New coach Lamb couldn’t resist Kahuku’s program

When a job opening came up at Kahuku, the long commute didn’t dissuade Lee Lamb from applying.

For Lamb, the allure was coaching for a school that has a rich athletic tradition across its sports programs. That was enough to overcome the two-hour-plus roundtrip he makes from Honolulu for practices.

“That was part of the draw,” said Lamb, who coached at Maryknoll and heads Ka Ulukoa volleyball institute. “Part of the draw is they do have a tradition out there.”

Lamb will be working with a young and athletic Kahuku squad that is ranked No. 5. Jasmine Niutupuivaha has been impressive in practices and Carey Williams will see ample time on the court because of her athleticism.

“She’s a sophomore and her ability to transfer information — I’m pretty technical oriented,” Lamb said. “Whatever I give, she’s been working on it quickly. She hits a heavy ball, has a fast arm swing, good jumper, and she can play all six rotations without trouble.”

Ana Kemoeatu caught Lamb by surprise during tryouts. The freshman led other players in the gym, exhibiting leadership skills that aren’t common in players her age. For a freshman, Kemoeatu also hits a heavy ball.

“I never met Ana when she came in for the first time,” Lamb said. “Just the way she had taken control and encouraged the girls to get into the exercises. It wasn’t forced, but she had a lot of command and the girls responded.”

ShaRae Niu and Nuu Coleman are among the returning players who helped the Red Raiders finish fifth in the state tournament.

No. 6 KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII

Sam Thomas had a successful run as an assistant on Kamehameha-Hawaii’s boys volleyball team.

Now he hopes that success can be transferred to the girls program.

There are many familiar faces on the No. 6 KS-Hawaii team. They’ve either played for Thomas or against him in Kamehameha’s middle school program and in club tournaments. Thomas was an assistant on the 2012 and 2014 KS-Hawaii boys teams that finished second in the state tournament.

“What I’m bringing to the program is a lot of things we did with the boys,” Thomas said. “We had a successful boys program. I’m trying to innovate some things with the girls.”

Thomas has a talented and experienced group to work with. Kaiulani Ahuna, Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker and Zoe Leonard spent their summers with the USA Girls Select A1 National Training Team in Oklahoma. It is part of USA Volleyball’s High Performance program that identifies and develops potential players for the junior national and national teams.

Ahuna, Leonard, Jeyci Kaili, and Harley Woolsey are part of a senior class that’s been playing together since middle school. Thomas said it’s a talented class that’s been much talked about on campus.

“This class coming up, it’s a big class, it’s a talented and nationally experienced class,” Thomas said. “I think (coach) Kyle Kaaa, who stepped down, purposely left the program with a lot of talented returnees. Kudos to Kyle. They’re experienced and talented.”