It’s hot outside and the conditions have turned more adverse inside, but Kawai Ua, Alexus Paglinawan, Madison Lee, Christine Hanohano, Anela Navor and Chasati Babagay are holding down the fort for Piopio Bears Ku Ikaika in Florida.
Coach Laura Thompson brought nine players to the AAU girls junior national volleyball championships in steamy Orlando, but injuries have whittled her roster down to six, the minimum. All the while, the club team from Hilo has played three matches a day, most have gone three sets, for three days running this week in the 17s division.
“They’re holding their own,” Thompson said. “The teams here are very good, so it’s definitely good competition.
“The girls are bonding and really having fun.”
Piopio finished runner-up to Hi Intensity in March in the Moku O Keawe regionals, losing a tight three-setter and an automatic berth at the USA Volleyball girls junior nationals, which run June 25-July 4 in Minnesota.
At full strength, Piopio is essentially a BIIF All-Star team. Thompson is missing one co-BIIF Division I Player of the Year, Waiakea libero Jordyn Hayashi, to injury, but the other, Hilo outside hitter Ua, is still carrying some of the load.
Waiakea’s Navor has taken on the setting duties since all-BIIF setter Kailee Kurokawa was sidelined by an injury, but it helps to have all-league performers such as Paglinawan, a Hilo outside hitter, and Lee, a Hawaii Prep middle blocker. Waiakea’s Hanohano and Hilo’s Babagay also have had a chance to show off their games to college recruiters.
“It’s a good tournament because the exposure is so much bigger with so many college coaches here,” Thompson said. “They’ve been at each match and have spoken to the girls.”
Win or lose, Piopio has been nothing if not competitive in a tournament that features more than 100 teams. Facing a tougher bracket Wednesday, it went 0-3, appearing, understandably, to tire down the stretch of its last two matches, losing 23-25, 25-17, 15-9 and 26-28, 25-17, 15-9.
Overall, Piopio is 4-5 and qualified for the fourth-highest of 15 brackets for the conclusion of the tournament Thursday. If all goes well, Piopio could play as many as four more matches.
To keep fresh, Thompson said players have been working out in the pool and taking ice baths.
Away from the court, they’ve agreed on a common activity.
“Shopping,” Thompson said. “They are girls, and they like to do some shopping.”
