The team includes (from left): front — Manager Hauyin Lau; first row — Manager Brian Amby, Sherlin Ravida, Ihilani Garcia, Vaelei Long, Alana Koa, Kalolaine Pasikala, Taylor Ganer and Student Coach Kaikane Keahi; second row — Shanelle Pasalo, Alexia Andaya, Willa Varquez, Hokuula Godoy, Regine Marumi, Jaki Kua’ana and Aulani Casco-Deleon. Missing from the photo is Manager Malia Pitzer.

LAHAINA – Led in part by the Ganer family of Lahaina, volleyball continues to gain traction on the courts here on the West Side, particularly with the intermediate school age program launched over the last five years.

Charmaine and Hano Ganer have been among the steady leaders for the past decade, and their daughter, Trixy Nuesca-Ganer, is the head coach of the Lahainaluna High School girls team.

Coach Trixy has been at the helm of the Lady Lunas team for five years running, and she says, “Yes, it seems like we’ve been doing this forever!”

Her assistants this year are Joe Keanini, Jordan Saribay, Tia Keanini, Faavae Goloia, Patrica Nebida, Mharicar Tan and Anastaysia Pang. The team managers are Hauyin Lau and Milia Pitzer.

Nuesca-Ganer noted that the team is improving and seems to be ” turning things around and showing signs of improvement and growth” in the second half of the regular Maui Interscholastic League season after starting out at 2-4.

“We’ve still got more growth to go, and I think we can turn things around going into the MIL Tournament. We just need to play our game and not pressure ourselves when things don’t go our way,” she said.

She praised the seniors on the current squad as the strength of the team. Most of them have been with the program since they were fifth-graders.

That group includes team captains Sherlin Ravida, Alana Koa, Aulani Casco-Deleon and Taylor Ganer, and Vaelei Long and Willa Varquez.

The junior group on the roster -Jaki Kua’ana, Regine Marumi, Shanelle Pasalo, Alexia Andaya, Hokuula Godoy and Ihilani Garcia – has also contributed to the team’s effort.

Rounding out the Lady Lunas’ 2019 roster is sophomore Kalolaine Pasikala.

In conclusion, Nuesca-Ganer emphasized the importance of the family and community support the team receives.

“Mahalo to the families, the community and to the girls on the team for their trust in me – that makes the program work,” she said.