The Seariders' senior setter and Warriors' senior quarterback were instrumental for their respective teams in key victories last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Female Athlete of the Week: Jorene Ulu, Waianae volleyball 
Jorene Ulu's role as setter for the Waianae girls volleyball team requires her to be a vocal leader, but it's not something that has always come easy for her.

The 5-foot-7 senior is naturally a quiet person, according to Seariders coach Wilhelm Wagner, but Ulu has turned the corner in that regard this season and has been a pivotal part of her team's success in 2017.

Waianae posted an 8-2 mark in the Western Division of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, good enough for a third-place finish in the regular season. In a pair of playoff victories last week, Ulu helped the Seariders get by Roosevelt and Castle to reach the semifinals of the league tournament.

In an opening-round sweep of Roosevelt Wednesday, Ulu recorded 26 assists, five digs, four service aces and two block assists. The following night she registered 33 assists and 19 digs — both season-high marks — as well as three more aces and even two kills, for good measure.

"She moved the ball around, got it to our hitters where they needed it to be and gave us opportunities to score points," Wagner said.

Wagner said he was most impressed with Ulu's ability to stay in the moment in both matches.

"She stayed composed, stayed consistent and even when she wasn't always getting the passes she needed, she was able to make something out of it," he said.

Wagner added that Ulu's play throughout the season has been steady.

"She's been pretty consistent," he said. "We have a backup setter that comes in and does the job, too, but Jorene is the one that we look to run things and our offensive attacks."

Ulu, who stays on the court for all six rotations, is in his third season as the Seariders' starting setter.

"She's got beautiful hands and she's plays that position throughout club (seasons) also, so it's been a smooth transition to her high school years," Wagner said.

The biggest gains in Ulu's game have come in her ability to communicate and command her team.

"In the past there were a lot of times that she would be kind of shy to not make those calls if someone is slacking and we needed her to speak up. She would shy away from that, but I talked to her and told her that she's the quarterback of our team and she's the leader and that she needs to speak up and they will follow. We do our part as coaches, but her being that extra voice on the court that they need to hear when it's loud and crazy and when coaches can't really get across — that's where she's improved a lot."

Waianae saw its four-match win streak snapped in a three-set loss to Kapolei in Monday night's OIA semifinals.

Ulu and the Seariders (10-4) dropped their third-place match against Mililani Tuesday, but have already qualified for next week's Division I state tournament.

Male Athlete of the Week: Thomas Yam, Kamehameha football
In the eyes of Kamehameha football coach Abu Maafala, it was just a matter of time until his team wound up on the right side of the equation.

That time came Friday night, when the Warriors upended Punahou, 44-31, behind 250 yards and three touchdowns through on the air from quarterback Thomas "Boogie" Yam.

The 6-foot-2, 189-pound senior completed 19 of his 30 pass attempts without an interception and also rushed nine times for 50 yards to help Kamehameha snap a four-game losing skid.

"He did an incredible job," Warriors coach Abu Maafala said.

"He had probably his best two weeks of practice leading up to the game. He and I had many discussions about managing the game and playing within the system and obviously he turned out an incredible game. He did some things to help us keep drives alive and we're all feeling really confident and good about where he's at right now."

Maafala said Yam's preparation was a key factor in his performance Friday.

"Leading up to it he was just focused and really got the game plan down and then he went out there and he executed for us," he said. "His numbers were 19-for-30 (passing), but there were about five dropped balls in there, so take those out and he completes over 80 percent of his passes."

Yam opened the scoring at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter with his 39-yard touchdown pass to Laakea Ane. Just before the end of the second quarter, he found Skyler Ramos for a 14-yard scoring strike that put his team back ahead, 17-14.

Late in the third quarter, Yam and Ane hooked up for another score, this time on a 3-yard TD pass that was part of 27 straight points for the Warriors.

"He handled the game really well. A lot of our calls he has the ability to change or manipulate the calls and I feel he did an incredible job in those decisions," Maafala said.

The win was Kamehameha's first in league play this season. It was the first win over Punahou in three tries this season and snapped a string of 10 consecutive losses to the Buffanblu dating back five seasons.

"We finally came together and we're all buying into the team concept," Maafala said. "We're just believing in each other and trusting in each other and going out there and playing for our teammates and not for ourselves. Even when the game got tight and it was swinging back and forth, our guys kept trust in each other and kept encouraging each other and that helped us finish the game with a W."

Maafala said it was redeeming to finally notch a win after a difficult first round.

"Obviously when you lose, you guys (in the media) write about the winning team, but we've been doing this stuff all season," Maafala said. "Not to take anything away from Punahou and Saint Louis, but we've known who we were all season and it was just about our kids coming together and finishing as a team."

Yam, who missed two games earlier this season with a shoulder and elbow injury, and the Warriors (4-4) will try for their second upset in as many weeks when they face off against top-ranked Saint Louis Saturday for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I second-round title.

Kamehameha must beat Saint Louis, the first-round champion, twice in order to claim the league's lone berth in next month's D1-Open state tournament.

Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

BOWLING
Micah Freitas, Castle — Rolled a single-game high of 221 pins and a three-game series of 517 in an OIA East boys meet

Jazmyn Lazo, Moanalua — Rolled a three-game series of 523 in an OIA East girls meet

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Keonilei Akana, Kamehameha — Had 16 digs, 11 kills and two blocks in a four-set loss to Punahou

Lexis Akeo, Kamehameha — Had 40 assists, 11 digs, five kills, one block and an ace in a four-set loss to Punahou

Trinity Atuatasi, Aiea — Had 20 digs, four assists, three aces and a kill in a four-set win over Kalani

Aliah Ayau, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 45 assists, 11 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Lahainaluna

Danielle Bergson, Maui Prep — Had 23 kills in a three-set win over Lanai

Riley Brown, Christian Liberty — Had 18 kills in a five-set win over Honokaa

Hoku Cachola, Aiea — Had 36 assists, 11 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Kalani and had 31 assists, 15 digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Moanalua

Kyleigh Corpuz, Christian Liberty — Had 20 digs in a five-set win over Honokaa

Rhylee Corpuz, Christian Liberty — Had 41 assists in a five-set win over Honokaa

Chandler Cowell, King Kekaulike — Had 16 digs, 12 kills, two aces, one block and an assist in a three-set win over Maui

Sherry Domingo, Maui Prep — Had 21 digs in a three-set win over Lanai

Emily Dulaney, Moanalua — Had 15 assists, 12 kills, five digs and an ace in a four-set win over Aiea

Sara Ehnstrom, Moanalua — Had 29 assists, 13 digs, five kills and three aces in a four-set win over Aiea

Savana Greene, Punahou — Had 13 digs, 10 kills, two blocks and two aces in a four-set win over Kamehameha

Tihani Guzman, Kapolei — Had 14 kills, 15 digs, three aces and an assist in a four-set win over Kahuku

Amalia Hilliard, Punahou — Had 17 digs, 14 kills, four blocks, two aces and an assist in a four-set win over Kamehameha

Tiari Hookano, Castle — Had 14 digs, 10 kills and two aces in a four-set loss to Waianae

Tayli Ikenaga, Moanalua — Had 19 kills and eight digs in a four-set win over Aiea

Asia Jhun, Kalani — Had 24 digs, two aces, two assists and a kill in a four-set loss to Aiea

Saige Kaahaaina-Torres, Iolani — Had 16 kills, 18 digs and 11 assists in a five-set loss to Maryknoll and had 20 kills, seven digs, one block and an ace in a three-set win over Punahou

Talia Leauanae, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 12 digs and 10 kills in a four-set win over Lahainaluna

Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina, Aiea — Had 20 kills, four digs, one block and an ace in a four-set win over Kalani and had 26 kills, 11 digs, one block and an ace in a four-set loss to Moanalua

Kristen McDaniel, Iolani — Had 41 assists, six digs, six blocks, three kills and an ace in a five-set loss to Maryknoll and had 27 assists, 16 digs, four kills, two blocks and an ace in a three-set win over Punahou

Tiffany Mook, Kapolei — Had 24 digs, six assists and two aces in a four-set win over Kahuku

Kelsie Nakashima, Kalani — Had 31 assists, 10 digs, two kills, two blocks and an ace in a four-set loss to Aiea

Elena Oglivie, Iolani — Had 29 kills, 12 digs and two aces in a five-set loss to Maryknoll and had 12 kills, 19 digs, one block and an ace in a three-set win over Punahou

Kealani Ontai, Kamehameha — Had 20 digs, four assists and two aces in a four-set loss to Punahou

Anela Pakaki-Pias, Kapolei — Had 13 kills, 13 digs, one ace and an assist in a four-set win over Kahuku

Brooke Perreira, Christian Liberty — Had 18 kills in a five-set win over Honokaa

Olivia Transfiguracion, Kapolei — Had 25 assists, one kill and a block assist in a two-set win over Nanakuli and had 42 assists, 19 digs, three blocks, three aces and a kill in a four-set win over Kahuku

Chevelle Wagner-Chun, Waianae — Had 16 digs, five aces and an assist in a two-set win over Leilehua and had 20 digs, four assists, three aces and a kill in a four-set win over Castle

Violet Williams, Farrington — Had 12 kills, 11 digs and two aces in a three-set win over Campbell and had 16 kills, three digs, three blocks and an assist in a three-set loss to Mililani

FOOTBALL
Jonan Aina-Chaves, Saint Francis — Rushed 30 times for 190 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Iolani

Braden Amorozo, Waipahu — Threw for 155 yards with three touchdowns and kicked a 31-yard field goal in a win over Roosevelt

Laakea Ane, Kamehameha — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Punahou

Stephen Barber, Punahou — Threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Kamehameha

Chasen Castilliano, Farrington — Had 14 tackles, forced a fumble and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown in a loss to Waianae

Ezra Evaimalo, Kamehameha — Had two sacks and intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Punahou

Alfred Failauga, Waipahu — Rushed 40 times for 240 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Roosevelt

Tamatoa Falatea, Punahou — Caught seven passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha

Cameron Faletufuga, Farrington — Had 12 tackles in a loss to Waianae

Matt Faufata-Pedrina, Damien — Had two sacks, including one in the end zone for a safety, and scored on a 24-yard fumble return in a win over PAC-5

Dillon Gabriel, Mililani — Threw for 216 yards and five touchdowns on 17-of-25 passing in a win over Moanalua

Carter Kamana, Iolani — Caught eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Saint Francis

Keoua Kauhi, Damien — Rushed 21 times for 153 yards with two touchdowns and caught two passes for 61 yards and another score in a win over PAC-5

Kasey Kikuyama, Pearl City — Had 12 tackles, including a sack, in a win over Kaimuki

Cy Kuboyama-Hayashi, Mililani — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Moanalua

Toalei Lefau, Kahuku — Rushed for three touchdowns in a win over Kapolei

Sol-Jay Maiava, Kahuku — Threw for 193 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kapolei

Calijah Mareko, Farrington — Scored on a 30-yard interception return in a loss to Waianae

Pookela Moses-Espanto, Pearl City — Scored on a 31-yard punt return in a win over Kaimuki

J-zen Napierala-Rose, Waianae — Intercepted two passes and returned one for a 26-yard touchdown in a win over Farrington

Lanakila Pei, Iolani — Made 11 tackles and intercepted a pass in a loss to Saint Francis

Skyler Ramos, Kamehameha — Caught six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in a win over Punahou

Rico Rosario, Waianae — Rushed 29 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Farrington

Tyson Shimabukuro, Saint Francis — Rushed for a touchdown, made eight tackles and intercepted a pass in a win over Iolani

Vincent Terrell, Punahou — Rushed 18 times for 155 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha

Jet Uechi, PAC-5 — Caught six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Damien