PAHOA — For the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science girls volleyball team, talk isn’t so cheap. It’s more of a precious commodity.
PAHOA — For the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science girls volleyball team, talk isn’t so cheap. It’s more of a precious commodity.
Coach Jeannine Baker gathered her players during Saturday’s match against Honokaa with a friendly reminder: communicate, girls.
The talent level is there, Baker says, but she’s surprised the intensity level for the the Dolphins hasn’t increased as they embark on their first season of BIIF varsity play.
“We’re still waiting for the girls to play with more fire,” Baker said. “It’s funny. Me and my assistant Eric (Cockcroft) are the loud ones, while the girls are still kind of quiet.”
Though club volleyball opportunities are scarce in Puna, Baker – a history/social studies teacher at the Pahoa charter school – likes what she has to work with on the court.
“The skill level is unreal,” she said.
That was on display at times during a 25-12, 25-20 loss to the Dragons.
A respectable crowd at Pahoa High’s gym roared its approval when junior Ariel Morris ripped a kill early in the second set, and junior Haley Dixon and sophomore Rayna Robinson led spurts with their serves.
Ultimately, Randy Iona had the final say as the Dragons improved to 5-0 in the small-school Blue division. HAAS, which beat St. Joseph in its opener, is 1-2.
After Robinson’s second consecutive ace cut HAAS’s deficit to 20-19, Iona ended the run with a kill, and the junior’s ace capped the match.
Honokaa scored 12 of the last 14 points in the first set. Iona contributed two kills and two aces and Karly Requelman posted two aces.
“The highlight is seeing the girls out there competing,” Baker said.
HAAS’ greatest volleyball alum is Maxine Block, a 2014 graduate who played with Pahoa before heading to Dakota Wesleyan University on a scholarship.
With the numbers right and a strong corp of underclassmen players, Baker figured it was time for HAAS to extend beyond junior varsity. The school previously fielded a boys varsity soccer team.
“I really like the group we have at JV and the excitement they show for the game,” she said. “For this year, the Blue division is right for us, but in the future we’d like to play everybody.”
• Hilo outlasted Kamehameha 25-20, 23-25, 25-21 at its gym to stop a two-match losing streak.
• Konawaena swept Keaau 25-16, 25-20 in its second trip to East Hawaii this week. The Wildcats will be back Tuesday to play Waiakea in a battle of unbeatens.
• Pahoa outlasted Kohala 25-22, 22-25, 25-13 in Kapaau.