DODEA-Korea teams looking to move up the ladder

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Humphreys came close last season to Korea and DODEA-Pacific tournament title glory, finishing runner-up in league and third in the Far East Division I Tournament.

Christie Park says she’s had enough of near misses. The Blackhawks senior middle blocker says she and her teammates are all about taking the final steps to the crowns and close her career as a champion.

“I am very hungry,” said Park, in her fourth season on the Blackhawks girls volleyball team roster. “We’re coming for first place. This is my senior year. We’re going to give it our all.”

Humphreys thus far has gotten off to a fine start, especially Wednesday, when the Blackhawks swept Seoul Foreign, their main nemesis of the 2025 Korea season. Humphreys then beat Yongsan International-Seoul in four sets on Friday to move to 2-0.

Park and the Blackhawks finished tied for first place at 9-1 in Korea’s regular season a year ago and earned the second seed in Korea’s postseason Cup tournament. The Crusaders edged the Blackhawks in the final, then Humphreys went on to finish third at Far East.

Park is joined in a strong lineup by fellow senior Caedence Blair, who was part of the Blackhawks’ first Far East Division I basketball tournament champion. Libero Joselyn Sanchez anchors the defense and Makayla Sonnier is one of Humphreys’ setters.

Osan finished third in the Plate Tournament a season ago is hopeful of returning to the DODEA-Pacific Division II final, which it lost in 2024 to Christian Academy Japan.

The Cougars return hitters Tiffany Pak, Starlene Escalona and Isabella Minjarez, along with setter Natalie Hernandez and defensive specialist Cailynn Fennell. Three freshmen are already showing promise, including Escalona’s sister Skylynne.

“We have a very strong team,” said first-year head coach Kimberly Fossum. “I think we can do very well, as long as we stay injury free.

Critical to Daegu’s chances are the return of hitter-setter Aneya Aldan, libero Pauleen Zafra and setter Victoria Rivera Moreno, all juniors. The rest are new to volleyball, in what coach Susan Oltmer is calling a rebuilding season.

Humphreys plays in Korea’s top-tier Blue Division, Osan in the second-tier Red and Daegu in third-tier White.

Junior Pauleen Zafra will line up for Daegu as a libero. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Christie Park and the Blackhawks are hopeful of higher finishes this season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Freshman Mia Hong is showing promise for Osan's volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Boys volleyball

The Warriors boys, on the other hand, have what Oltmer calls a “solid foundation” heading into the season.

Junior setter Alex Cruz returns, along with junior hitters Justin Corless, Doa Sigrah and middle Renz Lactaoen, senior middle Jaiden Williams and senior libero David Biares.

They’re joined by Taeyun Walker, a junior transfer from Kadena, along with three transfers from the States.

“With many experienced upperclassmen providing leadership and our new players bringing a lot of energy, the Daegu boys have a lot to look forward to this season,” Oltmer said.

Osan’s boys are thin in experience, with junior Jayce Godwin and sophomore Grayson Martinez headlining a group of mostly underclassmen. Junior Lucas Harman moves from the football field to the volleyball court.

Humphreys’ boys are showing promise, with six upperclassmen returning: Seniors Roberto Corrales and Gary Skaggs and juniors Caleb Gause, Tymur Latypov, David Rah and Jermaine Zambrana.

Senior Gary Skaggs is one of a handful of Humphreys boys volleyball returners. (Elena Betancourt/Special to Stripes)

Roberto Corrales and Gary Skaggs are senior returners for Humphreys boys volleyball. (Elena Betancourt/Special to Stripes)

Osan's Lucas Harman has moved indoors fro the football field to the volleyball court. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Tennis

With two-time Far East and Korea singles champion Chloe Lee gone, Humphreys is looking inward and believes it has found a new top singles player, Skylar Park, a sophomore who last year teamed with Lee to win the Far East Division I and overall doubles.

“I’m really nervous,” Park said of being the Blackhawks’ No. 1 singles seed. “A lot of the seniors have graduated. I feel nervous, but I’ve been preparing passionately. I’m confident in my skills and I hope that all goes well.”

The Blackhawks, based on their championship performance in the Korea postseason, have been promoted to the top-tier Blue Division, and coach Marco Valdez says he believes Park is ready to handle the challenge.

“We’re going to miss her,” Valdez said of Lee. But Park “has got weapons, she can do just about anything and she’s a fast learner.”

Park is joined by returning seniors doubles tandem Nathan Hwang and Julian Cho, along with juniors Jonathan Kim and Mina Chang. Senior Ellee Yoo is also back.

In the Red Division, Osan is returning a wealth of experience on the boys side, with junior Ethan Kim, sophomore Brigham Mitchjell and doubles specialists Noah Hong and Aston Yu.

The girls side is senior laden, with Gavriella Duran and Camila Kim each returning.

Daegu took some graduation hits, but a number of Warriors veterans are still there, including juniors Jena Kim and Abigail Addison.

Jude Velasquez, a doubles specialist, is Daegu’s lone senior returner and is joined by junior doubles player Canaan McGee. The rest of the lineup is sophomore- and freshman-heavy.

Jena Kim is one of Daegu's girls tennis lineup returners. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Senior Jude Velasquez is a returning doubles player for Daegu. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Nathan Hwang is a senior returner to a Humphreys team that dominated Korea’s red division last season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Julian Cho is a senior returner to a Humphreys team that dominated Korea's red division last season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Cross country

Much of the conversation around Far East Division I circles is, how can any team overcome Guam High?

The Panthers have won the last two D-I school banners, and Humphreys junior and reigning Korea boys champion Ammon Allen says any method any team tries is probably easier said than done.

“It will take a lot of heart and determination in our team,” Allen said. “We’re going to have to work. Our top five has to run their hearts out and leave it all on the course. If we don’t make it, it is what it is. We gave it our all.”

The girls lineup is headlined by juniors Hayjn Son and Amy Fowler, each returners. Joining Allen on the boys team is senior Joey Brown, and juniors Asher Auna and the aptly named Rayce Allen.

Osan’s boys and girls lineups are mostly underclass, with just two seniors, Jaydem Powell and Brayden Winston. The most experienced Cougars runner is Branden Ferguson, a perennial top five Korea finisher.

“The team is in a rebuilding phase with a younger core for the future,” said Ferguson, adding that he’s hopeful of competing for the Far East Division II individual title. “We have a few strong runners who may place … and some others who are still getting used to running.”

Daegu is expecting to field a full roster of five boys runners at Far East, coach Jeramie Lentz said. Only one, Theodore Noll, is a senior. The entire girls roster is comprised of middle schoolers.

Theodore Noll is the lone senior in Daegu's cross country lineup. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Ammon Allen of Humphreys won the Korea title last year and started strong in Saturday's opener. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Osan's Branden Ferguson is the headliner on a Cougars cross country team that's very young. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)