Girls’ Athlete of the Year: SSF’s Lafu Malepeai

Such is the expectation of a player who is regarded as one of the best on whatever team she is playing. A starting outside hitter and captain for the Warriors’ volleyball team, the only returning starter for a South City girls’ basketball team that was looking to defend division and section titles, as well as a top-of-the-order force for the school’s softball team, Malepeai did it all and did it better than most in earning the Daily Journal’s Girls’ Athlete of the Year for the 2018-19 school year.

The death of her grandfather early in the volleyball season helped propel Malepeai to greater heights this season as she dedicated the year to him. She also had to live up to the expectations of the Malepeai family name, which has left its imprint on South City and Peninsula athletics.

“My family is known for sports,” Malepeai said. “This year was mainly dedicated to my family, which is who I really do it for.”

Malepeai can thank her family for putting her on the track she is on. Her instincts on the floor or field have been honed by years of playing — and by years of playing with older and stronger players. Paul Carion, South City varsity girls’ head basketball coach, was first introduced to Malepeai when she joined her sister, Lorreine, on the school’s summer league basketball team.

“Lafu has been playing (high school) summer league since 6th grade,” Carion said. “Even in 6th grade, she was able to play (with older players). She was physical enough.”

Playing with older players was nothing new for Malepeai. With five brothers and sisters and a large extended family, playing with — and against — older, bigger players prepared her for the rigors high school athletics.

“I followed both my sisters. They were always together,” Malepeai said. “Growing up, my dad never wanted us to be split, so I always played up (in age brackets). Now, it really benefits the way I play.”

The way she plays is to attack with everything she has. That’s why as a 5-6 outside hitter for the Warriors volleyball team, which managed only one win on the season, she ended up being named All-Ocean Division honorable mention.

It’s what enabled her to be an all-around force on the basketball court, where her numbers of eight points and eight rebounds a game do not even come close to telling the story of her worth to the Warriors as she went on to earn second-team, All-North accolades. South City went undefeated in repeating as PAL North Division champions and 21-10 overall as they advanced to the CCS Division III title game.

As the No. 2 hitter in the Warriors’ softball batting order, she earned team MVP and first-team All-Ocean Division honors as South City compiled a 10-2 Ocean Division record and was 16-9 overall.

“Ah, man. (She was) awesome,” said Esau Faleafine, Warriors softball head coach. “A majority of her (softball) skill comes off instinct. We didn’t give her a sign. She knew the situation. Those are the kind of things you can’t teach.”

Malepeai wrecked shop for the South City softball team. She batted a robust .532, with a team-leading 44 RBIs. She had 23 extra-base hits — eight doubles, six triples and nine home runs — and was 23 for 23 on stolen bases.

“I like softball the most,” Malepeai said.

While her best sport may be softball, Malepeai made the most impact on the basketball court. Brought up to varsity midway through her freshman year, Malepeai was tasked with helping stabilize a Warriors basketball team that had graduated four of five starters from the 2017-18 squad that won the Central Coast Section Division III title.

The way she did that was by doing whatever was asked of her. For Carion, that meant putting Malepeai on the opposition’s most dangerous scorer — regardless of position.

“Last year, she really was a role player. Just fit in. Just plug her in where I needed her. This year, she needed to be a playmaker,” Carion said. “About halfway through the season, I told her I needed her to guard the other team’s best player. She loved it. … She really took pride in stopping the best.

“She’s such a physical player. She just wore people down. They just don’t want to deal with her anymore.”

While many players seek the limelight by being a leading scorer or a sublime playmaker, Malepeai relished the chance to be a defensive stopper.

“I loved it,” Malepeai said. “I honestly loved when I got to guard a post (player).”

That love carries over to sports in general for Malepeai. That’s why she has yet to specialize in any one sport, as is the trend nowadays. There are several reasons for that. One being she just loves to play. This summer, for instance, she is playing basketball for both her club and high school teams, while also playing softball, “on the side.”

“Yeah, it’s a lot,” Malepeai admitted. “But I just want to play. It keeps me busy.”

The other reason Malepeai has remained a multi-sport athlete is because, as her dad said, you never know who is watching.

“My dad always told me to keep my options open as a player. You never know who might pick you up,” Malepeai said. “I guess my goal was to go as far as I could in the sport and do whatever it takes. To be more aggressive, be more physical. To do whatever it takes to help my teammates out.”