Konawaena junior Chanelle Molina produced another dominant season in volleyball, and was again the best in the state on the Division II level.
To check another item off her bucket list, the athletic 5-foot-7 outside hitter sparked the Wildcats to the Big Island Interscholastic Federation title, the school’s first league crown since 1998.
Molina was named the BIIF Division II Player of the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches, for the first time.
“I’m really honored for getting player of the year, knowing that all my hard work I put into practice paid off, and it’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “My IQ improved from last year for both basketball and volleyball. Basketball, for example, I create opportunities for teammates to score by driving to the basket, and kicking it out to the arc because my teammates are great shooters. For volleyball, I’m more aware of where to place the ball on the court, whether it be a roll, line, off the block, or deep angle shot.
“I’m most proud of our underclassmen for stepping up. They remained composed and didn’t get down on themselves when they made a mistake. They had an optimistic mindset, and I’m very proud of them.”
Molina was the engine that drove the Wildcats to their second consecutive Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state championship as not only an offensive force, but a dynamite defender as well.
Her parents Allan and Rose Molina need to expand the household’s trophy case for their three talented daughters: Chanelle, sophomore Celena and freshman Cherilyn.
Think about this growing collection:
Chanelle has two Division II state titles, and twice was named the All-State Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
She’s a two-time All-BIIF D-II first team pick. As a freshman, she landed on the second team.
Celena is also on the first team, and is joined by Ka‘u senior setter Kerrilyn Domondon, Hawaii Prep senior hitter Gabbie Ewing, Honokaa senior middle blocker Monica Muskat, Pahoa senior middle Erleen Oguma, and Honokaa senior setter Tehane Reynolds.
Ewing is a three-time first-team selection and Reynolds is a repeat pick.
Chanelle would likely be in line for a scholarship as a Division I libero or small-college outside hitter if she weren’t the state’s top prospect in basketball. (UH Wahine coach Laura Beeman has offered scholarships to all three Molina sisters.)
When she rotates to the back row, Chanelle is the middle back (a position reserved for the best ball-handler) and takes the majority of the passes in serve-receive and transition attacks.
What’s rarely written or mentioned is her first-step quickness, a big-time weapon in both sports. When she takes her low tiger crouch, Chanelle is on the balls of her feet and able to spring in either direction. That fluid footwork allows her to dig balls or pick the pockets of fellow point guards.
Unique skill-set
Chanelle is one of the very few players in the state with a mid-air suspension shot, for both sports, that is not only entertaining to watch, but a bankable point as well.
“I have this one shot where I hang in the air when the block goes down,” she said. “Since I have hang time, I wait for the block to come down then I hit it off their hands, and tool them.”
It’s pretty much the same time for hoops, and works like a charm, too. Chanelle will charge into the paint and soar skyward, wait for a taller foe to descend, and then fire her fadeaway jumper.
Last season, as a sophomore for basketball, Chanelle was the BIIF Division I Player of the Year. As a freshman, she was also on the All-BIIF first team, and led the Wildcats in scoring at states as the team took second, falling to Kamehameha-Kapalama 45-39.
She’s the latest gatekeeper for Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa’s Hoops Dynasty, which has pocketed the last six BIIF championships.
One major to go
To borrow golf’s golden prize lingo, Chanelle needs just one more major – a Division I state basketball title – to complete her career Grand Slam. She’s got POY awards in basketball and volleyball, and two D-II state crowns for volleyball.
Meanwhile, the Molina sisters are already the most distinguished set of siblings in BIIF history. No other family has a member with two POY awards in different sports and back-to-back state crowns. Then there are Chanelle’s sisters.
Celena has two state volleyball titles while Cherilyn has one. Celena was on the All-BIIF second team last season, and honorable mention for basketball.
“I’m very blessed to win a state title with my two sisters,” Chanelle said. “For me to celebrate this accomplishment with them makes the POY more awesome. This achievement motivated my sisters to work on their game in the offseason.
“One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Hustle while you wait.’ Every minute there is someone out there working their butt off getting better every day, so don’t waste any time and get up, be self-motivated, and never be satisfied with yourself. Always work on trying to improve.
“They vowed to me that they’ll go all out my senior year, and for them to say that it drives me to do my best, too. That motivates me for my next goal, which is state basketball POY.”
