By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING By KEVIN JAKAHI Hawaii Tribune-Herald Jordyn Tagalicod and Shyla Kutzen-Ribordy are proud lifetime Pahoa Daggers and undersized volleyball players and symbolize the defining characteristic of the school as well as the team. No matter the scenario,
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Jordyn Tagalicod and Shyla Kutzen-Ribordy are proud lifetime Pahoa Daggers and undersized volleyball players and symbolize the defining characteristic of the school as well as the team.
No matter the scenario, if it’s a lava flow threat, like the one in 2014, or a much taller BIIF opponent, the Daggers — all of them — can always count on one thing: their perseverance.
“When teams played against us, they know Pahoa is scrappy, and we won’t give up,” said Tagalicod, who’s also the school class president.
For the third consecutive year, Pahoa’s volleyball program shined a positive, inspirational light on the school.
Tagalicod and Kutzen-Ribordy recently signed scholarships with Peru State College, an NAIA school in Nebraska, becoming the first pair of teammates to land a college deal.
Maxine Block became the first volleyball player out of the Puna district to ink a scholarship, signing with Dakota Wesleyan University, an NAIA school in South Dakota.
Block played volleyball for the Daggers but graduated from Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science in 2014.
Erleen Oguma became the first homegrown Dagger to land a scholarship, when she signed with Tacoma Community College.
Oguma was in the Pahoa school system since the second grade, but she graduated from Keaau in 2015 because of the lava flow.
It’s fitting that Tagalicod and Kutzen-Ribordy are making Dagger history together.
They’ve been best friends since the first grade and grew up together in the Pahoa school ranks. They’ll both major in nursing and are nearly the same height: Tagalicod is 5 feet 3, her pal an inch shorter.
Unlike Block and Oguma who were middle blockers, the Dagger duo netted full-rides because of their defensive ability.
Jenny Block, Maxine’s mom, has turned into an ace volleyball recruiting coordinator with her network of college contacts. She was instrumental in helping the two Daggers.
“Nothing would have happened without Aunty Jenny,” Tagalicod said. “I’m pretty excited. I never thought I’d sign with a four-year school. My hard work paid off. I grew up here, and my home will always be here.”
Kutzen-Ribordy shared the same excitement and trepidation of going to a place — known as the Cornhusker State and home to Warren Buffett — so far (3,833 miles) away.
However, Kutzen-Ribordy will pack more than warm clothes when she flies out in July. She’ll carry something far more significant.
“I’m the first in my family to go to college,” said Kutzen-Ribordy, who has a 2.8 grade-point average. “It’s a lot of pressure, but I know my family is proud. Honestly, it’s a dream come true.”
Miss Dagger President is not the first in her family to play college ball. All the Hilo Viking diehard fans know that Duck Soup easy answer: Vicky Tagalicod, 2009 graduate, who signed with USC and closed her career at UH-Manoa, the president’s aunt.
Tagalicod, who has a 3.6 GPA and an athletic/academic package to Peru State, has another well-known basketball relative: Pahoa senior Keinan Agonias, her first cousin.
Stand tall
Playing bigger than her size, Tagalicod landed on the power-packed Blue division All-BIIF first team at outside hitter.
Kutzen-Ribordy was named honorable mention at setter/opposite for Pahoa, which advanced to the HHSAA Division II state tournament for the second time in three seasons.
They’ll both be back-row defenders for the Peru State Bobcats, who finished 25-13 and received votes in the final NAIA coaches poll for the first time in 15 years.
They’ll be dorm roommates and the only ones from Hawaii on the roster. However, Kiana Borengasser, from Waianae, is on the cross country team, so there will be someone to borrow a bag of rice from should the Daggers grow tired of eating corn potato salad.
Peru State coach Nathan Baker watched Kutzen-Ribordy’s game film on YouTube. The code of being best friends is one looks out after the other. She did Tagalicod a solid and immediately recommended her.
Kutzen-Ribordy doesn’t play club volleyball. Tagalicod has been playing club ball for Kendall and Zelda Kelson’s Keaukaha Cuzins club team since she was a sophomore.
“I’m glad coach Precious (Salazar, the Daggers coach) brought their club to my attention,” Tagalicod said. “It’s a special place there, just feels like family. They welcomed me with open arms. They’ve taught me more than the perspective of volleyball.”
Keaukaha Cuzins will play in the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational next month.
Role models
Tagalicod and Kutzen-Ribordy pointed to Block and Oguma, their Dagger sisters, as inspirational influences.
But more than anything, they emphasized that connections at their small school shaped them. It goes back to that old idiom: You give an extra pie to your next-door neighbor, not some stranger.
“I hope the kids realize that even if you come from a small school or a small town big things can happen. You have to push yourself harder,” Kutzen-Ribordy said. “Everyone has each other’s back at Pahoa. We’ll always have each other’s back. That’s why we connect.”
Tagalicod is an only child, so her parents, Lloyd and Carrie, might experience empty nest syndrome.
“The 2016 senior class is special and so close,” Tagalicod said. “It’s like we’re all brothers and sisters.”
Kutzen-Ribordy is the middle child with a pair of brothers. Her parents, Richard and Cherish, can tell their youngest, Josiah, an eighth grader, that his sister is a good example to follow.
“I’m happy he’ll be a Pahoa Dagger,” Kutzen-Ribordy said. “Being at Pahoa, that will teach him to make connections with people. Hopefully, the people there will push him.
“I’m proud of myself and proud of Jordyn for coming with me. When I go there, at least I’ll have someone I know and family with me.”
To submit an On Scholarship candidate, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
