Toledo, Alameda shined brightly

By KEVIN JAKAHI

Tribune-Herald sports writer

Angel Alameda and Evalani Toledo not only worked hard to earn full-ride scholarships to volleyball junior college powerhouse Eastern Arizona, but the two Hilo seniors also set a bar for their siblings and shined another light on all their sisters on the HI Intensity club team.

The pair of Vikings recently signed a national letter of intent with the Gila Monsters, becoming the latest players from Carla Carpenter-Kabalis’ club to play college ball, including Waihilo Chartrand (Hilo 2012 graduate), Chelzie Ulu (Hilo 2013), and Randi Estrada (Keaau 2012), all at Eastern Arizona.

Carpenter-Kabalis, the former UH-Hilo star and NAIA Hall of Famer, also coached Leeta Grap (Hawaii Prep 2012), who’s at North Idaho College, and Macy Hayashi (Waiakea 2012), who’s at Willamette, a Division III school in Salem, Ore., and part of the Northwest Conference, and Pahoa senior Maxine Block, who signed with Dakota Wesleyan University, an NAIA school.

HI Intensity’s college placement pipeline could also include HPA senior Tiana Reynolds and Hilo senior Amanda Loeffler, whose brother Jordan (Hilo graduate, football), and cousins Ronnie and Matt Loeffler (Waiakea, baseball) and Chynna Loeffler (St. Joseph, volleyball) all landed scholarships.

That may be a BIIF record for first cousins getting scholarships. Another might be HI Intensity players making the All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation first team for both Division I and II. Out of 15 spots, seven are from HI Intensity, which will play in February at the Las Vegas Invitational, a huge college scouting showcase.

That’s where Gila Monsters coach Shari Kay, whose team finished 17-10, first spotted Alameda and Toledo before their senior seasons in the BIIF. Neither was offered a scholarship until earlier in the month.

After the 5-foot-4 Alameda and 5-8 Toledo had productive final campaigns, pushing the Vikings to their third straight trip to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament, Kay put a full-ride deal on the table for both.

It probably helped that Alameda was named to the All-Tourney team, beating out liberos from Kamehameha-Kapalama, Punahou, and other Oahu schools, where recognition is much easier to grab.

Then the All-BIIF awards came out and a bunch of HI Intensity players were recognized, also confirmation that hard work leads to reward for Alameda and Toledo as well as the rest of Carpenter-Kabalis’ players.

On the All-BIIF Division I first team are Alameda at libero, Toledo, Loeffler and Kamehameha junior Harley Woolsey at outside hitter. Carpenter-Kabalis said Woolsey is already drawing college attention.

On the All-BIIF Division II first team are Block at middle blocker, Reynolds at outside hitter, and her sister Tehane Reynolds, a junior setter. The two sisters are pulling double duty, playing basketball for HPA and still with HI Intensity.

Lead sisters

Alameda is the oldest of seven children to Kimo and Star Alameda. Her dad is a psychologist and her mom is a teacher. Alameda, who has about a 3.0 grade-point average, is planning to major in sociology.

“I’m super excited and grateful,” Alameda said. “I love being the libero and wouldn’t want to do anything else but dig the ball. I love to pass so much and give 100 percent effort. I think that showed a lot and was good when they were looking for a libero.

“It’s about giving back to my parents, all the things they did for me. They don’t have to pay for my school and I want my brothers and sisters to work hard in school, and do all they can in their sport so they can go somewhere, too.”

Toledo is the oldest of six children to Lukas and To‘afa Toledo. Her dad works at 808 Islandwide Roofing and her mom is an HMSA employee. Toledo, who has a 3.2 GPA, is planning to major in nursing.

“It feels great. There’s no stress about what college I’ll go to,” Toledo said. “It’s better that my parents don’t have to stress out and not worry about anything, especially paying anything out of pocket. That’s what’s good about a full-ride.”

The only bummer for Toledo is that Chartrand finished up her eligibility. Chartrand, known for spending her free time working out when back at home, will next play at Chaminade, where Kahala Kabalis is the coach. She’s Carpenter-Kabalis’ daughter.

“I loved playing with Wai in high school. She’s always been a great leader and pushed me,” Toledo said. “She motivated me and was my inspiration.

“Coach Carla is how I got the scholarship. If not for her, I wouldn’t have gone to Vegas in the first place. She helped me improve to be a better player and mentally tougher.”

Carpenter-Kabalis turned into a setter and passed the credit to the parents, pointing out all their fundraising efforts and focus on keeping their kids on track with academics.

“It’s a team effort, and everything the other players on the club do helps make them look good on the court,” she said.

Alameda neatly summed up the significance of the Eastern Arizona scholarship.

“I’m so happy to receive a scholarship to play the sport I love,” she said. “Because it’s a junior college, it gives me a steppingstone to reach my ultimate goal, which is to play as a junior at the D1 or D2 level while finishing my degree in early childhood education. I know I can do it. Nothing is impossible.”