By MATT GERHART
By MATT GERHART
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Hawaii Prep coach Sharon Peterson watches Ka’u’s Marley Strand-Nicolaisen with a sense of familiarity.
Peterson recognizes the explosive leap, and the thunderous kills look the same, too.
She knows exactly what Strand-Nicolaisen, a senior middle blocker, gives the Trojans: a go-to player that can bring a quick end to long points.
“It’s a great advantage,” Peterson said. “It helps keep the pressure off the other players.”
She had it last year in Leeta Grap, who led the Ka Makani to their second straight Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II girls volleyball title. This season, the Ka Makani will try to be a little more balanced as they go up against it.
Konawaena coach Kahinu Lee perhaps best sums the landscape at the top of D-II.
“HPA probably returns as the odds-on favorite because they are the defending champions,” he said. “But Ka’u still has Marley. She’s a hammer out there. She’s always somebody that teams need to watch out for.”
Yes, the BIIF’s biggest hammer has moved from Waimea to Pahala. But are the Ka Makani ready to pass the torch as well?
Strand-Nicolaisen went at it hard in the offseason to make sure that happens, working with club teams and visiting camps to hone her skills and impress college coaches.
“Since this is my last year, I need to leave everything on the court,” she said. The Trojans have qualified for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament the past two seasons, but they’ve never won BIIFs. They lost in the 2010 title game to HPA and fell in the semifinals to Kona last season, finishing third.
“(A title’s) really on our minds this year,” she said. “That would make us so proud.” Already armed with a lethal repertoire at the net, Strand-Nicolaisen says she’s improved her game on the back row to become a more all-around player. College recruiters have taken notice.
Strand-Nicolaisen says she’s still mulling her options, including an scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
When coaches at the next level look at Strand-Nicolaisen, they probably see the same thing that first-year Ka’u coach Joshua Ortega does: a wave of protection.
“We’re trying to build around all of our players,” Ortega said, “but she offers a security blanket. We have a hammer, we might as well use it.”
The first-year coach, Ortega also took over the boys team last spring, hopes to build the team around defense, figuring that if Ka’u can prolong points, opponents will crack first.
If not, there’s always Marley.
She and improved junior outside hitter Toni Beck give Ka’u formidable height, while athletic senior outside hitter Kristina Padrigo and sophomore outside hitter Sky Kanakaole-Esperon have impressed Ortega with their digging and defensive determination.
While Strand-Nicolaisen is undoubtedly Ka’u’s dominant player, senior middle blocker Kaila Olson is the dominant voice and emotional leader, starting chants whether she’s on or off the floor to keep the Trojans in the game mentally.
“Communication is the key to success,” Olson said.
Sophomore Kerrilyn Domondon take over as setter.
At the St. Joseph preseason tournament, Ka’u took five of seven sets from HPA, but the Ka Makani ultimately won the title.
Peterson said Grap, the two-time league player of the year, is replaceable, but it will have to be a group effort.
“The team can fill her shoes,” Peterson said. “Not one person, but the team can certainly do that.” Sophomores Gabrielle Ewing (outside hitter) and Tiana Reynolds (middle blocker) got plenty of seasoning last season, and freshman McKenna Ventura will play immediately at middle blocker.
The Ka Makani also graduated steady outside hitter Katie Case as well as their libero, but depth and experience at setter should help HPA avoid major growing pains.
Senior Nuu Potts returns as starter, sophomore Tiana Bertelmann-Tabac got experience last season and freshman Tehane Reynolds also will be called upon to contribute.
Lee’s Wildcats enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2011, finishing BIIF runner-up and then fifth at states, but Jasmine Ward and Lita Taumoefolau will be hard to replace.
“Big losses, but were progressing,” Lee said.
Kona does return a solid nucleus with senior outside hitter Courtney Kaupu, junior setter Makani Wall, who’s entering her third year as a starter, and sophomore middle blocker Kaela Avanilla. Lee also likes the promise shown by freshman Chanelle Molina at outside hitter.
“We’ve got some weapons, but we can’t do anything without the pass,” he said.