By KEVIN JAKAHI By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer Katie Requelman-Ancheta watched her younger sister, Kai-Lyn, and the Laupahoehoe girls volleyball team search long and hard for an elusive victory in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation last season. The
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Katie Requelman-Ancheta watched her younger sister, Kai-Lyn, and the Laupahoehoe girls volleyball team search long and hard for an elusive victory in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation last season.
The Seasiders, who usually battle small-school issues such as roster depth and inexperience, went winless with an 0-15 record. But Katie saw the team have fun and decided to join this season, along with her twin sister Katelyn.
The two junior twins and returning sophomore immediately provide much-needed depth for the first-year conversion school, which has a high school enrollment of 40 students. There are 204 students from grades kindergarten to 12th grade.
The Seasiders’ nickname is the same, but the school’s official name is Laupahoehoe Public Community Charter School. As a charter school, student-athletes are eligible to play sports at Honokaa not offered at Laupahoehoe — such as football, baseball, and soccer.
There are 12 players on the volleyball squad, which picked up its first victory last weekend against Makua Lani at home. The Seasiders (1-1) fell to Kealakehe in the BIIF season-opener.
“We’ve got a lot of first-time kids,” first-year coach Bernie Lorenzo said. “It’s been hard and challenging. Pretty much all we’ve been learning is fundamentals.
“But we’re doing better. They’ve got plenty of heart. Alize (Asato) and Tanisha (Salboro-Seguerre) have shown a lot of improvement. The first time on the court Tanisha couldn’t hit the ball. From day one, Alize showed leadership. She was voted team captain.”
Asato played against Makua Lani, despite not being healthy. She’s one of four freshmen, and there are five sophomores, a nice nucleus for a team with no seniors.
“She had surgery two days before the game. She had her tonsils taken out, but there she was on the court. She insisted on playing,” Lorenzo said. “She did good, but I pulled her out a lot, so she wouldn’t get dehydrated. She’s motivated, even if the team is losing she’ll try to bring everybody up.”
Last season, the Seasiders had it rough, stuck in the Blue division with Hilo, Hawaii Prep, Kamehameha, and Waiakea. They lost to Kanu O Ka Aina in the first round of the BIIF Division II tournament.
“Our goal was to get a win,” Lorenzo said. “We want to continue to get more.”
Katie Requelman-Ancheta feels the same way. Like Kaytlen, it’s her first time on the team. However, she has some volleyball experience, playing in P&R leagues.
“I watched games last year and it looked fun,” Katie said. “It felt good to get that win. It was a good experience. It showed us to have hope, if we try our best.
“Everyone gets along and that makes practice easier. For my teammates, I want to win more games, but also have fun.”
The starters are Lashayna Domingo, Kaytlen Requelman-Ancheta, Shyla Anderson, Kai-Lyn Requelman-Ancheta, Alize Asato and Carina Salomon-Torres.
Besides Katie Requelman-Ancheta, the team’s deeper bench includes Maluhia Awai, Rayci Domingo, Amber Vallespin, Victoria Jose and Salboro-Seguerre.
Salomon-Torres likes the direction the Seasiders are heading, especially the motivational tactics from her coach.
“She pushes us hard and is trying to instill discipline,” Salomon-Torres said. “It makes us stronger. It’s pretty fun when we all work together to win.”
