Marie Fujii has been a member of Pearl City’s varsity girls volleyball ever since she arrived at the school. During Fujii’s four years in the program she has accomplished many goals. Her most recent achievement has been helping her team win the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West Division title this season.
 
As Fujii approaches the end of her high school career she says her main goal is winning the OIA tournament title.
“Sure I would like to win the league title. I think every team does. But I believe that our team has a real chance to actually win. Our team knows that winning the league title won’t be an easy journey and that there will be moments when this challenge will seem huge. But our team is going to try our hardest,” said Fujii.

The senior plays the setter position and have been instrumental in helping Pearl City to an 11-1 league record and a 1-1 record in tourney play.

“She’s an awesome player,” Pearl City coach Stephanie Shigemasa said. “She comes to every practice with that determination and spirit of wanting to win.”

Fujii says she has been playing the sport of volleyball since her elementary school days and during the off-season plays on the club volleyball circuit.  “Playing year-round helps keep me in shape,” Fujii said. “I don’t play any other sports so I guess I’m sold on playing volleyball for as long as I can.”

When asked about the differences between club playing to high school, Fujii says that playing high school volleyball provides a higher level of serious competition when it comes to teams giving stronger efforts to win. “I love my team,” Fujii said. “The girls on this team are very eager to learn how to play winning volleyball. We have good communication when we are on the court. And that communication helps me know where my teammates are so I can get them the ball at the spot where they like to spike.”

Fujii says that even though winning is important her teammates want to have fun while playing. “Volleyball can be a lot of fun,” Fujii said. “Out on the court my teammates and I have a good time, just enjoying ourselves. I’m sure that helps with our desire to play hard for each other.”

Pearl City is still alive in the OIA tournament despite losing to Kahuku in the third round. Under the league’s modified double elimination format, a team must lose twice to be eliminated. This format allows the Chargers to continue play in the losers’ bracket.