The setter in volleyball is responsible for getting the ball on the second contact and setting it up for an offensive attack. It’s a position that requires mobility and skill, because with speed scoring, every touch matters for what could
The setter in volleyball is responsible for getting the ball on the second contact and setting it up for an offensive attack.
It’s a position that requires mobility and skill, because with speed scoring, every touch matters for what could potentially result in a point or an error.
Kapa‘a High School senior setter Devin Saiki has taken up that responsibility and had some big shoes to fill.
As a junior, during his first year of varsity play, Saiki shared the setting duties with Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation all-star and former KIF Player of the Year, Danny Rodrick. Saiki was the backup to Rodrick as he was the star setter who led Kapa‘a to Hawai‘i’s first-ever Division II State Volleyball title in fall 2005.
This year, Saiki has come out of the shadows and is the starter and the team’s offensive leader. So far into the season, Saiki is averaging seven assists a set and just this past Saturday, the Warriors were able to pull out a five-set win over Kaua‘i High School.
In his first game of the season against Kaua‘i in late March, Saiki finished with 18 assists, then posted 37 in five sets against Waimea the week after.
“I don’t really try to be as good as (Danny),” he said. “I just try to do the best I can.”
The 17-year-old from Wailua Houselots took up volleyball in his freshman year at Kapa‘a and admitted that he wasn’t all that great to begin with.
“I was junk,” he said. “It was a new sport and on JV, I kind of played all over.”
It wasn’t until last year, when he was backup to Rodrick, that Saiki learned how to set.
“I was just kind of learning how to do it, then. The coaches, and playing behind Danny, really helped,” he said.
That year, Saiki was learning not just to toss up the ball, but learning the different sets and techniques required for the setter.
“For junior varsity, you just put it up, but for varsity, you have to be good,” he said.
Saiki practices setting not just at practice with the team, but also at home while he’s watching TV or has some down time. Saiki said in order for him and his team to be successful this season, they have to manage the “simple things.”
“We have to make sure we do the simples things well,” he said. “We have to be able to do the basics. We just can’t get ahead of ourselves with our passing, setting and our hitting.”
It was a rough start for Kapa‘a, dropping its first two games, but Saiki is confident the Warriors can be contenders for the KIF title. He recalled his favorite game from last year when they beat Waimea.
“We beat them once. Besides that, they were undefeated,” he said. “We just really had energy in that game. We were down and then we came back.”
It seems as though all three teams will be in for a teeter-totter season, such as that game. There doesn’t appear to be a clearly dominant team. Waimea is the only team so far that hasn’t dropped a game, but none of its games were blowouts, either.
Saiki hopes that if he can focus on being a good setter, he can lift his team to a KIF title and another state tournament berth.
“I just really want to do good this season so hopefully we can win (states) again,” he said.
Devin Saiki
Age: 17
Hometown: Wailua Houselots
Position: Setter
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Other activities: National Honor Society
Outside interests: “Mostly hanging out at the park or sometimes hanging out at friends’ houses and watching movies.”
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com
