'Aiea hitter Grace Red West's best
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Going a perfect 12-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Western Division required a team effort.
But that team effort also resulted in four individual honors for 'Aiea, which garnered half of the OIA Red West's all-star first-team selections after a recent vote of league coaches.
Leading the way was junior opposite hitter Danielle Grace, a 5-foot-9 left-hander who was named Player of the Year.
She is joined on the first team by fellow Na Ali'i Kelly Leopoldo, Melelatu Samisoni and Michelle Lambayan.
Leopoldo is a 5-5 junior outside hitter, Samisoni a 5-9 junior middle blocker and Lambayan a 5-foot senior libero.
"It really was a group thing," 'Aiea coach Blythe Yamamoto said. "They knew they needed to work with each other and they complemented each other well."
As a left-hander, Grace caused matchup problems for opponents and proved difficult to block. Samisoni was Na Ali'i's hardest hitter, Leopoldo provided smart all-around play and Lambayan got the offense started with ball control in the back row.
"This was a breakout year for Dani and Mele," Yamamoto said.
The four 'Aiea players are joined on the all-star first team by Mililani outside hitter Candace Soares and middle blocker Olivia Freitas, Wai'anae outside hitter Lashawn Dela Cruz and Pearl City setter Matala Keiki.
Soares, a 5-8 senior, was the OIA Red West Player of the Year last season. She had 19 kills in a four-set loss to 'Aiea, then had 15 kills, 14 digs and four blocks in the rematch, also a four-set defeat.
Soares also had 26 kills in a five-set loss to Pearl City.
Mililani's Val Crabbe was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Trojans to a 9-3 record and tie for second place in her first year at the helm.
In the OIA White Conference West Division, Kapolei senior Tehani Ka'aihue was named Player of the Year.
Ka'aihue, a 5-8 middle hitter, helped the Hurricanes go 12-0 in the regular season and capture the White Conference overall title by going 4-0 in the postseason tournament.
She is joined on the White West all-star first team by fellow Hurricanes Marie Nataniela and Kirsten Otsuka, a Waipahu trio of Kelcey Viliamu, Shanice Julio and Bryana Manzano, Nanakuli's Kailee Kwan and Violet Mao, and Waialua's Leia Lendio.
Nataniela is a 5-9 senior outside hitter and Otsuka a 5-6 senior setter. Viliamu is a 5-9 senior, Julio a 5-7 junior and Manzano a 4-10 junior; all three are hitters/blockers.
Kwan is a 5-9 junior and Mao a 5-7 senior; both were selected as hitters/blockers.
Lendio is a 5-foot junior libero.
Waipahu's Mary Ancheta was named Coach of the Year.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.