2014 Boys Junior National Championships

The 2014 Boys Junior National Championships are a few days away and all of the University of Hawai'i's recruits will be there. Recruits include Luke Owens (Ku'ikahi VBC/Hawaii), Kekoa Pukahi (Coast VBC/California), Mamane Namahoe and Kama Paio (Pilipa'a/Hawaii).

Owens, Namahoe, and Paio will all compete in the 18's Club Division while Pukahi will participate in the 18's Open Division. Owens' team attempted for an Open Division spot in the SCVA Qualifiers in January but came up short while Pukahi's team achieved it in the same tournament. Namahoe and Paio's team did compete in a qualifier automatically placing them in the Club Division.

This is also a recruiting event for UH coaches Charlie Wade and Jeff Hall. They return this event every year.

Other Local Clubs Participating:
-Hawaii Elite (18s, 17s)
-Ka Ulukoa (18B, 16B, 15B, 14B, 14R)
-Kauai Warriors (13s)
-Ku'ikahi (18R, 18W, 17R, 16R, 16W, 15R, 14R, 14W, 12W)
-Outrigger (17s, 16s, 14s)
-Pai'ea (17s)
-Pilipa'a (18s)
-Southside (17s, 15s)
Bold = Open Division

Tournament begins June 28th and runs through July 5th. The 18's Divsion runs from June 28-July 1

Updated Players:
Luke Owens
| Kalaheo HS | Kailua, HI | Ku'ikahi Volleyball Club | 18s Club | 6'7" Middle Blocker |

Ku'ikahi Pool: Seeded 3rd - Club Division - View Results

Kekoa Pukahi
| La Costa Canyon HS | Oceanside, CA | Coast Volleyball Club | 18s Open | 6'4" Setter |

Coast Pool: Seeded 7th - Open Division - View Results

Mamane Namahoe
| Waiakea HS | Hilo, HI | Pilipa'a Volleyball Club | 18s Club | 6'1" Outside Hitter |

Kama Paio
| Waiakea HS | Hilo, HI | Pilipa'a Volleyball Club | 18s Club | 6'4" Outside Hitter |

Pilipa'a Pool: Seeded 44th - Club Division - View Results

Fab 15 and Fab 50

| *Fab 15 (Star Advertiser) | Fab 50 (MiddleHitter) | Fab 50 (Volleyball Magazine) |

Warrior recruits received accolades in the past few days on the Star Advertiser Fab 15 List and the Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 List.

On the Fab 15, Mamane Namahoe (Waiakea HS) was rated 10th while Luke Owens (Kalaheo HS) and Kama Paio (Waiakea HS) were listed at honorable mention. This list consisted of the Top 15 players in the state and 20 players listed at honorable mention. Evan Enriques (Kamehameha-HI/Stanford) was awarded the No.1 slot and Player of the Year while Hawaii decommit Larry "Tui" Tuileta (Punahou HS/USC) was slotted at No.2

The Fab 50 list by Volleyball Magazine also recognized Owens as one of the Top 50 players in the country. Owens plays for Ku'ikahi Volleyball Club and is one of four Hawaii players selected to the list. Others included Ka Ulukoa players Tuileta, Enriques, and Skylan Engleman (Moanalua HS/Grand Canyon).

The official Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 list will be announced on June 12th and will also announce the Top 25 Underclassmen to Watch.

*The Fab 15 requires a subscription

Summer Recap

A lot has happened in the last two weeks for the U of Hawaii volleyball. So here is a recap of it all.

Girl's Junior National Championship (Dallas, Texas)

2013 Recruits
Tayler Higgins
5'9" Setter
Kui'kahi
Division: 18 Open
Started: 24th
Finished: 13th

Nikki Taylor
6'3" Outside
Imi Ike
Division: 18 National
Started: 29th
Finished: T-5th
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

*Hannah Rooks
6'2" Opposite
Imi Ike
Division: 18 National
Started: 29th
Finished: T-5th

2014 Recruits
Kalei Greeley
6'2" Outside
Rancho Valley
Division: 18 National
Started: 3rd
Finished: T-5th
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM 

Savanah Kahakai
5'8" Libero/Outside
Imi Ike
Division: 17 Open
Started: 12th
Finished: 11th

*Kendra Koelsch
6'1" Setter
Laguna Beach
Division: 18 Open
Started: 17th
Finished: 11th

*=Sand Recruit

Boy's Junior National Championship (Reno, Nevada)

2013 Recruit
Kupono Fey
6'5" Outside
Kui'kahi
Division: 18 Open
Started: 7th
Finished: 13th

Jennings Franciskovic
6'4" Setter
Pacific Palisades (Pali)
Division: 18 Open
Started: 13th
Finished: 17th

Dane Keckin
6'6" Opposite
Pacific Palisades (Pali)
Division: 18 Open
Started: 13th
Finished: 17th

2014 Recruits
Larry "Tui" Tuileta
6'3" Outside
Ka Ulukoa
Division: 17 Open
Started: 7th
Finished: 1st
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
TOURNAMENT MVP

Luke Owens
6'7" Middle
Kui'kahi
Division: 18 Open
Started: 7th
Finished: 13th

Kama Paio
6'2" Outside
Pilipa'a
Division: 18 Club
Started: 35th
Finished: 26th

New Foreign Recruit for Warriors

Head Coach Charlie Wade has brought in a new foreign recruit from Norway. His name is Hendrik Nikolai Mol and he is a 6'6" outside hitter. Stephen Tsai of Warrior Beat posted and confirmed that Mol will be playing next season. Tsai also mentioned that Mol can touch 11'4" and is one of the top beach volleyball players in Norway.

There is a few recruiting videos of him on Youtube. Some fans have seen it and have been impressed with his hitting. People also mention he will make a great replacement for JP Marks who signed a pro contract before the end of the 2013 season.

Recruiting Video #1
Recruiting Video #2
Recruiting Video #3

Wahine on the USA A2 Team

Current Wahine outside hitter Tai Manu-Olevau and setter Mita Uiato both went to Dallas, Texas to train with the USA Women's National A2 Program. They were among 46 other college players to participate in this event.

All players were placed on one of four teams (Red, Blue, White, Gold) and Uiato and Manu-Olevau were both put on Team Red. Both players had significant playing time. Team Red ended the tournament by winning bronze.

Wahine Roster Changes

The University of Hawaii updated their Wahine Volleyball roster with changes but no real surprises. Jane Croson, Stephanie Hagins, Monica Stauber, and Kristina Kam have all been taken off due to their transfers. Katie Spieler who would be a redshirt freshman this season has also been taken off the roster because she is now a sand only player.

The new additions to the roster are freshman Nikki Taylor, Tayler Higgins, and Kyra Goodman. Also on it is junior transfer Keani Passi. People expect a new walk-on or transfer to come in soon but I don't.

Also Ashley Kastl changed her number from #5 to #15.

New additions to other school rosters are Croson, Hagins, and Kam. Croson was the only Wahine transfer who has a click-able profile while Kam and Hagins are just on the roster. UCLA has a 2013 roster up but has not updated it with their new players.

Catching Up

It has been a while since I posted something so here is some things Hawaii volleyball fans have learned over the past few months!

Wahine Volleyball

• 2013 Schedule was officially released (May 15, 2013)
• Dave Shoji officially announces that Jane Croson will not return to the team
• Three new 2014-15 recruits
• Savannah Kahakai (5'8" Libero from Honolulu, HI)-Farrington HS
• Gianna Guinasso (5'9" Libero from Huntington Beach, CA)
• Emily Maglio (6'2" Middle from Coquitlam, Canada)

Warrior Volleyball

• JP Marks will not return to the team since he signed a pro contract
• Vote Sinisa "Siki" Zarkovic for Off the Block Fan Player of the Year!
• Vote Brook Sedore for Off the Block Fan Player of the Year!
• 2013-14 recruit Jennings Franciskovic named AVCA First Team Boy's High School Senior All-American
• Three new 2014-15 recruits
• Larry "Tui" Tuileta (6'3" Outside from Honolulu, HI)-Punahou HS
• Luke Owens (6'7" Middle from Kailua, HI)-Kalaheo HS
• Kama Paio (UNK Libero from Kamuela, HI)-Hawaii Prep

Sand Volleyball

• Failed to make AVCA Nationals
• Four new 2013-14 recruits
• London Chow (5'6" from Palm Springs, CA)
• Kelsi Delgado (5'10" from Carlsbad, CA)
• Mikayla Tucker (5'9" from Placerville, CA) Transfer from Fresno Pacific
• Karissa Cook (5'11" from Santa Cruz, CA) Transfer from Stanford
• Two new 2014-15 recruits
• Kendra Koelsch (6'1 from Huntington Beach, CA)
• Gianna Guinasso (5'9" from Huntington Beach, CA)
• Will play both indoors and sand