Volleyball Victories

With nine newcomers on the Molokai High School (MHS) girls’ volleyball team this year, head coach Matt Helm said before the season started that “there would be a lot more teaching going on” than in 2010, when the Lady Farmers clenched the state title and their third consecutive Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) crown.

It looks like they’re learning fast, as the girls in green went undefeated in their first two MIL games last weekend, downing Lanai in three sets each match.

“We are definitely improving,” Helm said after Saturday’s match, which the Lady Farmers won 25-15, 25-15 and 25-20. “We’re going in the right direction.”

Four-year letterman Natalia Levi earned six kills and 11 digs in the victory, with senior Leenell Hernandez coming out strong with 13 kills and six aces. Shania Mollena-Lopez added 13 assists.

Levi (7 kills, 11 digs) and Hernandez (16 kills) also shone in Friday night’s season-opening win, as did Heather Place and Carol Kahee. Place put up 19 assists and Kahee tallied five aces as the Lady Farmers won 25-10, 25-11, 25-15.

Helm said the girls rallied after losing a practice game to King Kekaulike on Maui the previous night, using strong passing Friday to earn the “W.”
 “Our team’s in progress, working hard and improving ourselves,” Hernandez said.

“It was good to start the season on a good note,” added Levi, who said the team aims to remain undefeated and return to states this year. “We’re still fixing up on all the little details and just trying to help [the newcomers] get better.”

Helm said the squad will work to improve its serve-receive during the next two weeks as they look toward home openers against St. Anthony, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 24 at noon in the MHS Barn.