It’s the undefeated Waimea Menehune girls versus the Seariders of Wai‘anae High School Monday night in a first-round match of the Division II State Volleyball Championships at Punahou. The girls leave today for O‘ahu. To prepare for their match up,
It’s the undefeated Waimea Menehune girls versus the Seariders of Wai‘anae High School Monday night in a first-round match of the Division II State Volleyball Championships at Punahou. The girls leave today for O‘ahu.
To prepare for their match up, the Waimea coaches went to O‘ahu for the October 30 match between Wai‘anae and Kaimuki High School.
“Our coaches went to watch and shoot video of them playing so we can see how they are,” said senior setter Nani Hill.
Hill is the only player on the team with state tournament experience. She went back in 2004 while she was a back-row specialist and back-up setter for Kaua‘i High School.
“It’s not weird going to states with a different team. It’s still volleyball and Tatum (Gonsalves) is my best friend,” she said.
Senior hitter Nue Wong said she’d been waiting for the opportunity to play in states since she was a freshman and that the team’s not just playing around.
“We’re making sure every practice is good and everyone stays on task,” she said. “We’re taking care of everything. I heard Wai‘anae doesn’t have real big hitters, but we have to play our defense well and play good fundamentals.”
One thing she’ll be taking care of specifically is her knee. She sat out last season because of a knee injury. Recovered, she returned to play and became a heavy hitter for the team.
But during the last week of KIF play, Wong hurt her knee again during practice. The injury threatened to sideline her for the tournament. She stayed off it for a while and the doctor gave her the OK to play.
“It’s good now, I’m OK,” Wong said, adding that she’s taking extra precautions not to get hurt again.
Waimea defeated the defending KIF champions, Kapa‘a High School, nearly three weeks ago, to win its spot in the tournament.
If the girls defeat Wai‘anae, they move on to the quarterfinals to play fourth-seeded St. Joseph’s School. The state finals are at the Stan Sheriff Center this Thursday.
The last time Waimea made it to the state tournament was in 2002. Waimea lost to the Moanalua High School Menehune in the first round.
But this team isn’t nervous and isn’t thinking too far ahead.
“It’s one game at a time,” said junior hitter Cheri Kua.
For tournament results, visit www.sportshigh.com.
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
