She is a child of CrimeStoppers.

Shelby Capllonch, youngest child of Sgt. Kim Buffett — the face of the HPD program for years — found her own niche. The senior outside hitter is a cornerstone of the Damien girls volleyball program.

With Capllonch, Damien, now 13-0 and one win away from an ILH Division II title, is one of the biggest turnaround programs ever. Damien went to co-ed enrollment just a few years ago. Two weeks ago, Capllonch (pronounced Cap-ee-on) had 16 kills as Damien swept Le Jardin for the first-round title and an automatic state-tournament berth.

“Lately, we’ve been more stressed out. Against Sacred Hearts, we lost two sets,” Capllonch said of the Monarchs’ most recent victory. “It would kind of get in our heads, but now we know, we’ve got to finish this.”

Four years ago, Don Faumuina took the helm as head coach.

“The year before, they won only once in Division II. It took me a few minutes to realize the challenge we had,” he said. “I watched them and thought, ‘Wow, this team is pretty talented.”

Faumuina promised this: The Monarchs would be in the state tournament that year.

“They said, ‘Coach, did you see our record last year?’ And yeah, we went to states,” he recalled. “When I first saw her, I though, ‘Who is this kid? All I did was watch her play that front rotation and I already knew I had somebody special. Her off-court demeanor, she’s so humble. It’s a kako thing, it’s about us.”

The development of the program has stimulated more parents to send their volleyball-playing daughters to Damien, he added.

“That team you see last year and this year, a lot of their parents sent their children here specifically because of the volleyball program,” Faumuina said. “Thank goodness for Shelby.”

Capllonch pounds a heavy ball reminiscent of outside hitters like McKenna Granato (Punahou/Hawaii) and Gabriella Matautia (Moanalua/Temple).

Capllonch brings the power, but enjoys each moment. Her life has a parallel with her favorite movie, “Thor: Ragnarok,” though she may not realize it.

“The thing about the new (Thor) that I liked is that he learned to use his own power and not just the use of the hammer,” she said.

Capllonch’s progress on the varsity and club level has been so pronounced that UNLV took a look at her in a tournament in Spokane, Wash., and contacted her the day after her team returned to the islands. Capllonch visited the campus and made a decision to commit.

“I had an offer from Temple, but it was only two years. Seattle Pacific University, they’re a D-II, they offered a full ride (four years),” she said. “I thought UNLV was more in the city, so I thought it would be all noise, but it’s not. It’s calm and soothing.”

There aren’t a lot of 5-foot-10 outside hitters in NCAA D-I, but Capllonch is about to be one of the exceptions.

“I was a little surprised they were going to take her as an outside hitter, phenomenal as she is, but seeing her grow this past club season, she’s become way better,” Faumuina said, referring to her play with Manoa Beach VC. “Her defense and back-row playing, being able to control the ball, do roll shots and tips, her IQ has taken it to the next level.”

All of this seems like a whirlwind for a subdued, introspective young student-athlete who says she “had two friends” when she started high school. She’s a budding artist. She is excellent at all forms of math, but forensic science and physics are her favorite classes. But a life on the police force is something she isn’t leaning toward.

“I don’t think so. My mom was a cop, and she had to work a lot. I want to become a veterinarian eventually,” Capllonch said. “I’ve taken multiple science classes to get ahead.”

Faumuina says that getting a bit out of her comfort zone is one of the many reasons Damien is a powerhouse. The Monarchs face fast-rising Mid-Pacific today for the ILH D-II tournament title.

“Ehu (Kaehu Keala), their tall player, is 6-3. When we watched them play Le Jardin, it was just like, all to her,” Capllonch said.

A win would secure a seeded berth for Damien in the HHSAA state tournament. Capllonch’s emergence as a leader has been integral.

“She’s a fairly quiet person, more to herself. I’d say she’s even an introvert, very pleasant to everyone, always laughing. Laid back and easy-going,” Faumuina said. “I always joke with Shelby that the reason you’re so great is you take your mannerisms after your father (Eric). The aggressiveness and beast on the court, she gets that from her mom. And once the game is done, she’s back to Shelby.”

SHELBY CAPLLONCH

Damien volleyball * 5-10 * Senior

Q & A / Favorites

>> Food (at home): Mom’s baked breaded chicken

>> Food (eating out): Spicy ahi roll

>> Hobby: “I like to go to the beach. I also like to draw.”

>> Movie: “Thor: Ragnarok.”

>> TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy.”

>> Teacher: Ms. Kristen Ponce

>> GPA: 3.4

>> Class: Forensic science

>> What mom (Kim Buffett) says: “Just have fun.”

>> What dad (Eric Capllonch) says: “Good game, Shelby girl.”

>> What your coach (Don Faumuina) says: “Mind-set plus skill-set equals jet-set.”

>> Ultimate dream: “I would like to become a veterinarian and one day after college move back to Hawaii.”