Hawaii Tribune-Herald: Rusty Wahine roll to title

Sunday, Mar 28, 2004

Rusty Wahine roll to title

By JOHN BURNETT
Last Monday, the flash flood warning had some sports-minded wags joking "of course, the Haili starts today."

But the inclement weather that stuck around the remainder of the week could not put a damper on either the enthusiasm of the 182 teams that competed in the 47th Haili Men's Club Volleyball Tournament nor the hard work and scheduling creativity displayed by the event's organizers.

"It went really well," said Kawika Osorio, whose organizational multitasking included both microphone and mop duty. "It went really smoothly, all things considered. Because of the rain, we had to close one of the gyms. There were five matches left at the (Hilo) Armory and we had to bring them all down here."

The organizing ohana, which includes Osorio, his mom Sweetie Osorio, aunt Lyndell Lindsey, and a crew of family and friends including Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Director Pat Englehard still managed to get the tournament finished earlier than usual Saturday at the Hilo Civic.

"We had a lot of good helpers and a lot of good work done," he said. "I was happy."

Tournament participants included 117 teams in the adult division and 65 in the junior division. The Big Island fielded 83 teams. Seventy-six teams were from Oahu, 13 from Maui and three from Kauai. Also represented were Arizona, California, Guam, Canada and Japan with a team apiece.

The Rusty Wahine team, a star-studded collection of former UH-Manoa standouts including Lauren Duggins, Nohea Tano, Melissa Villaroman, Jennifer Carey and Kanoe Kamana'o won the Women's AA Division. Runner-up honors went to the YMCA Na 'Opio Juniors, a reasonable facsimile of the St. Joseph High School team that dominated the Big Island Interscholastic Federation the past couple of years. Imua, led by former Hilo High and UH-Hilo player April Pana, came in third.

Rusty Wahine garnered the Division's Sportsmanship Award. Duggins was named the Most Valuable Player. Jazmin Pa'akaula of Na 'Opio took Most Outstanding Player honors. Other AA All-Stars selected were Tano, Villaroman, Kamana'o, Pana, Na 'Opio's Lindsey Lee and Kolohe's Megan Edwards.

Other divisional top finishers and honors are as follows:

Men's AA: 1. Kailua VBC; 2. Mauloa; 3. Westside Heat. Sportsmanship: Mauloa. MVP: Kelii Alexander, Kailua VBC. MOP: Pono Kahele, Mauloa. All-Stars: Mason Pua; Kamu Wilhelm, Chad Pua, Big Island Boys; Imai Karratti, Tony Ching, Westside Heat; Hunter Haliniak, Mauloa.

Women's A: 1. No Pressure; 2. Mauloa; 3. Don't Do Dat. Sportsmanship: Oahu Volleyball Club. MVP: Lily Tufuga, No Pressure. MOP: Pauline Morante, Mauloa. All-Stars: Ketura DeMattos, Haunani Kipapa, No Pressure; Lee Ann Maikui, Stephanie Hudson, Mauloa; Rose Ramsey, Ginelle Palau, Don't Do Dat.

Men's A: 1. Ava Samoa; 2. Lokahi; 3. Quiksets. Sportsmanship: Ava Samoa. MVP: Kaimi Guerreiro, Lokahi. MOP: Bert Fuiava, Ava Samoa. All-Stars: Sikoa Maso, Siaturai Ioane, Peter Sio, Ava Samoa; Pedro Velasco, Punahele Velasco, Lokahi; Louis Mafua, Quiksets.

Women's B: 1. Halah; 2. Cuzins; 3. Kaleolani. Sportsmanship: Puakenekene. MVP: Ku'uipo Hayes, Cuzins. MOP: Kelly Watanabe, Halah. All-Stars: Kacie Yonimori, Melelani Dyers, Halah; Asha Bishop, Pikake Bonilla, Cuzins; Chanelle Esteban, Kaleolani; Tania Li, Team Bedrog.

Men's B: 1. Pilipa'a 18s; 2. Team Sideout; 3. Hawks I. Sportsmanship: Ka'u. MVP: Treston Yasso, Pilipa'a. MOP: Ephraim Kahanu, Pilipa'a. All-Stars: Napua Cabatu, Cory Enriques, Pilipa'a; Jacob Gaison, Damon Reyes, Team Sideout; Joshua Mesa, Hawks I; Makana Waiau, Take One.

Women's Masters: 1. Bamm Bamm; 2. Haili Masters I; 3. Puakenekene. Sportsmanship: Puakenekene. MVP: Chasity Nobriga, Bamm Bamm. MOP: Edna Walker, Bamm Bamm. All-Stars: Cindy Galieto, Alofa Tagataese, Missy Yomes, Haili I; Mei Ling Baldado, Haili II; Kanani Nakoa, Bamm Bamm.

Men's Masters: 1. Outrigger Canoe Club; 2. Ka Na'i; 3. Natatorium. Sportsmanship: Mauloa. MVP: Mitchell Taketa, Ka Na'i. MOP: Lyman Lacro, OCC. All-Stars: Marc Haim, Tom Harver, OCC; Barry Magoay, Victor Poppinga, Ka Na'i; Mark Yeager, Natatorium; Brian Keith Kalauli, Keaukaha.

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