Sayge Rosas is a new kind of role model for those looking to land a college scholarship, despite not playing BIIF ball in their senior year.
Sayge Rosas is a new kind of role model for those looking to land a college scholarship, despite not playing BIIF ball in their senior year.
The recent Waiakea graduate and back-row defender signed to play volleyball at Briar Cliff University, an NAIA school in Iowa.
“I feel that I am very blessed and grateful to have gotten this opportunity. I’m going to use this time in my life to set up a better future for myself,” said Rosas, who’ll major in radiologic technology. “I’ve never been to Iowa, but I’m looking at it as a new adventure.
“Coach Trevor (Schirman) seems like a super chill guy. He answered all my questions and really made the transition from Hawaii to Iowa much easier for me. He told me my chance to start is just as good as anyone else with hard work and dedication.”
Rosas had a roller-coaster ride at Waiakea. She made the varsity as a freshman, was dropped to the junior varsity as a sophomore, and was promoted back to the varsity a junior.
In her senior year, Rosas decided not to try out and played club ball for the Haili Juniors, coached by Jodi Kalawe and Lyndell Lindsey, the icon of the Haili Tournament.
Alexis Amon-Wilkins, another recent Waiakea graduate, played on the junior varsity her first two years, didn’t make the varsity as a junior, and declined to try out as a senior.
Rosas and Amon-Wilkins are not only an inspiration for those who don’t play a BIIF sport in their senior season, but they also highlight the Big Island’s ball-handling skills.
Casi Gacusana, another Waiakea graduate, signed with William Penn while Pahoa grads Jordyn Tagalicod and Shyla Kutzen-Ribordy inked with Peru State.
That’s five back-row defenders in one senior class signing scholarships — that stamps 2016 as the Year of the Libero.
“I think it’s amazing that a lot of liberos are getting noticed and signed,” Rosas said. “Everyone seems to think that hitters are the most important part of the game, but it really all starts with a pass. Good passes set up the entire play. Without a pass, the setters can’t set, and hitters won’t be able to hit.”
Aunty’s aloha
How Rosas landed her college deal is a familiar tale to anyone who knows Aunty Jenny Block. She’s the mom of Maxine Block, who played at Pahoa, graduated from Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science in 2014 and signed with Dakota Wesleyan.
“Aunty Jenny approached me after one of my club games, and she asked me why I didn’t play high school and if I was going to pursue volleyball in college,” Rosas said. “I told her ‘No.’ It was highly unlikely because at the time I couldn’t picture myself playing at that level since I didn’t play my senior year.
“Basically, she instilled confidence in me and sparked my love for the game all over again because she believed in me.”
Aunty Jenny filmed two videos of Rosas and sent out information to colleges. Just before Rosas went to the Las Vegas Classic in February, she received nine offers from mainland schools.
It was a no-brainer for Rosas to sign with the Chargers, who had a 17-14 record, including 9-7 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, last season.
Briar Cliff plays Peru State, which doubles as a BIIF reunion with Tagalicod and Kutzen-Ribordy, on Sept. 17, and at Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 2, a get-together with Maxine Block.
“It will be a great experience to play against Maxine, Jordyn, and Shyla again,” Rosas said. “It’ll be nice to see familiar faces.
“I decided on Briar Cliff because it was the only school that had a bachelor’s degree in my major.”
Lots of help
Volleyball is the only sport Rosas has played, starting in the seventh grade.
“I remember my dad (Justin) would always take me to every open gym or to any team’s practice that would allow me to touch a ball, and he still does that for me to this day,” Rosas said. “I traveled many times to the mainland to compete in tournaments like the SVCA Summer Soiree and the SVCA Las Vegas Classic.”
Rosas first played club ball for the Piopio Bears under coaches Ryan Yoshioka, Amos Ayap, and Cy Alicuben, whose daughter Taylor, a 2015 Hilo graduate, is playing ball at Highline College, in Des Moines, Wash.
Then Rosas moved to the Haili Juniors, another club with encouraging coaches, especially the eternally positive Lindsey, who helped her growth.
But Rosas pointed out that the best role models remain her parents, Justin and Kim.
“They’re my greatest support system. They give me life advice every day, and most importantly never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself,” Rosas said. “I’m so grateful to have their guidance and love because of them I know who I am and what I want for myself in life.
“The biggest lesson they taught me, although there are many, is to always be humble and work hard for everything because nothing is ever handed to you on a silver platter.”