At least one member of Hoopa Hawaii was fine-tuning her game to get ready to make the leap to college. Others were staying in shape for the fast-approaching BIIF volleyball season.
All in all, the only things coach Ainsley Keawekane was left wanting for at the Southern California Volleyball Association Summer Soirée were a few more inches and two more wins.
Undersized but not undermanned, West Hawaii’s Hoopa made the most if its annual summer mainland trip, advancing to the championship bracket before losing in the semifinals in Anaheim.
“They did really good,” Keawekane said. “We were a smaller team like we always are.
“There were some really big teams.”
That included Mavericks 900 of Southern California, who beat Hoopa 25-12, 25-17 in the final four and went on to capture the championship. In the quarterfinals, Hoopa beat a club from Southern California 25-13, 25-19.
In a field that had more than 60 teams, Hoopa finished 8-3.
The travelling squad did not include Chanelle Molina, who has a basketball scholarship awaiting her at Washington State, but it did feature fellow Konawaena graduate McKenna Ventura, who will play college volleyball at Pacific Lutheran.
Chanelle’s younger sisters, Celena and Cherilyn, also made the trip, and Keawekane said they helped lead the team.
All of the high schoolers on the trip play for Keawekane at two-time defending BIIF Division I champion Konawaena, except for Hawaii Prep’s Madison Lee.
“That’s why we go on these trips, to get ready for the (BIIF) season,” Keawekane said.
Celena Molina played her usual roles, hitting and setting, and Cherilyn Molina got a look at outside hitter as well.
While Hoopa is heading home Monday, Keawekane said both Molina sisters are going north to a basketball tournament in Oregon.
USA VOLLEYBALL: The Pilipaa 18s of Hilo advanced to the Bronze bracket at the USAV Boys Junior Nationals Championships, where they finished 1-1 on Saturday in Dallas.
After beating Akamai of Southern California 25-18, 26-24, Pilipaa lost to Adversity Purple of the Great Lakes region 25-22, 25-18. Adversity went on to win the bracket.
Coached by Ecko Osorio, Pilipaa compiled a 4-7 record in addition to winning two challenge matches, placing 19th in the 60-plus team field.
“Our passing was shaky in the first few matches of the tournament, but better passing over the next several games led to better offense. That improvement led to the challenge match wins,” Osorio said on Pilipaa.com.
In the 14s tournament, Pilipaa won twice Saturday and took a 5-3 record into the final day of competition.
• Guy Enriques’ Southside Volleyball Club begins play Sunday in the 17s tournament, seeded 12th of 64 teams.
Last season at junior nationals, the Southside 16s won the Silver bracket, finishing ninth overall. The team is headlined by Kamehameha-Hawaii seniors Avery and Addie Enriques and already owns a national title, winning the 14s crown in 2013.
• Competing at girls junior nationals in Indianapolis, Hi Intensity of Hilo carried an 0-8 record through Saturday.
