Alumni players from the BYU-Hawaii women's volleyball team came together in the Cannon Activities Center on September 13, and showed they still got game by forcing the varsity into a two-two tie before bowing in the fifth game of the match.
Even though it's been at least 10 years since some of the alumni suited up for the Lady Seasiders, they punched out some pretty good kills, "roofed" a bunch of blocks, made rolling digs, scrambled for some saves and dropped in a number of aces against their current counterparts. Of course, a spirit of fun and generous sportsmanship prevailed all night as, perhaps, the refs might have given the alumni the benefit of a few loose calls, especially those two saves made by kicking the ball. There was also the provision that allowed one very expectant alum to just serve.
But first, the lineup for the alums included Nui Chang-Nikora, 94-96, a homemaker; Kalolaine "Line" Uluave, 97, a homemaker; Rachel Nihipali-Kalama, 94-97, who works at BYU-Hawaii; Arlete Silva-Byrne, 96-99, a realtor and housewife who helps out with Kahuku High's program; Leiau Meatoga, 98-99 and 2001-02, a coach at Kamehameha schools; Kaala Lo Tafa, 2001-03 and 2006, a senior at BYU-Hawaii; Brittany Koelliker, 2002, a coach at Kahuku High; Kawehi Wallace Kammerer, 2005-06, a homemaker; Joanne Moea'i, 2003, a homemaker; Jocelyn Akana, a UH alum; and Teisa Fotu Auva'a, an HPU and UH alum from Laie.
Current BYU-Hawaii assistant coaches Mike Apo, who along with his fellow assistant coach Jay Akoi, oversaw the alumni women, said their team "only practiced twice before the match. They're a step slower, but they've still got the competitive spirit. It's fun to see them." Apo, Akoi and head coach Dr. S. Wilfred Navalta — all alumni — have been working together since the BYU-Hawaii women's volleyball program started in 1979.
After a nice extended volley following the opening serve of the first game, the alumni took the first point, and the next five straight — which must have made the varsity women realize they were in a real match. In fact, at one early point the alumni led 9-2. Silva-Berne and Meatoga demonstrated they could still power in the kills. The varsity didn't catch up in the first game until 15-15...and eventually won 30-24.
Following a long break that included a crowd serving for tee shirts contest, the varsity came back strong and led the whole game, even though the refs and the fans tried to help them out. Alas, the alumni lost 30-22.
Pulling together, the alumni came busting back with an early lead in the third game. The varsity didn't catch up until 9-9, and then it was pretty much back-and-forth, tying points at 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, 26, when the alumni put the final four points together, and won the game 30-26.
Game four was basically a repeat, with back-and-forth ties until 8-8. The alumni broke loose with a four-point run, but the varsity tied up again at 15 all. The ensuing action went back and forth, until the alumni won 30-27. What some fans thought would be a three-straight victory was suddenly a full-five-game match.
"They have a very competitive spirit," Coach Navalta acknowledged, somewhat proudly.
In the final game, the varsity kicked in the afterburners and took the first five points straight. The alumni fought on bravely, but the current Lady Seasiders were not to be denied and continued to hammer open the point spread. At the end, they won the final game 15-5, claiming the best three-out-of-five for the overall win. "We're all still a little achey from our practices," admitted Chang-Nikora.
As the two teams congratulated each other afterward, it was inspiring to watch the camaraderie and aloha spirit among all the players. "This brings back so many good memories," said Silva-Byrne of the match.
— Photos by Monique Saenz: (top left) Arlete Silva-Byrne still has a powerful spike; (bottom) Mike Apo advises the alumni women's team