Julia Hunt does the setting for E.J. King's Cobras. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Things were looking mighty good for E.J. King in last October’s Far East Division II girls volleyball tournament final, after the Cobras took the first set 25-16 over host Yokota.
But it was all Panthers from there, as they won the next three sets and their third D-II title. And it was yet another heartbreak for a Cobras team that’s come oh, so close several times but finished just short.
This season, coach Rick Andrew and the Cobras say they hope this is finally the year when they capture their first D-II crown, after several near misses the past few seasons since the return to action following the coronavirus pandemic.
But like most competitions, it will be a roll of the dice, Andrew said.
“The postseason is always exciting, tricky, nerve-wracking, scary, exciting and unique in that anyone can come in and win,” Andrew said.
King enters this week’s Far East with a D-II-best 22-2 record, its only losses coming in a regular-season match against Zama and in the semifinals of last week’s Western Japan Athletic Association tournament to host Fukuoka International.
They’ve beaten all their other opponents – and have seen all the DODEA-Pacific teams entered in the tournament, having traveled to South Korea to face Osan and Daegu in a weekend jamboree.
But even that can have its minuses, Andrew said.
“It can give you a false sense of security. You can have played and beaten almost all your opponents and come in overconfident or underprepared and lose,” Andrew said.
“Or you can have lost to an opponent every time and go in carefree with no worries because the expectations aren’t there, so swing for the fences.”
King is one of seven DODEA-Pacific teams and one of 10 overall playing in the three-day D-II tournament which begins Thursday at Yokota’s high and middle school gymnasiums.
It’s a combined pool-play and single-elimination tournament, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday and ending with the championship at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Mila Nishimura-Reed is the primary spiking weapon for E.J. King’s volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Abigail Elliott is one of three senior veterans on Osan’s volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Erica Haas is one of two starters from last year’s Far East Division II volleyball tournament champion Yokota. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)
Hanna Rutland, middle, is Osan‘s setter and one of three senior veterans on the Cougars. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
The Cobras are a well-rounded bunch, powered by middle blocker Mila Nishimura-Reed and setter Julia Hunt, both juniors.
Defending champion Yokota endured something of a rebuilding year with just two players returning, Erica Haas and Coco Jones. But the Panthers’ run to a title last year was unexpected by most observers.
Zama brings that victory over the Cobras to the table along with seasoned veterans including senior Emma Sakamoto-Flack.
Robert D. Edgren and Matthew C. Perry have had their struggles, but are showing promise, the Samurai behind newcomer Brooklyn Hunter and the Eagles with returning All-Tournament selection Keira Marrero.
Jaelin Abaya fuels a young, growing Daegu team, while Osan features three strong veterans in senior outside hitters Clarice Lee and Abigail Elliott and setter Hanna Rutland. The Cougars and Warriors lead all DODEA teams with four D-II titles each.
Having played against last year’s 1-2 teams Yokota and King was a bonus for a Cougars team that also played and beat Division I Humphreys earlier this month, Lee said.
“Playing King and Yokota was a great experience,” having given Osan a chance to see DODEA-Japan teams. “We’ve improved a lot as a team since then and we’re looking forward to coming back stronger than ever.”
Osan played in Korea’s top tier during the regular season. “Playing different schools doesn’t necessarily mean we’re playing better or worse teams, but experiencing different types of play and people,” Lee said. “Learning to adapt to those players will help us at Far East.”
No matter what each team’s win-loss record and level of play during the season, “we will play every match with the same intensity and focus,” Andrew said.
“We have learned from our losses and we respect all the teams that will be there,” he said. “A lot of volleyball to be played.”
Senior Clarice Lee and Osan in the regular season got to face last year’s Far East first- and second-place teams, Yokota and King, which Lee called a valuable experience for her and her teammates. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Sophomore Brooklyn Hunter has helped Matthew C. Perry make strides during the season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Juliet Bitor and Zama were the only DODEA team to beat King during the regular season. Bitor is one of five Trojans veterans. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Sophomore Cocoro Jones is one of two starters returning from defending Far East Division II volleyball champion Yokota. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Keira Marrero is a setter and defensive specialist for Robert D. Edgren. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Far East High School Girls Division II Volleyball Tournament
Dates, host school and sites — Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
Wall of Champions (DODEA-Pacific teams in bold)
1998—Seisen, Tokyo
1999—Christian Academy Japan
2000—Southern, Guam
2001—Osan, South Korea
2002—Morrison Academy, Taiwan
2003—Faith Academy, Philippines
2004—Notre Dame, Guam
2005—Taegu, South Korea
2006—Morrison Academy
2007—Osan
2008—Osan
2009—Daegu, South Korea
2010—Daegu
2011—Morrison Academy
2012—Morrison Academy
2013—Daegu
2014—Osan
2015—Sacred Heart, Japan
2016—Yokota, Japan
2017—Yokota
2018—CAJ
2019—Zama
2020—No tournament, coronavirus pandemic
2021—No tournament, coronavirus pandemic
2022—No tournament, coronavirus pandemic
2023—Yokota
Participating teams — Pool A: E.J. King Cobras, Yokota Panthers, Robert D. Edgren Eagles, Okinawa Christian Eagles, Osan Cougars. Pool B: Christian Academy Japan Knights, Zama Trojans, Matthew C. Perry Samurai, Sacred Heart Symbas, Daegu Warriors.
