By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
KEALAKEKUA — The gold medal carried so much meaning for Marley Strand-Nicolaisen, Kaila Olson and the rest of the Ka‘u girls volleyball team, which made school history on Saturday at Konawaena High’s Ellison Onizuka Gym.
Strand-Nicolaisen hammered 29 kills and Olson nailed 16 kills to energize the Trojans over Konawaena 25-21, 25-27, 25-19, 25-15 for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II championship, the school’s first ever for either the boys or girls programs.
“I can’t even explain it,” said Strand-Nicolaisen, draped with emotion. “It’s the best feeling in the world. Our game plan was to come out hard, finish hard and bring home that medal.
“It’s just the best feeling to know that we finally did it. Working hard all year really did pay off. Our team came together as one.”
The Trojans (16-2), Wildcats (13-5) and Hawaii Prep (13-5) will represent the league at the Division II state tournament, which will be held Tuesday-Friday on Oahu.
The Trojans lost to Hawaii Preparatory Academy in the BIIF championship two years ago. Last season, they fell to Kona in the semifinals. Third time was the charm, a feeling that hit home for Olson.
“Every year we got so close. We finally got it,” she said. “The key was we worked as a team, played as a team and everybody stayed focused.”
That showed in the way the Trojans put games to bed.
In the first set, Strand-Nicolaisen had a pair of kills, including the final point during a closing four-point run. After the Wildcats rebounded in the next set, Ka‘u closed Game 3 with another four-point scoring streak. Strand-Nicolaisen had set point, again.
Then the pattern continued in the final set — another momentum-swinging four-point run, but it came a little earlier, pushing the Trojans ahead 22-12 and gaining steam on a march toward history.
Olson rammed match point against a double-block, and then the celebration started. Hugs were everywhere and so was emotion. Trojans in all manner — players, parents or others in maroon T-shirts — filled the floor, making for a lasting memory.
“Practically all of Ka‘u was here,” Ka‘u athletic director Kalei Namohala said. “This BIIF championship brings pride to the community. They rally around the team all the time. It’s great to bring home a title.
“It’s awesome that they all came together. They won together as a team. They won for themselves and their community.”
Sophomore setter Kerrilyn Domondon was an unsung star, delivering hittable balls. Strand-Nicolaisen blasted the most rockets, but Olson, a fellow senior middle, made sure points came in every direction when she rotated to the front row.
“Kerri was on. It’s the best I’ve seen her. Our passers really improved from the first day of practice and it showed,” Strand-Nicolaisen said. “Kaila made us strong in a full rotation. That really helped us.”
That 2010 season was the first time the Trojans qualified for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state tournament, where they reached the consolation match, but fell to Waimea and took eighth.
“I’m hoping to do exactly what we did at this game at states, play hard,” Strand-Nicolaisen said.
Meanwhile, Ka‘u coach Josh Ortega enjoyed the journey.
“It’s really big for a little town like Ka‘u,” he said. “It’s a big accomplishment for us. I’m really proud of what we did. They made good decisions. That’s what I try to teach them.
“We came in really shaky. But we stuck together and we worked as a team. We had our ups and downs. But when you make the right decisions you come out on top.”
Like the rest of the Trojans, Olson finally knows that feeling.
With the BIIF championship medal hanging from her neck, she brought home the biggest point while summing up the school’s accomplishment.
“I feel like a champion,” she said.