Downsized field competing at Haili

Tribune-Herald

The local version of March Madness — the tradition-rich Haili Volleyball Tournament — will be held Monday through Saturday this week with the top division finals played at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

The 55th edition of the Haili has a total of 126 teams — smaller than in past years but it still promises to be filled with high-intensity matches, especially in the men’s and women’s AA as well as girls 18 divisions this time around.

“The number of teams is probably smaller this year for a couple of reasons,” longtime Haili official Pat Engelhard said. “One, it could be the tight economy, and two, the nationals will be held this year in a western state — in Salt Lake City, Utah in May — and that’s the first time in awhile. A lot of teams want to go to the nationals this year.”

Engelhard also noted that two highly regarded women’s AA teams, the UH Wahine and Rusty Wahine, won’t compete this year.

“But the S’Hawaiians are coming back and they provide a lot of excitement,” Engelhard said. “This year, they’ve added former Rainbow Wahine standouts Aneli Cubi-Otineru and Kanani Danielson to their roster, and the S’Hawaiians are definitely the team to beat in the women’s AA.”

In the hard-hitting men’s AA, defending champion Kailua, runner-up RZN and third-place CUDAGS are not returning, thus opening the title door for one of the other highly competitive men’s teams, including local powerhouse Big Island Roots, an annual contender in the division.

“The women’s and men’s AA are definitely going to be exciting again,” Engelhard said. “Plus we have a strong girls 18 division with a lot of talent and the scouts will be out to watch the top players. If you look at the UH Wahine roster now, almost all of the girls have played in the Haili over the years.”

The tournament opens Monday with 48 Junior Division teams, mostly girls, playing through Wednesday, and 78 Adult Division teams battling Wednesday through Saturday.

This year, Engelhard said, the tournament includes one team from Canada and another from Pago Pago American Samoa. Three teams are from Kauai, one from Maui, 35 from Oahu and 39 from the Big Island in the adult division. She said 38 Big Island teams will join 10 Oahu teams in the Junior Division.

“The DOE/BIIF boys’ volleyball season as well as the change in the dates of the spring break have again impacted the participation of the younger players,” Engelhard said. “We won’t have as many high school players participating this year.”

On Monday, the Kuhio Day holiday, games are scheduled at Hilo Civic, UH-Hilo, Waiakea High and Hilo Armory, starting at 2 p.m.

On Tuesday, to accommodate students in the dunior division, Engelhard said games will start at the same sites at 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, the six Juniors championship matches will be played on two courts at the Civic from 4 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at about 7 p.m. There will be no other games at the Civic that evening although the other sites will have men’s and women’s B games starting at 4 p.m.

On Thursday, one match will be played at UHH at 11 a.m. while the other sites, except Waiakea High, will start at noon. Waiakea will start at 4:10 p.m.

On Friday, all courts except Waiakea will start at 11 a.m., with Waiakea starting at 4:30 p.m.

On Saturday, all championship matches will be held at the Civic, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at about 1 p.m.

The public is welcome to watch the matches all week. There is no admission charge, and there will be food concessions at each site.

Schedules can be viewed at Hailivolleyball.com.

Volleyball

What: 55th Haili Volleyball Tournament

Who: Youth and adult men’s and women’s players on 126 teams from Hawaii, Canada and American Samoa playing in various divisions

When: Monday through Saturday at Hilo Civic, UH-Hilo, Waiakea High and Hilo Armory, with finals Saturday at Hilo Civic, starting at 9 a.m.

Admission: No charge

Schedules: go to Hailivolleyball.com