The Nānākuli Boys Volleyball season has begun as tryouts are complete, and the team is preparing for their season opener as the team transitions from Division 1 to Division 2. Despite the transition, both players and coaches are saying that they are approaching the season with determination, camaraderie, and high expectations.
Head Coach Junius (Jubei) Wong said, “The move from Division 1 to 2 does not impact my approach as a coach in terms of preparing our team for the season. We treat our team like a D1 program.”
The same mindset applies to senior player Ajayden Sylva-Kanagusuku-Curlee, who said, “I’m excited to be playing with my team and just getting out there, showing everyone that we belong back in D1.”
Senior Shaysen Akiona is also looking forward to his final season with the team. “I’m mostly excited to be able to play with my boys in my last year. Also, just being able to play with coaches that care for the players.”
Wong said that the team’s strength is the depth in positions. Most of the players are capable of playing in more than one position, giving them the advantage of keeping their opponents on their toes.
“We have three or more players in every position. Many of our players are versatile and can excel at more than one position during a match. This helps us keep opponents off balance and guessing how we will counter their attack,” said Wong.
Akiona said “Our biggest strength is that we’re all able to keep fighting. Also, we are just close as a team.”
Sylva-Kanagusuku-Curlee agreed, emphasizing the team’s bond. “The team’s biggest strength is always being there for one another. Like, yes, we can get into it and argue, but at the end of the day, we will have each other’s backs—at least, I hope so.”
However, Wong pointed out areas for improvement, particularly in serving, service receive, and mindset.
“Our serving has, at times, put us in difficult positions during a match, whether by being too light or making too many errors over a set. If we can be more effective and tactical with our serving, it will help us stay competitive throughout a match.”
There is also the mental aspect that is a challenge for the team to overcome.
“The mental aspect of volleyball has changed drastically over the seasons. Our expectations have created this sense of entitlement. Some players expect to win just because of our past success. We are forgetting how we got to that point of expectation,” said Wong.
“We still have to grind, work hard, be disciplined, be committed, be accountable, be responsible, be coachable, be respectful, be a leader, be a good teammate, and have fun. As coaches, we provide you with tools to become and embrace these traits—on the court and in society,” said Wong.
The Golden Hawks have a difficult road ahead as they challenge 11 teams for just two spots in the state tournament. However, the coaches and players are up for the challenge and determined to overcome it.
Wong said, “Our expectations have not changed in terms of team goals for competition. We want to make the playoffs and qualify for states. By accomplishing these two goals, we will be playing for an OIA championship and competing for a state championship. This team has the potential to get there and win in the OIA and state playoffs.”
The first game is against Campbell on Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 pm.
