coached chemistry, an incredibly irritating habit of getting every ball back and a relatively complex offense.
"You have to find that extra energy and way to go around them," Herring said of playing much bigger opponents. "You can't go through them. If you develop speed and different schemes to get around them you'll find a way. You've just got to keep them moving."
'Imi 'Ike wants to win in Minneapolis and anything less would be a disappointment, even with Klineman's huge shadow dominating the tournament. She is great, but after staring down international players like Kahumoku, Crawford and Willoughby, the intimidation factor is negated.
"Klineman is more of a straight-down hitter because she gets so high," Ka'aihue said. "Kim just blasts it. It's dodge ball back there ... just kidding."
Herring is still awestruck at playing people she last saw while she was a child asking for autographs. Her finest moment so far came when she slid a ball past Willoughby's solo block.
"It was amazing to be up with her and not just looking from the side," Herring said. "It was cool. Who knows if I'll get that experience ever again."
The atmosphere has only enhanced Tsuji's desire to coach. He watched Crawford and Willoughby sharing stories and advice with Herring the other night and saw three generations of great Hawai'i hitters with a tight new bond.
" I think our club has helped to bridge this gap between the generations as well as introduce the former players with the future of Wahine volleyball," Tsuji said. "And it can't help but boost your confidence when you block Kim Willoughby or Lily Kahumoku."
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.
www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070630/SPORTS05/706300342/1050/SPORTS05
