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Youth development volleyball program launched on Maui

By Staff | Jul 31, 2014

LAHAINA – Hano Ganer is a Lahaina guy who leads a simple life as a husband, father and community supporter. His attention list is similarly short – church, family and job – and his spare time is focused on youth activities such as the Boy Scouts and volleyball.

So when a new youth volleyball program started up recently, Ganer was naturally more than pleased.

“It has always been a dream of Hano’s to have a youth development volleyball program for the kids of Maui, and now that has become a reality,” beamed Charmaine Ganer, Hano’s wife and a key administrator of keiki and high school volleyball here on the Valley Isle, last week from the sparkling floor of the Lahaina Civic Center.

Charmaine was helping initiate the Maui Juniors Volleyball Club that is headed up by Kamehameha Schools Maui girls volleyball coach Bala Spencer. It is a new effort that will open up the sport to girls and boys ages four to 18 with a no cost introduction and training of the skills development, college training and coaching technique at several gyms here on Maui, including Lahaina Civic Center and the Kamehameha Schools Maui facility.

“We formulated the idea in March and started the clinics in early July, and we want to grow the game here on Maui,” said Coach Spencer, a 21-year veteran in the sport who played at Eastern Washington University and led several programs in Washington before returning to Maui to coach the Kamehameha Schools team.

“Our focus is to establish a way to give youth here that have so much talent and passion an opportunity to experience volleyball. We want to give the kids skill development in a fun and competitive environment, fundamentals, tactical training, decision-making, and coaching education being our highest priorities.”

The clinics are led by Spencer and a certified staff of coaches, including Dukie Josiah, William Manini, Lisa Spencer and Trixie Ganer. After summer sessions, special clinics will be announced in the fall.

The program is part of USA Volleyball National Development and the American Athletic Union (AAU).

For more information regarding Maui Youth Volleyball, call (808) 256-5746 or go to www.mauivolleyball.org.