Marauders Looking Forward To Next Year After Tourney Loss

As Julna Pasicaran scanned the 2013 Waipahu boys volleyball roster, he saw it was heavy on talent. The veteran coach believes his team’s collective cohesiveness was the driving force in its 10-2 record this spring.

“These kids were coachable,” said Pasicaran, who just completed his 25th year as a head coach, including his 13th with the Waipahu boys program. “They all got along well, and there was no (mindset of) ‘one is better than the other.’ They gelled together, and everyone was good with each other.”

The Marauder season came to a sudden end last week when they dropped a pair of OIA tournament games to Moanalua and Roosevelt. Even so, the future looks bright for Waipahu, which has gone a combined 23-5 over the past two seasons versus OIA competition since being promoted to Division I.

Senior setter Chayse Antonio and junior outside hitter/middle blocker Luuga Vailuu set the tone in practice, he said. The Marauders won their first 10 games before dropping two straight at the OIA tournament. “Everyone followed their lead. Chayse was the best out there with his setting. You don’t get very far without a setter. Luuga also is really coachable. He’s one who isn’t afraid to take on responsibility. He played club this year for the first time, which helped him.

“Our hitting and serving were good throughout the season. Our kids were able to serve to the right spots, which helped.”

Although Pasicaran will lose Antonio and fellow starter Austin Viloria to graduation, the team will return plenty of skill in regulars Malutafa Bentley, Johnny Tuia and AJ Maiava. “Austin really improved a lot this year,” he said. “Malutafa got hurt during the season but came back from a bad sprain and helped us with his setting. Johnny has fire. He gets everyone excited to play, and AJ is only a sophomore, but he’s going to be someone to look out for in the years to come.”

Ejay Tagabi, Mataio Fualema, Corey Antonio, Tupou Eliu, Kristian Jerald Daenos, Braydon Kepaa, Jusyl Timbobolan and Joshua Lepisi round out the 2013 Waipahu team.