Jazlene Vergara and Kadena won their first match against Kubasaki in 10 years last season, and are hoping they can win their first Okinawa district title since 2003. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – One thing that could be counted on the last couple of decades on Okinawa’s volleyball courts – Kubasaki would win the district title over Kadena and fare well at Far East Division I tournaments – winning four championships.
Could there are signs that the Panthers might finally break their 21-year string of futility in Okinawa district play.
Kadena took one set in four district matches off Kubasaki two years ago. The Panthers won one of four matches against the Dragons in 2023.
And according to coach Gina Fussinger, this year’s Panthers might have more in common with the last Kadena team to win the Okinawa district title. The 2003 version finished third in the D-I tournament.
“I’m thrilled about our chances this season,” said Fussinger, a former Kadena assistant who takes over the head role this season. “We have a great mix of seasoned veterans and talented newcomers, making us a formidable team.”
The Panthers return six players who either started or saw significant minutes. Senior Liza Young and sophomore Leighton Botes man the middle, juniors Jazlene Vergara and Alondra Vargas-Mejias are defensive specialists and Aylin Alvarez, a sophomore, returns at outside hitter.
Two players Fussinger says bear watching are Christina Kehe, a junior who is pegged to start at setter, and her sister Samantha, a freshman. “They will hold their own,” Fussinger said. “Their impact will be felt in every game.”
The PCS Plane was also good to the Panthers. Eunha Walker, a senior defensive specialist, moves in from Humphreys. Jenna Cook, a senior middle, came to Kadena from Florida and junior middle Sara Mei Fussinger, the coach’s daughter, came in from Ohio.
“This season is going to be one to remember,” Fussinger said.
The Dragons and Panthers begin their four-match district series Sept. 10 at the Panther Pit. They also plan to travel to the American School In Japan YUJO Tournament scheduled for Oct. 4-5.
As for the Dragons, they still do have to be beaten before the Panthers can grab island honors. The PCS Plane hurt them, though. Sophomore Nevaeh Gilbert, a force in the back row, has moved to Arizona.
One key returner is junior outside hitter Yuri Biggins, who shot up three inches over last school year and now stands at 5-foot-8. She’s joined by senior middles Runa Holladay and Ayeli Rocha. Rameghlyn Doctolero, a sophomore, will step into the setter’s role.
“We have a lot of passing talent, a good passing foundation,” coach Joshua McCall said. “Our struggle is going to be in the middle. We have two freshmen who played some club ball, but they need some development. Our keys will be ball control and scoring points.”
Senior Runa Holladay and Kubasaki are hopeful of extending their streak of 21 straight Okinawa district volleyball titles. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior middle Liza Young and Kadena would like to win their first Okinawa district volleyball title since 2003. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Sophomore Ayline Alvarez is in her second year on Kadena's varsity and hoping the Panthers can win their first Okinawa district title since 2003. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior outside hitter Yuri Biggins grew a few inches over last school year, which puts her now at 5-foot-8 and more of a threat at the net. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Cross country
There’s a simple solution when the PCS Plane sends former players outbound, says new Dragons cross country coach Robert Barrett: “Hope that someone else can step up in their place.”
Kubasaki is relatively young; the boys team features junior Vincent Munoz and sophomores Noah Starr and Calvin Stringham. “We have a couple of other boys, but they need some time,” Barrett said. “It’s not a fast team. We have some work to do.”
Kubasaki has five or six girls “who run pretty close together,” Barrett said of a team featuring Raelynn Kissick, a senior, and sophomore Maggie McCall. “They have some training to do so they can make the improvements they need.”
Kadena’s boys lost five of their seven from last season but do return sophomore William Rhodes and welcome junior Jeremiah Williams from track.
Senior Anna Mendoza returns to the girls lineup, as does junior Aisley Coleman. Sophomores Adrianna Williams, Jeremiah’s sister, and Ally Sims join the team.
“We’re starting over with new people,” Panthers coach Abe Summers said. “We need to see how things pan out.”
When he's not playing tennis for Kubasaki, sophomore Cam Fisk swings for the fences on the baseball diamond, as does his senior brother Jacy and cousin Maddux of Kadena's tennis team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Jacy Fisk is one of three serniors returning to Kubasaki's tennis team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Seniors Steven Ryan, left, and Sydney Pontious are two veterans returning to Kadena's tennis team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Tennis
Both Kadena’s and Kubasaki’s tennis teams will also benefit from scheduled inter-district road trips, the Panthers to Matthew C. Perry and the Dragons to Humphreys.
Kubasaki will bring in tow a team with three seniors with four years of playing time in Dragons uniform: Jacy Fisk, Lan Legros and Max Lundberg. Sophomore Sophia Wurdinger returns, as does sophomore Cam Fisk. The Fisks also play baseball for Kubasaki and Lundberg wrestles.
Kadena’s tennis team also has some sports diversity in its lineup. Senior Sydney Pontious and junior Brooke Brewer each play soccer for the Panthers, while sophomore Jasmine Kinney is a wrestler and also plays lacrosse.
Senior Steven Ryan, coach Shawn Ryan’s son, is back along with junior Maddux Fisk, who also plays baseball.
