Longy preseason tourney draws 20 teams statewide

Hawaii Baptist's Michael Fisher challenges the double block of Kamehameha. Peter Caldwell | SL

Twenty boys volleyball teams from the ILH, OIA and Big island participated in the annual Longy preseason tourney held over three days (2/28-3/2) at Pearl City and Aiea High School. It honors the late Richard "Longy" Okamoto, who was a long time coach at McKinley High School and volleyball club founder.

Every year the tourney is run without on-site officials with coaches and players doing the officiating, and the emphasis is on getting as much playing time as possible for the participants.

The format consists of two days of pool play consisting of two sets first to 25 points, and the combined set won-loss record determines the brackets for the final day play for the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper division.

For VB fans, players and coaches, this tourney is three days of volleyball, food, talking story and enjoying the experience as the boys volleyball season gets underway. This years Gold division bracket saw Kamehameha taking top honors followed by Moanalua and HBA.