Kamehameha outside hitter Nani Spaar had another dominant season, and the 6-foot senior led the Warriors to their first BIIF Division II volleyball championship since 2014 a cap to a workhorse career.
Spaar was a unanimous pick as the BIIF player of the year in a vote by the league’s coaches.
“I am surprised and super grateful for all the support from our volleyball community,” she said. “There are so many talented players on the island that all do so much for their teams. I am overwhelmed to have been given this honor.”
Joining Spaar on the first team are Kamehameha teammates Tiani Bello, Sierra Scanlan, and Taina Kaauwai. Other members are Hilo’s Mahala Kaapuni, Kealakehe’s Anastasia Tuifua, and Waiakea’s Kelsie Imai.
Kamehameha’s Guy Enriques was voted the BIIF coach of the year.
The Warriors prepared well for the ILH powerhouse at the HHSAA tournament, playing in mainland tourneys right before states.
But Punahou defeated Kamehameha in four sets in the state quarterfinals. The Buffanblu also beat the 2014 Warriors, taking out the two best teams in Kamehameha’s history and denying them a shot at a first semifinal appearance.
It’s a loss that will stick but so, too, will all the good memories. Playing with teammates and building lifetime bonds carry more weight than gold. Spaar knows the feeling of it all.
“It was definitely bittersweet,” she said of her senior season. “There were so many lasts but so many good memories. As a team, we all went through everything together. I will never forget my time with my teammates.
“It definitely was not a good feeling losing that game. It hurt. I will remember it as I get ready for the big tournaments coming up in club season.”
She credits her parents, Sean and Tammy Spaar, for getting her started in volleyball and being a strong support system. Her dad served as an assistant on coach Chris Leonard’s Pilipaa club team.
“My parents are the reason I started playing volleyball, and they inspire me to work hard in all aspects of my life,” said Spaar, who grew as a person and player. “I have definitely grown mentally and physically since freshman year. I got out of my shell and also improved as player. At the end of each season, I would look back at what I needed to work on and really focused on those areas in club season with Pilipaa. Coach Chris was critical in my journey.”
Her next journey will be at Santa Clara, which plays in the West Coast Conference and is ruled by BYU, which has won the league the last five years.
“Santa Clara has everything I am looking for, stellar academics, beautiful campus, nice weather, intelligent coach and the high level of play,” said Spaar, who applied to the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara. “I know coach Erin Lindsey is going to take her experience and build the program into a contender in the WCC. It is a huge bonus that coach is from Hawaii, and I was hoping I would get to play for a woman.”
The challenge to make the postseason for Santa Clara will be tough. BYU is like Punahou, Kamehameha-Kapalama and Iolani rolled into one. The Broncos last won the conference title in 2005 when the Cougars were in the Mountain West Conference.
“The WCC has so many talented teams that are trying to beat BYU, which is why it is such an appealing conference,” Spaar said. “This year San Diego beat BYU twice and looks like they will win the conference. Santa Clara made huge strides this year with coach Erin and her new staff.
“I can see a difference in how the team plays together this year over last. I think it’s going to be extremely challenging trying to beat them but exciting at the same time. On the court, my goal is to grow into the best volleyball player I can be and make it in the lineup as a pin hitter. Personally, I want to experience everything I can and enjoy all four years of college as much as possible.”
Though she’s finished her BIIF career, Spaar is still thinking about the league, especially Division I, which last had a team advance to the state semifinals in 2010. That year, Kamehameha-Kapalama swept Waiakea.
“I wish the BIIF would change their structure so D-I teams play each other as the majority of games instead of the minority,” she said. “Out of our 13 games, only four were against D-I teams. That means most of the season our starters aren’t playing past the first set. To be truly ready to compete at the state level we need to be battle-proven, and that comes from fighting D-I teams multiple times.”
All-BIIF girls volleyball
Division I
First team
Nani Spaar 12 OH Kamehameha
Tiani Bello 12 OH Kamehameha
Mahala Kaapuni 12 OH Hilo
Anastasia Tuifua 12 MB Kealakehe
Kelsie Imai 12 MB Waiakea
Sierra Scanlan 10 S Kamehameha
Taina Kaauwai 9 MB Kamehameha
Player of the year: Nani Spaar, Kamehameha
Coach of the year: Guy Enriques, Kamehameha
Honorable mention
Kamehameha: Tihane DeRego, Loke Kuamoo, Megan Baldado, Cammie Masanda
Hilo: Jamie Chun, Tia Leao, Leialii Makeka-Whittaker, Makani Lum Ho-Chesbro
Waiakea: Kaena Kekaulua, Grace Nakoa-Oness, Michelle Vintero, Bethany Honma, Kayla Iwata, Kailey Doll, Sierra K-Aloha
Kealakehe: Aulike Kaiawe, Pomaikai Nahina, Madelyn Bradford, Kii Takata, Kailee Kahawaii
Keaau: Anthea Pascual, Chaelyn Aki