Weapon worth watching

One of Tai Manu-Olevao’s quieter hitting nights might have most-clearly demonstrated her value to the Punahou girls volleyball team this season.

Manu-Olevao’s proficiency in terminating rallies has earned her All-State honors three times in her career, but in a match during the first round of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season, she was used primarily as a decoy while other teammates took the majority of the swings.

"She wasn’t getting a whole lot of sets," Punahou coach Peter Balding said, "and yet she was really solid in the back row; her passing and defense was really good.

"That’s kind of been the way she’s led this year — she’s found ways to be a leader, and it doesn’t always have to be as the kill leader. She’s finding different ways to have an impact."

Manu-Olevao, a powerful 6-foot-1 outside hitter, remains one of the featured weapons for top-ranked Punahou (9-0), which continues the ILH second round against Maryknoll today at 5 p.m. at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

But her play and court presence represent just a facet of her leadership for the Buffanblu.

Entering her fourth varsity season, Manu-Olevao and junior co-captain Tayler Higgins made team chemistry a top priority during a stretch of two-a-day practices in August, using the time between workouts to bring the Buffanblu together through team meals or simply hanging out on campus.

Those hours fostered a culture that helped the Buffanblu blend the skills of a talented roster while leaving egos at the gym door.

"I thought it would be hard," Manu-Olevao said. "But we love each other so much we’d give up our spot to let another person play."

Said Balding: "Their unselfishness and willingness to support each other has been huge."

Content with being part of the crowd outside the gym, Manu-Olevao tends to command attention on the court with her power.

A focal point for opposing blockers, she expanded her repertoire of shots by playing more beach volleyball during the summer.

"I think she’s been better at knowing when to hit what shot, which only comes with experience," Balding said.

"On the beach, it’s all about ball control, it’s not all about hitting the ball hard all the time. Look for where the open space is and control your ball to where that space is."

Manu-Olevao, who committed to the University of Hawaii as a junior, has also refined her defensive skills. She was substituted out of the back row early in her career, but Balding is now comfortable keeping her in the lineup full-time, unless he wants to give her a break to recharge for another series of swings up front.

When she rotates forward, Manu-Olevao is just one of the options available to Higgins, who can also distribute sets to junior outside hitters Carly Kan (another Star-Advertiser Fab 15 pick last year) and Taylor Dayton, sophomore outside hitter Remo Gaogao and junior middles Claire Feeley and Brittney Markwith.

While she’s fine with the ball going to others, Manu-Olevao remains a central figure in the Buffanblu attack.

"She brings a certain fire to the court that we need," said Higgins, who has also committed to UH. "She’s not afraid to be challenged. She loves hitting against big blocks, she loves getting dug and going after it again."

Manu-Olevao grew up around volleyball but didn’t embrace the sport until the seventh grade. Her sister, Poli Olevao, was an All-State middle blocker at Hilo in 2001, and much of Tai’s childhood was spent tagging along to practices and matches.

"I didn’t like (volleyball) because I was always in my sister’s shadow and I wanted to be my own person," said Manu-Olevao, a pitcher with the Punahou softball team in the spring.

But she ultimately found that, "I just loved it too much."

A member of the Asics Rainbow Volleyball Club since moving to Oahu in the eighth grade, Manu-Olevao made the Punahou varsity as a freshman and has closed all three seasons in the Division I state championship match. But each time, Kamehameha ended the night in celebration, winning in four sets last year on Maui.

Although a state title continues to drive Manu-Olevao, she’s also maintained a broader perspective on her senior year.

"I thought in the beginning I’d just want to win state," she said. "But then I thought, this is my last year and I want to have fun and make it the best time for myself and my fellow teammates."