Jewell Villatora’s prayers have been answered so far this season. “I pray before the games,” she said. “I pray for strength and to give everyone strength for the game.” The 17-year-old senior setter for Kaua‘i High School got the strength
Jewell Villatora’s prayers have been answered so far this season.
“I pray before the games,” she said. “I pray for strength and to give everyone strength for the game.”
The 17-year-old senior setter for Kaua‘i High School got the strength she needed to help lift the Red Raiders to a Round 1 victory in Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation play and a 3-3 record this season.
Villatora has posted more than 25 assists in all but one game so far and has been instrumental in all the team’s wins.
“This is her year,” said Kaua‘i head coach Richard Roberts. “The setter touches a lot of balls and does a lot for the team. Her playing experience is what’s helping the team right now.”
Villatora, the youngest of five siblings, started playing club volleyball when she was 9. It was her older sister who taught her the game.
“I just loved it. It’s exciting,” she said.
She set for the junior varsity squad as a freshman and sophomore, and joined the varsity bunch last year. She was one of the backup setters and was learning to play on the varsity level.
“I just sat and watched the setters and how they played,” she said.
But this year, she entered the season as the starting setter and it was now her turn to take over the team. She had to step up play for the Kaua‘i Challenge Volleyball Tournament, the Ann Kang Volleyball tournament and the McKinley Challenge.
“In the beginning I was a little nervous, but I’ve always been a setter, so eventually (the feeling of being nervous) just went away,” she said.
Setting is almost second nature to her. She continues to practice her setting while she’s at home.
“I practice with my setter’s ball before I go to bed,” she said. “It’s heavier. I do 100 sets before I go to sleep.”
Each game is still exciting for her and her teammates because each game is a major challenge, she said. Not one of the high schools is undefeated. Kaua‘i beat the defending KIF champions Waimea High School once in Round 1, but was beaten by Kapa‘a High School in Round 2’s opening match. Each team has bested the other at least once.
“I think it’s anyone’s season,” she said.
But either way, things are still on the upside for Kaua‘i. The volleyball team has already improved on last year’s record (1-7) and is looking to keep things close with the other teams.
Villatora plans to stay in Hawai‘i for a couple years after she graduates in the spring, then plans on heading to Oregon State University to study nursing.
She also has aspirations of becoming a firefighter.
“I think it’d be cool,” she said.
Kaua‘i is off tomorrow night but returns to the court on Saturday night when the Raiders face the Menehune in Waimea.
If Kaua‘i wins Round 2, the girls automatically win the KIF title. If they fall to another team, then Kaua‘i will play the Round 2 champ in a playoff set at the end of this month.
The winner then advances to the Division II state championships on O‘ahu at Iolani School.
Jewell Villatora
Hometown: Kalaheo
Family: Parents Diana and Christopher Villatora; three sisters and one brother
What she likes to do when not playing volleyball: Shopping and playing beach volleyball
Favorite spots to hang out: The beaches on the North Shore
Favorite volleyball team: “UH. They’re my home state so I support them.”
If there was one volleyball player she’d like to share the court with: “The UH setter Kanoe Kamanao. She’s the best. I think it would be a good experience.”
