Mariyah Oliver, a senior at Waimea High School, has been named the Player of the Year for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation all-star girls volleyball team. The versatile senior, one of six on the KIF championship Menehune squad, worked the back
Mariyah Oliver, a senior at Waimea High School, has been named the Player of the Year for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation all-star girls volleyball team.
The versatile senior, one of six on the KIF championship Menehune squad, worked the back line, hit both ends of the net and did middle blocking duties through the season.
Waimea coach Chad Delanoza, who led his team to the KIF championship, was named Coach of the Year.
He guided the Menehune wahine, unseeded in the New City Nissan Hawaii High School Athletic Association state Division II girls championship, to a final fourth-place showing after beating No. 4 seed Radford in the quarterfinals.
The Waimea girls eventually dropped to Konawaena of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, who went on to earn the Division II title.
Waimea senior Leiana Alejandro shared Outside Hitter honors with teammate Oliver in the all-stars.
During the state tournament, both Alejandro and Oliver provided key firepower in Waimea’s three-set opening win over Pahoa of the BIIF.
Against the No. 4 Radford Rams, Oliver marked 18 kills and a pair of blocks while Alejandro finished with 17 kills and a pair of blocks.
Alejandro also marked seven kills and seven digs against its first loss in the state tournament to Konawaena.
Kauai High School’s sole entrant into the KIF all-stars is Jondee Rivera, another versatile player for the Red Raiders who was capable of working the front line as well as the back row. During the season, it was not unusual to see the petite senior soar above the net for key hits from the regular side and keep opponents off balance with an occasional shot from the opposite side.
The middle spot is filled by Waimea senior Kawenaulaonalani Warren, who also doubles as a member of the defending state champion Menehune cheer squad.
Warren, effective as the middle for Waimea, improved to expand her bag of tricks during the second half and offered up a sweeping hit from the outside to her normal middle duties.
Against the No. 4 Rams at the state competition, Warren finished with a dozen kills, nine blocks and a pair of aces.
Against Kona, Warren finished with five kills, three blocks and an ace, attesting to her skill in the serving box. She also finished as the sole KIF representative on the Division II All-Tournament team.
Kapaa High School named two to the KIF all-stars. One them, Madisson Hinkel, shared Middle Blocker honors with Waimea’s Warren.
During the season, Hinkel, taking advantage of her height, was another key hitter for the Warrior wahine and was able to mix her talents at the middle position.
But hitters can’t hit without good setting, and Waimea’s Bailey San Agustin-Nordmeier gets the nod for the setter position.
Against Kona at the state tournament, San Agustin-Nordmeier recorded 15 assists.
Kapaa’s Kaiemi Moniz gets the nod as the KIF all-star Libero, a key position on the volleyball squad. During the year, Moniz was consistent in digging out balls, saving plays with good ball movement.
