Iosefatu Lafaele dreams of helping New Zealand reach the Olympics in Rio in 2016. Picture / Greg Bowker
De La Salle College will need to find someone to step up and replace Iosefatu Lafaele to spearhead their premier boys' volleyball side.
The 18-year-old is finishing his Year 13 at the South Auckland college, and has a glittering CV to show for his five years in the volleyball team.
Two Auckland schools MVP awards sit nicely alongside De La Salle's 2013-14 Auckland titles.
What makes this De La Salle volleyball team so good?
"It's the brotherhood and spirit that we carry. A lot of other schools' teams don't have that. We play as a team," says Lafaele.
Blessed with tall genes, long legs and arms, Lafaele has the perfect build for a volleyballer, but only really got seriously into the sport when he started Year 9 at De La Salle.
He cracked the premier side almost immediately.
"My family were in a club team - Playaz from South Auckland - that I went to watch and I was influenced by them.
"My older sister Margaret, especially, hooked me into it," he says.
The whole family still play in church games and they eagerly follow Fatu's progress.
It took a few seasons before De La Salle starting to consistently challenge for the silverware, and under the coaching of Ve'a Fuamatu the premier side have thrived.
"I was still finding my groove in the sport in my first three years at college," says Lafaele.
He led by example this year, as De La Salle beat Rangitoto in the Auckland schools tournament final.
"If the boys are down, I try and bring them up and get the buzz back. I try and lead by example but all the senior boys contribute. It's not just me as captain."
That leading by example entails his strong serving, a jump serve with plenty of top spin, while he spikes well too.
He says his main work-on is his defensive play, which is why he lists former New Zealand player Massey Satiu (a championship-winning volleyballer out of Sir Edmund Hillary College) as an inspiration. Satiu was a strong defender.
There was not the same success at the schools volleyball nationals in Palmerston North, where they lost in the semis to Tauranga Boys' College.
"We made mistakes and the boys slacked off in the last few points," says Lafaele.
That did not stop Lafaele and teammate Saumani Malama making a paper New Zealand Schools volleyball side out of those nationals.
Another prominent member of the De La Salle volleyball side is Darren Tiumalu, captain of the First XV.
Lafaele himself plays rugby, at lock, for the Second XV.
Next year he's keen to turn out for his local club - either East Tamaki or Papatoetoe.
He lives in Otara, making the short bus trip in every morning to school.
Injuries are part and parcel of every sport, volleyball included, but the worst Lafaele has suffered is a ripped finger.
He doesn't wear the knee and elbow pads you see some volleyballers in. He says he tried it but didn't feel comfortable.
Lafaele knows he is on the radar of the New Zealand selectors.
After being awarded the MVP at last year's South Pacific Games, he made the national training squad, while he just recently returned from Bahrain, where the New Zealand Under 20s placed 14th (out of 18) in the Asian Games. It was his biggest trip with volleyball at this level and was something of a learning curve.
"The standard was pretty high, playing against some of the top teams like China and Korea, especially being in the same pool as them. We had to play to our best."
For the record, Iran beat China in the final.
Lafaele plays his club volleyball for Playaz, and though there is a good off-season before competition starts in 2015, he knows what he wants to achieve in the sport.
"I'd like to play for the New Zealand's men's side and help them get to the 2016 Olympics in Rio."
The focus for now is his exams and heading to AUT University for a sport and recreation degree next year.
But in the back of his mind will be volleyball, and how he can leap further, pinpoint that serve and spike better than before.
Lafaele, along with Greg Vukets of Westlake Boys' High School and Carlos Veiagina of Rutherford College, are the boys' volleyball nominees for the ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year event, at Eden Park on November 20.
Finalists
Allrounder: Sophie Bond (Rangitoto), Christina Oscar, Maia Jean Watene (St Kentigern), Sarah Doyle (Kristin School), Rebekah Bradley (EGGS), Leo Roper (Macleans), Danyon Morgan-Puterangi (Westlake BHS), Sam Pendreigh (St Peter's).
Athletes with a disability: Tayla Clement (Westlake GHS).
Athletics: Eliza McCartney (Takapuna Grammar), Ofa Hakeai (AGGS), Samantha Baldwin (Rangitoto), Sam Ulufonua (Auckland Grammar), Bailey Stewart (Sacred Heart), Austen Heuvel (Macleans).
Badminton: Niccolo Tagle (Westlake BHS), Daxxon Vong (Avondale).
Basketball: Gabriella Fotu (Rangitoto), Katelin Noyer, Zara Jillings (Westlake GHS), Tai Wynyard, Isaac Davidson (Rangitoto), Matthew Freeman (Westlake BHS).
Cricket: Glenn Phillips (Sacred Heart), Ben Rainger (Auckland Grammar), Daniel Young (St Kentigern), Natasha van Tilburg (Avondale), Claire Crooks (EGGS), Liz Olney (Westlake GHS).
Cycling: Bryony Botha (Rangitoto), John Newman-Watt, Lydia Rippon (Massey), Nina Wollaston (Baradene), Harry Elworthy (Takapuna Grammar), James Fouche (St Kentigern).
Distance running: Isabella Richards, Grace Wood (St Kentigern), Audrey Gregan (St Cuthbert's), Sam Pendreigh (St Peter's), Conal Wilson (Auckland Grammar), Luke Fielding (Avondale).
Equestrian (eventing): Georgina Llewellyn (St Cuthbert's), Rosa Rieger (Baradene).
Football: Connor Probert, Dylan Bull (Sacred Heart), Sam Brotherton (Westlake BHS), Deven Jackson, Bella Kingi (MAGS), Isabella Richards (St Kentigern).
Golf: Wen Yung Keh, Siyi Keh (Botany Downs), Jocelynn Katu (Lynfield), Tadhg Campbell, Jake Meenhorst (Massey), Sam Reese (Westlake BHS).
Gymsports: Olivia Gillott (Pukekohe), Hannah Metzger (EGGS), Courtney Davies (Botany Downs), Dylan Schmidt (King's), Lachie Smith (Long Bay), Sean Wilson (St Peter's).
Hockey: Maddison Dowe (Diocesan), Isla Bint (St Cuthbert's), Ella Hyatt-Brown (Carmel), Richmond Lum (St Kentigern), Mitchell Murray (King's), Robert Capizzi ((Kristin).
International achievement award: Brittany Robertson (Diocesan), Liam Stone (Albany).
Lacrosse: Katie Budgen, Georgia Carter (MAGS), Victoria Crisford (EGGS).
Lawn bowls: Mackenzie Blucher (St Dominic's), Aidan Takarua (St Peter's).
Mountain biking: Jemma Manchester, Jessica Manchester, Kayla Russell (Howick), Jack Fisher (Auckland Grammar), Alex Beaven (Parnell).
Netball: Maia Wilson, Holly Fowler (MAGS), Grace Kukutai (Lynfield).
Orienteering: Alice Tilley, Lauren Holmes (Diocesan), Kayla Fairbairn (St Cuthbert's), Tommy Hayes, James Crosby (Auckland Grammar), Cameron De L'Isle (Long Bay).
Puma sports educator: Julie Wharton (Southern Cross).
Rowing: Jessica Remmington, Renee Scott-French (Westlake GHS), Ella Simanu (Diocesan), Matt Wylie (Auckland Grammar), Jonathan Winter (MAGS), Ben Partridge (Westlake BHS).
Rugby league: Erin Clark (Manurewa), Mattais Heimuli (MAGS), Zion Ioka (Kelston).
Rugby union: Sam Nock (St Kentigern), Rieko Ioane (Auckland Grammar), Jordan Trainor (St Peter's), Kiritapu Demant (EGGS), Olivia Poloniati (Southern Cross).
Service to school sport: David Wadams (Auckland Grammar), Bruce Ritchie (Massey).
Softball: Allison Mohi, Makayla Mave (Aorere), Kiri Graham (Rangitoto), Cole Evans (MAGS), Jarome McKenzie (Auckland Grammar), Joseph Kohlhase (St Peter's).
Squash: Eleanor Epke, Hayley Hughes, Anna Hughes (EGGS), Rafa Yam (Westlake BHS), Tydyn Lonergan (Massey).
Student coach of the year: Joseph Duke (Waitakere).
Swimming: Gabrielle Fa'amausili (Avondale), Rebekah Bradley (EGGS), Jane Ip, Jacob Garrod (Rangitoto), Jarred Curtis (Auckland Grammar), Dominic Mildon (Macleans).
Table tennis: Grace Huo, Nai Xin Jiang (Macleans), Victor Ma, Victor Pollett (Westlake BHS), Maggie Ngo (St Cuthbert's), Dean Shu (Auckland Grammar).
Tennis: Rosie Cheng (Westlake GHS), Katie Hartland (St Cuthbert's), Jack Heslin (Sacred Heart), Cameron Philpot (Auckland Grammar).
Touch: Maia Jean Watene (St Kentigern), Kayla Reed, Mikayla Enosa (Rangitoto), Rieko Ioane (Auckland Grammar), Danyon Morgan-Puterangi (Westlake BHS), Cody Mahuika (St Paul's).
Triathlon/duathlon/multisport: Rose Dillon (Diocesan), Katherine Badham (Takapuna Grammar), Madeline Evans (St Kentigern), Daniel Hoy (Westlake BHS), Leo Roper (Macleans), Liam Ward (St Kentigern).
Underwater hockey: Rebecca Gatland (EGGS), Emma Bavelaar, Vanessa Brill-Holland, Caleb Logan (Howick), Joel Samuel, Jake Samuel (Glendowie).
Volleyball: Annalise Vukets, Imogen Francis (Westlake GHS), Rachael Gunn (Rangitoto), Iosefatu Lafaele (De La Salle), Greg Vukets (Westlake BHS), Carlos Veiagina (Rutherford).
Water polo: Annabel Harman (Diocesan), Grace Tobin (Kristin), Charlotte Valentine (St Cuthbert's), Phillip Hargraves (Auckland Grammar), James McLean (Rangitoto), Chris Cormack (Sacred Heart).
Wrestling: Ruth Minturn (Avondale), Douglas Lloyd (Dilworth), Brahm Richards (Rutherford), Matthew Downes (MAGS).
Yachting: Markus Somerville (Takapuna Grammar), Finn Croft (Westlake BHS).
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