Aloha Power Surge Ohana,
Yesterday, Sat 2/23, our boys played in their very first tournament of the
season. It was a men’s B/BB tournament and it was and is a great tune up
tournament for our boys who are preparing to play against other U17/18 teams in
the Pacific Northwest, namely the Spokane Boys Volleyball Club, next week Sun
3/2 at Highline Community College again.
But stepping back a little, since Nov of 2012, I’ve been trying to get a
boys team going by running boys open practices, but to no avail. Finally this
past Jan 2013, I called it quits, it just wasn’t happening. But then basketball
season was over for some, boredom sets in a bit, a few boys started asking if
the team was still playing, and voilà, the guys started to get serious about
playing. Last week they all came together for the first time, about 9 or 10 of
them for their very first practice of the season. Two practices that week, two
practices this week, and here we are in a men’s tournament. Go figure!
So now the guys (sometimes I slip and call them ladies, no disrespect to
either the guys or the ladies, just habit) are legit, they have a practice
schedule, a tournament schedule, and they even have a team picture on our
website. Check it out ladies, the only legitimate U18 Boys team this side of
Snoqualmie. Actually our boys’ ages range from 14 to 17, but per USAV’s age
definition, we are a U18 team. And they all come from 5 different high schools;
Washington, Lakes, University Place, Graham-Kapowsin and Spanaway Lake (need
someone from Bethel, please, maybe... Spencer???). The south sound is well
represented on our boys team for sure.
Long story short, the boys won one match and that was the final match in
the playoffs against a team who’s name I won’t mention but their initials are
HISYM. In that match we won in 2 straight games, 25-22, 33-31. Yes, that is
not a typo, that 2nd set went into triple overtime. There were 9 B/BB teams, 3
pools of 3 teams each. At the end of the day we finished with a 1-3 record,
finishing 3rd in the Silver Bracket. In all 4 matches, the boys played well.
In fact, I would say, considering their very late start in the season, their
performance was exemplary.
The boys definitely have some structure in their game: the foundation
(ball control) is there but still a little shaky, the walls (serve-receive
formations, offense, defense, transitions) are up but need strengthening here
and there, and the roof (setting, communication, chemistry) has a few leaks but
its all coming together. And come together they must, because next Sunday is
their real test. If I could wave a wand and choose one thing that would be
improved right now in the boys’ game, I would choose ball control. Because when
you possesses strong ball control skills, you have a strong and sure
foundation. And when you have a sure foundation, anything you build on it can
and will stand.
A lot of very good things happened at the tournament. There were some
great blocking by our middles and right sides, some great digs by our back row,
several long and exhausting rallies, and execution of some very good plays.
Usually it takes months before a team will even attempt a quick attack in the
middle at a tournament. But the boys ran several quick attacks in the middle
from the get go and they even ran some successful quick back sets, which is
simply outstanding. On the officiating end, Vaa (with help from his mom) did a
great job keeping score, and the rest of the team did a great job paying
attention, calling lines or serving as the R2.
I don’t normally do this because I strongly feel it takes a team effort to
win. But every so often you get a player who, through his athleticism, his
experience and knowledge of the game, his amazing all-around skills, and his
humble and unassuming leadership, brings the whole team together and makes the
team perform much better. He is the one who can take any good or bad pass and
connect it to the hitter, the one who designs and runs our plays, the glue that
binds the team together. That player is Nate Peredo, our setter. As you all
know, the setter is the quarterback of the team. There are many good setters
out there. But besides possessing amazing skills, what separates a good setter
from a great setter, is a setter’s ability to make everyone feel comfortable out
there, make everyone feel important and part of the team, and make everyone feel
like playing with you and for you. Nate does that for this team and is a major
reason why this team plays so well together. [Vallerie Noa does that for our
14s, by the way.] This ability or charismatic leadership has to come from
within, it is not something I or any coach can teach. Nate is just wired that
way, and therefore it comes out in his game and his steadfast leadership. I
received many compliments from other players regarding the team and especially
regarding Nate, all very well deserved compliments.
Congratulations gentlemen, and well done! You all did a great job in your
season opener, keep up the good work.
Coach Kama
