The squad includes (from left): front — Ashley Ganer, Paige Tang, Taylor Ganer, Aulani Casco Deleon and Nicole Turno; back row — Coach Trixy Ganer, Maygan Patch, Keolani Hill, Alana Koa, Tai-Li Tangatailoa, Mino Criste, Shay-Lea Ruiz and Coach Joe Keanini.

LAHAINA – It is all in the ohana for Lahainaluna High School girls’ volleyball, as the Ganer family continues to nurture and grow the sport here on the West Side.

Third-year head coach Trixy Nuesca is the daughter of Charmaine and Hano Ganer, both leading promoters in developing the sport in the community, and kid sisters Davilynn, Ashley and Taylor Ganer are key components on the Lady Lunas’ roster.

Mom Charmaine is the behind-the-scenes organizer, particularly with the summer club and intermediate school programs. Pops Hano coaches the junior varsity team while Davelynn is a varsity assistant, and junior returnee Ashley is a team captain.

And, like in any good family, virtue is paramount for Coach Trixy.

“Over wins and losses, we strive to emphasize teaching life skills, learn about responsibility, build self-esteem,” she said last week from the floor of the newly renovated Jimmie H. Greig Gymnasium.

“The improvement project to the gym was a big boost to the team’s morale – they took ownership to their responsibility in the work. It taught them about life, and I think this is important because things are not as easy and simple as when I graduated.

“We send our biggest mahalo out to all of the community support in the renovation work and to all of the families of the coaches and players throughout the programs here.”

Senior returnee Minoaka Criste and Ashely Ganer are the Lady Luna team captains for the 2016 season. They are joined by seniors Mayogan Patch and Keolani Hill, junior Shay-Lea Ruiz Samiu and sophomore Nicole Turno to form the leadership core.

Junior Tai-Li Tangatailoa, sophomore Makena Kane, and first-year players Taylor Ganer, Paige Tang, Aulani Casco Deleon and Alana Koa round out the roster.

The assistant coaches are Joe Keanini, Janice Phillips, Monique Blando and Davilynn Ganer; team managers are Jarren Rosquete and Rowel Ansagay; and Tina Nuesca is the team mom.

The Lahainaluna junior varsity roster includes Brooke Aipa, Mahealani Criste, Jasmin Fujita, Jaylani Fujita, Serlin Mae Ravida, Charisse Tadeo, Christina Tadeo, Grace Takemoto, Kyle Simon and Emily Cabrales.

The coaching staff includes Hano Ganer, Raymond Tadeo and Bula Mahiai, and the team managers are Matt Jess Domingo, Keahi Shim and Kaleb Borromeo.

The Maui Interscholastic League tipped off the current season last month and will play through the month of October. The JV team will also play in three postseason tournaments.

“This experience will be good for our younger players,” added Coach Trixy. “The league coaches got together and decided to add the tournaments to give the JV players more games. We have several that are strong, multi-sport athletes with experience in the club league as well.”

The Lady Lunas finished last season with a 3-12 record and are 1-2 thus far in 2016, having defeated Baldwin in four sets last week for their first win of the year.

“We’re growing slowly as the team starts to understand the game more; this has been a weakness in the past. Now, we know the game better. We just need to gain confidence in ourselves and work past mistakes. We tend to be too hard on ourselves, and we need to coach them up and let them know that it’s okay to make mistakes. Everybody is learning the game better with the club league and the intermediate school programs helping everybody learn the game,” she concluded.