WEST VALLEY CITY — Great team captains can take a team places that even the best coaches cannot lead players.
That's why the role is often given to the oldest, most experienced and most responsible members of a squad. Hunter juniors Lusia Angilau and Elissa Atiga have embraced that responsibility on the Wolverines' volleyball team, even as they're still learning exactly what it means to lead.
"Having captains that can step up and be leaders, especially vocal leaders, totally changes a team," said Wolverines head volleyball coach Pam Olson. "You don't have to call the extra time out; you don't have to pull players out of a game and talk to them or try to calm them down — the captains do that on the floor for you. Having great captains makes a huge difference."
Elissa Atiga didn't have much choice but to be athletic.
With a volleyball playing mother and brothers who excelled at football, the 16-year-old outside hitter began playing volleyball competitively in ninth grade.
"My mom was the coach of our team at Club Union," she said. "It was really fun. We weren't good at it, but I loved hitting the ball."
Atiga sees being a leader as a challenge, but one that she's happy to have.
"My role is just to keep them doing what we have to do to be successful," said Atiga, who would like to be a doctor or a lawyer. "Sometimes it's a lot of personal pressure to keep everyone motivated, but I choose to take the challenge."
Olson said Atiga, also known as Les, is a positive influence on the team — literally.
"I would say one of her strengths is that she stays positive and tries to help motivate other kids," Olson said. "She controls the momentum of our team."
Her value as a volleyball player includes being versatile.
"She hits well, blocks well, has a good vertical," Olson said. "We need her on the court, especially on the front row. We've moved her position from right side to middle to outside. Where ever we need her to be, that's where she'll be."
Angilau started out competing in gymnastics but quickly outgrew the sport.
"Then I started to get tall," she said with a smile. That's when she took up volleyball, the sport her mother played in high school. She also played for Club Union and had a great experience.
"It was fun," she said. "Our team wasn't that good, but we learned a lot."
Olson said Angilau is a perfectionist who raises the bar for everyone.
"She's actually very hard on herself," Olson said. "But her high expectations help the kids see that side of it. She's a player we can't afford not to have on the court."
The middle blocker works just as hard off the court, maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
"I love school," Angilau said. "I want to be a dentist."
She sees her role as setting a good example, as well as helping the players work together to be successful.
"Helping with team unity, getting out there and having fun," she said of the things she tries to do as a captain. "I think we could go far as a team if we stay mentally and physically strong."
She had a taste of success this summer when her club team made it to the Junior Olympic National Championships.
"It was an awesome experience," she said. Angilau would like to bring that mindset to her Hunter squad.
"I would love to have success at state," she said.
Both girls believe part of their responsibility is to be ambassadors for Hunter High, something Olson tries to instill in them everyday.
"We have a bad reputation, mostly because of football, but people judge us as well," Angilau said. "It's frustrating to worry about it in a tournament, how people look at us. If we could be successful and be good examples, then people wouldn't look down on us."
Olson said she hopes all of her players understand that is a role they can play, not just for the team, but for the entire student body.
"That's something we talk a lot about," Olson said. "Hunter has had a lot of negative publicity in the last few years. We talk about representing the school when we wear that uniform and what it means. We want them to understand and make sure they're doing what they're supposed to be doing when they're representing Hunter."
One of the reasons Olson believes the players will be successful as leaders is that they're both good role models for their teammates.
"They go to class, they do their work, they're respectful to teachers, to other players and to coaches," she said.
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com