2007 WAC POY?

[aaronic]

Now that Kamanao has "graduated", there's not really a clear cut, obvious favorite to "win it all" as there have been in years past....

Will yet another Hawaii streak end in 2007?


Oguh, Simpson, Houston(, Hittle, Otineru ;D ) look to be favorites going into that season...


Any thoughts who it might be?

[SakiBomb25]

I say Houston, just because of the offensive numbers she will put up next year.

[w2l]

I would agree.... Jamie Houston is the next best player in the WAC, if not the best. She is just getting better and better......as far the other players mentioned......I don't think so....not in a long shot. Houston is in the top 5 nationally in kills, and getting better defensively...as one of the primary passers for the Wahine.

Kari Gregory.....is really impressing me also with her blocking and hitting. She has become a force offensively for the Wahine.

[kolohekeiki]

I wouldn't count out Tara Hittle. She is Hawai`i's most complete player and I don't know if Jamie Houston's kill numbers will be as high with Tara back in the line-up.

I would say that Tara's chances are just as good as Jamie's for the next player of the year.

[ACE]

kolohekeiki said:

I wouldn't count out Tara Hittle. She is Hawai`i's most complete player and I don't know if Jamie Houston's kill numbers will be as high with Tara back in the line-up.

I would say that Tara's chances are just as good as Jamie's for the next player of the year.

Also, Hawaii's passing should be greatly improved - based on the recruits coming in - so Hawaii might not be so heavy on the outside...well at least not like this year anyways.

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

Houston will be the WAC player of the year the next too season. When Tara comes back next season, Houston would already pass her in pretty much every area of the game except passing...

[vbfan4life]

Does anyone think that Arnott will somehow during this season of redshirtting come back stronger and stand a chance? How is she progressing so far anyway?

[pope]

vbfan4life said:

Does anyone think that Arnott will somehow during this season of redshirtting come back stronger and stand a chance?

I have a feeling she'll be riding the bench next season, unless Hawaii is hit with the injury bug like this year.

[Wolfgang]

Here's how I would like to see Arnott:

1. give her major playing time as a passer, not just token PT for being a senior, or
2. let her transfer to Pacific and help out the Tigers' offense, or
3. see her on a near-future installment of Survivor. I recall an article in one of the Honolulu papers talking about her passion for reality TV shows, e.g., Survivor. Let the head-hunting begin...

[vbfan4life]

wolfgang said:

Here's how I would like to see Arnott:

1. give her major playing time as a passer, not just token PT for being a senior, or
2. let her transfer to Pacific and help out the Tigers' offense, or
3. see her on a near-future installment of Survivor. I recall an article in one of the Honolulu papers talking about her passion for reality TV shows, e.g., Survivor. Let the head-hunting begin...

There is an option, transfer to Pacific and become the Big West POY. I am sure Charlie would love to have her. Too bad this probably won't happen though

[Cubicle No More ...]

wolfgang said:

Here's how I would like to see Arnott:

1. give her major playing time as a passer, not just token PT for being a senior, or
2. let her transfer to Pacific and help out the Tigers' offense, or
3. see her on a near-future installment of Survivor. I recall an article in one of the Honolulu papers talking about her passion for reality TV shows, e.g., Survivor. Let the head-hunting begin...

During her sophomore season she was not a primary passer, though she always stayed in the back row for her defense. Not sure if she'd be able to leap frog the army of defensive specialists/liberos on the roster....

What about converting Arnott to the opposite position? I'd like to see HI have true outside hitter at that spot, not just a coverted middle who only ever runs the slide to the right side pin. Having a true OH means that the right side attack is still an available option even if the pass is off the net, whether on serve receive or in transition.

[roy]

cubicle1126 said:

What about converting Arnott to the opposite position? I'd like to see HI have true outside hitter at that spot, not just a coverted middle who only ever runs the slide to the right side pin. Having a true OH means that the right side attack is still an available option even if the pass is off the net, whether on serve receive or in transition.

Not a bad idea, however if Shoji goes with that (and he probably will), she may have to compete with Ontineru who has made it pretty clear she wants to come back to Hawaii to play. Personally, I like Hittle at opposite as she probably has the best back row attack and can hit the D set from the right back.

[triasfan]

roy said:

cubicle1126 said:

What about converting Arnott to the opposite position? I'd like to see HI have true outside hitter at that spot, not just a coverted middle who only ever runs the slide to the right side pin. Having a true OH means that the right side attack is still an available option even if the pass is off the net, whether on serve receive or in transition.

Not a bad idea, however if Shoji goes with that (and he probably will), she may have to compete with Ontineru who has made it pretty clear she wants to come back to Hawaii to play. Personally, I like Hittle at opposite as she probably has the best back row attack and can hit the D set from the right back.

Actually I think Arnott's back row attack is better and more consistent than Hittle's. Also both can hit that D set from the right back as Arnott ran that play a few times during her sophomore season very effectively.

I think Houston will be the front runner for next year's WAC Player of the Year award. Hittle, if she's completely healed, should give Houston a run for it, but in the end the power hitter will win this one.

[Cubicle No More ...]

roy said:

cubicle1126 said:

What about converting Arnott to the opposite position? I'd like to see HI have true outside hitter at that spot, not just a coverted middle who only ever runs the slide to the right side pin. Having a true OH means that the right side attack is still an available option even if the pass is off the net, whether on serve receive or in transition.

Not a bad idea, however if Shoji goes with that (and he probably will), she may have to compete with Ontineru who has made it pretty clear she wants to come back to Hawaii to play. Personally, I like Hittle at opposite as she probably has the best back row attack and can hit the D set from the right back.

I've always preferred Hittle on the right side also. If she'd been healthy this year, I would've liked to see Shoji switch Hittle and Mason -- to have Mason on the left and Hittle on the right.

If healthy next year, having Hittle on the right would allow her to play the same role that Boogard played (as a primary passer), only with Hittle being much more of an offensive threat. During her freshman season on the right, Hittle proved more than capable of playing the position, even leading the team in kills in a few games.

As for Otineru, there has been a lot of speculation about her coming to HI, and also what role/position she would even play. Until we actually see if and/or how she will contribute, let's not pencil her in quite yet ... That said, I've heard enough on this board to be excited to see her play at HI. I certainly hopes it happens.

More than anything, Hittle will need to be on the court to satisfy HI's passing needs. With a solid libero (Lee or Kaaihue) and if Houston continues to improve in this area also, then the other OH spot may not need to be relied on significantly for passing -- in that case, I'd just like to see someone there who will terminate when set to.... whether it be Arnott, Otineru or whoever else can step up.

[StuffU]

I HIGHLY doubt that Hittle led the team in kills in any match while she was playing on the right. Take that back ~ I'm certain that was not the case. Hawaii NEVER had a RS that led the team in kills. They've had more than capable players in that position that had the guns to do it, but it just is not Hawaii's style. Diana Jessie, Jenny Wilton, Jen Roberts, Willoughby, and Boogaard all possessed the guns to lead the team in kills from that position ~ but it never happened and never will.

After the match on Friday against NMSU, Shoji even mentioned that it was a nice surprise to have Kaufman get some important kills from the RS, but that it is not a role of that position in Hawaii's offense to get kills. When they do, it's just a bonus.