Muaina aims to win title — like brothers

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, April 11, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

Even before he'd played his first high school match, Shaun Muaina got a taste of what it might be like to win a state volleyball championship.

As an eighth-grader in 1998, Shaun watched older brothers Nate and Derek lead Basic to the title -- a moment the Wolves' senior still vividly remembers.'

"There were a lot of fans there and they were loud," Muaina recalled. "I remember one of the guys on the team won it with a jump serve -- it was awesome."

Nearly five years later, Muaina is poised to do what his brothers did.

After losing to Chaparral in the 2001 state final, he and his Wolves teammates have stated their case as the team to beat in 2002, racing to an11-0 record.

"We were way disappointed (last year), but we knew we had another big year coming," Muaina said.

Though Basic's roster is loaded with experienced, talented players, Muaina tends to leave the most lasting impression on opponents. Known to many as the "Flying Hawaiian" (his parents were born there), the 6-foot-1 outside hitter possesses a deadly combination of power, court savvy and, as his nickname suggests, out-of-the-gym leaping ability.

"You don't see an athlete like him that often," Basic coach Joanie Cinkovich said. "He's bigger and strong and jumps better than most. And he has such court sense; he rarely makes mistakes."

Offered senior setter Chris Stolworthy: "It's always nice to have a guy you can set the ball to and you know he'll get it down. We have a pretty good all-around lineup, but he stands above the crowd and it's easy to notice what he does."

Muaina credits much of his success to his family. He picked up the sport from his father, then learned up-close from his brothers. The trio played together for half of Shaun's freshman season on Basic's varsity team, then Shaun and Derek played together the following year.

"I learned a lot of my skills from them, and since then I've fine-tuned some things and picked up a couple more," Shaun said. "Most of it comes with experience."

Opponents who try to take Muaina out of the equation by putting a blocking specialist on him or trying to double-team him have their hands full dealing with the rest of the Wolves' stable of ferocious finishers.

Along with Muaina, Stolworthy has seniors Richard Espinoza, Derek Jappe and Joey Byington among others at his disposal, and the Basic setter is adept at spreading the ball around."

"Shaun definitely is a vital part, but you can't be a state caliber player with one player," Cinkovich said. "They really are a team, and everybody knows their role."

Already this season, Basic has defeated Chaparral and Centennial -- expected to be the Wolves' chief competition -- dropping just one of seven games in those matches. Tuesday's easy win over a solid Silverado squad served further notice to the rest of the Southeast Division, most notably top challenger Green Valley.

Much as they are enjoying their regular season success, however, the Wolves have their sights set on a greater prize. It's the same one Shaun Mauiana began coveting five years ago.

"A state championship, that's the goal for all of us," he said. "We've worked all four years to get here."