Maui Prep girls volleyball team wants to improve with each match

The Lady Pueo squad includes (from left): front — Chloe Schafer, Jacqueline Blumer, Cassie Dallman, Cali Minami, Abby Sauers, Davyana San Miguel and Ali Torres; back row — Coach Ryan Kirkham, Samantha Castillo, Amanda Graham, Makena Powers, Shelby Schweitzer, Allie Johnson, Cami Comet and Selena Agarano.
NAPILI — Good things are beginning to happen for the Maui Preparatory Academy Athletic Department.
With the cross country team on the verge of winning Maui Prep’s first-ever Maui Interscholastic League championship, the girls volleyball team eyes the runners’ success to gain momentum of their own.
The Lady Pueo had two breakthrough wins last season and continue to build the foundation that will lead to future success.
“We’ve got a group of girls that are energetic and athletic but still raw in the game of volleyball,” said coach Ryan Kirkham last week from the team’s practice site at Lahaina Civic Center.
“If they continue with the commitment they have now to playing volleyball, we should be okay by next year.”
The current team is led by returnees Allie Johnson, a senior; Cali Minami, a junior and team captain; and classmates Abby Sauers, Makena Powers and Samantha Castillo. Chloe Schafer is the lone sophomore returning player for the 2010 season.
Rounding out the Maui Prep roster are juniors Amanda Graham and Cassie Dallman; sophomores Cami Comet, Selena Agarano and Davyana San Miguel; and freshmen Shelby Schweitzer, Jaclyn Blumer and Ali Torres.
“Our goal is to improve with each match,” explained Coach Kirkham. “That’s why it was such a treat to go over to Molokai and play two matches against the third-ranked team in the state. We learned so much over there, and they are a great example of how high school volleyball should be played. Molokai has a great program led by their coach Matt Helm.
“We are a young team and we start five juniors, but they are all very energetic. We pass well and communicate on the court. The important thing is that they are energetic, work hard and have team camaraderie, which is a result of the parental support of the team. We are very grateful for this,” he concluded.