Photos courtesy Greg Yamamoto/ScoringLive.com

By Wes Nakama
HHSAA

Disappointed but not defeated, denied but not deflated, Allie Yamashiro never lost focus in her quest to someday play for the Kamehameha Schools varsity girls volleyball team.

She tried out as a freshman and sophomore, but was cut both times and sent down to the JV. As a junior last year, she was cut again.

"Of course I was disappointed," said Yamashiro, a 5-foot-6 libero/defensive specialist. "But I think it helped build character, it forced me to stay patient and wait for my time."

Yamashiro stuck with it, continued to train with Jammers Volleyball Club in the offseason and her time finally came this past summer, when the Kamehameha roster was announced and she was issued jersey number 2.

"It was a great feeling," she said. "I'm glad it happened my senior year, and especially for me to be a part of this team, because it's a special team with the relationships we formed."

There was more than just icing to this cake Wednesday morning, when Yamashiro signed a National Letter of Intent to accept a volleyball scholarship from Manhattan (N.Y.) College. She was joined by 30 other senior Hawai'i athletes from various sports who officially put their college commitments in writing during the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance's annual Fall Signing Day event at the Elks Club in Waikiki.

The signees included high-profile recruits like Marcus Doi (Mid-Pacific) and 'Iolana Akau (Saint Louis) -- who were named among Baseball America's Top 100 prep prospects Tuesday -- as well as many under-the-radar gems like Mililani basketball player Nayla Long, who signed with Charleston Southern.

But for Yamashiro, just making her high school team was a feat in itself.

"She got cut three years in a row, and she made it to the last cut each year," said her father, Danny. "It was tough, because she really loves the game, but what really stood out was her positive attitude. She kept at it and did really well in a leadership role on the JV, and she was using (getting cut) as a learning tool, trusting in the Lord that He had a plan for her and that her opportunity was coming."

Danny Yamashiro said he was there at Kamehameha's campus when his daughter officially made the team.

"It was very emotional," he said. "Kamehameha volleyball is so competitive, and there's no guarantee. But that was her dream and she kept at it."

Allie Yamashiro said the thought of quitting and hanging up her sneakers never crossed her mind.

"I love volleyball, I love the sport, and I was going to stay with it wherever it took me," she said.

Now it will take her to Manhattan, an NCAA Division I program in the heart of the country's biggest city.

"It's a testament to her hard work and faithfulness," Danny Yamashiro said. "We are so blessed, God is so gracious. We are very grateful."

Athletes who signed Letters of Intent on Wednesday at Elks Club:

Bryce Ah Sam (Kailua), Hawai'i (baseball)
'Iolana Akau (Saint Louis), Hawai'i (baseball)
Analise Austin (Moanalua), Long Island University-CW Post (volleyball)
Joanna Christenson (Kamehameha), Southern Utah (volleyball)
Taylor Dayton (Punahou), Santa Clara (volleyball)
Marcus Doi (Mid-Pacific), Hawai'i (baseball)
Claire Feeley (Punahou), Yale (volleyball)
Kelsie Hee (Saint Francis), Weber State (softball)
Tayler Higgins (Punahou), Hawai'i (volleyball)
Misty Ho'ohuli (Kamehameha), New Mexico State (softball)
Carly Kan (Punahou), Missouri (volleyball)
Loxley Keala ('Iolani), Missouri (volleyball)
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Mid-Pacific), San Jose State (baseball)
Eimi Koga (Moanalua), Washington (golf)
Kacie Komoto (Punahou), Northwestern (golf)
Julia Lau (Punahou), Dartmouth (volleyball)
Pikake Laumauna (Kamehameha), Southern Utah (volleyball)
Abigail Lawson (Mid-Pacific), Nyack (volleyball)
Nayla Long (Mililani), Charleston Southern (basketball)
Brittney Markwith (Punahou), Army (volleyball)
Gaylyn Matagiese (Waimea), Hawai'i (softball)
Kalei Mau (Kaiser), Minnesota (volleyball)
Kalena Preus (Punahou), Hawai'i (golf)
Pomai Recca (Kamehameha), Hawai'i Pacific (volleyball)
Laurent Remillard (Punahou), Brown (wrestling)
Michelle Robinson (Mid-Pacific), Montana (volleyball)
Tiana Rosario (Campbell), Lweis & Clark (softball)
Scout Shutter (Punahou), Cal State Northridge (tennis)
Nikki Taylor (Kaiser), Hawai'i (volleyball)
Allie Yamashiro (Kamehameha), Manhattan (volleyball)
Dani Young (Punahou), Eastern Washington (tennis)