By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
With enough skills to fill a toolbox, Destynee Figueroa should be all over the depth charts when she heads up to Oteru (Colo.) Junior College to play volleyball.
The Hilo senior recently signed a national letter of intent with the Rattlers, who finished 18-19 last season, joining Kamehameha senior Kalei Paige as a future teammate.
The 5-foot-7 Figueroa made the All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation first team at outside hitter. She was also valuable as a setter and back-row defender.
She is the third player from the club team Cuzins to land a scholarship. Paige and St. Joseph’s Chynna Loeffler, who signed with Skagit (Wash.) Valley College, also play for coach Kendall Kelson’s team, which will compete in the women’s 18s and A division at the Haili tournament later this month.
Figueroa is also the third Cuzins player to benefit from the video work of Loeffler’s mom, Debbie Loeffler. That was the initial connection that tied all three to their Juco scholarships, something that caught Figueroa by surprise.
“I’m really excited and when I first talked to the coach (Melissa Anderson) I was shocked,” Figueroa said. “I’m excited to go and play. I love to play a lot of games. I love the game. I like the excitement of scoring a point, a kill or a serve.
“I look forward to trying different things, meeting new teammates and having fun. The school is small and that’s what I kind of wanted.”
Oteru has an enrollment of under 1,400 students. That’s a pretty small number. For comparison, Kapiolani Community College on Oahu has over 7,000 student. But when it comes to Oteru’s volleyball roster, it’s stacked with 19 returning players, not including new recruits.
Kelson has no doubt Figueroa’s versatility will be helpful in garnering her playing time.
“If outside hitter doesn’t work out, she can set or be a very good back-row player,” he said. “She lives down the street from me. She’s a very respectful person, very coachable, easy to teach and coach. She listens to instruction and applies it.
“She works hard and doesn’t miss a day of practice. Her parents (Ashley and Shaley) did a really good job with her. She doesn’t say anything negative about anybody, and just works hard. She does the right thing all the time. She’s very consistent, and she’s pretty even-keeled. She’s my captain, her and Kalei.”
Figueroa enjoys the competitive atmosphere at Cuzins, which is also coached by Kelson’s wife, Zelda. His brother, Brian Kelson, is a strength and conditioning coach.
“My coaches helped me find something in myself, being aggressive,” she said. “They’re very positive and have a lot of heart. They tell me to not hold back and go all out.
“I look forward to doing good in school, having good grades, playing volleyball and having fun. I like to bring aggressiveness, hustling for balls and going all out. I pointed out grades first because if you don’t have grades you can’t play.”
Figueroa is holding a 3.4 grade point average. She plans to major in psychology and sociology with hopes to become a social worker.
Besides being well-rounded in the classroom and versatile on the court, she’s also a role model to her younger brother Dayson, 10, and sister Delaynee, 8, who both play volleyball.
“I want to push them and set myself as a good example,” Figueroa said. “When they watch me, I want to play my best. They can see me what I do, so they can try and do it, too.
“My favorite memory is one day I was playing and my sister told me I’m a good player and she said she wants to play like me. I felt like a role model. I really want them to follow in my footsteps. I tell them you have to focus in school and try hard at your sport. It’s not easy, but you have to work for it.”
College stories
To be featured in a Tribune-Herald scholarship story or submit a former BIIF student-athlete for the Big Island College Report, email: kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com or call 930-7331.
Cuzins
The club team also travels to the Las Vegas Invitational in February for competition and the senior showcase, which connects unsigned seniors and colleges. For more information about Cuzins, call 430-0842.