|
Post by lazybones on Sept 8, 2007 4:04:17 GMT -5
The best thing about Otineru so far is that her height. So much is placed on height and power, but for someone under 6' she plays with a big heart and hits freaken smart!!...but for someone under 6' she packs a punch...she had some kills that in the replay I only noticed it wasn't a full swing. I agree. While I had my doubts about her at first, now I'm very, very, very happy that she came back to play for Hawaii! Anyway, while driving out back, I heard Scott Robbs on the radio saying that he had never seen Hawaii play as well as they did in games 3, 4, and 5 this entire season. He went on to say that Hawaii fans should circle today's date on their calendars, and hopefully at the end of the season the fans can look back at that date and say that this was the night Hawaii pulled it together and started to make something of their season. I sincerely hope this is true.
|
|
|
Post by Gorf on Sept 8, 2007 4:10:15 GMT -5
Hey, Gorf, don't you have to get up early tomorrow for work? Nope, why yah askin?
|
|
|
Post by shai87 on Sept 8, 2007 4:22:59 GMT -5
Just back from the game. Actually I would have been happy even if Hawaii had lost. I think Hawaii played fairly well in the first two games. It was just that the connections between Brandt and the middles were horrible. No middle attack so Wichita State stacked the outsides. When Brandt started to connect with Sanders and Kaufman the match was over. Wichita State could not match the devastating two-pronged attack of Houston and Otineru, who both had over 20 kills. I love the fact that Jayme Lee is the serving specialist. I remember only about 2 serving errors she has made all year, including one tonight. The other Wahine have been making slews of serving errors. Also Lee is getting more reliable in the back row, with many pretty passes. Maybe we have to live with Hittle's low hitting percentage. She is a good passer and has tremendous range. She did okay in blocking too, at least tonight. Wichita State is a good team. They have a good libero and good overall team defense, particularly their block. You have to give them credit for making it difficult for Hawaii to score. When two good teams meet, there is a tendency towards low hitting percentages. That is to be expected. I think slowly Hawaii is becoming a solid and cohesive team. I am getting more and more optimistic with each match played. i agree with some of the things you have pointed out, except the part where you said "I would have been happy even if Hawaii had lost" i guess thats not the kinda reaction i was going to see. hawaii struggled that i will give you, BUT they showed up and came out firing in the last three games to come from behind. with that determination to not give up after being down 0-2, hawaii very much deserved to win this game, no questions asked. they made it tough for WSU because they started to really connect better and instead of hawaii shotting themselves in the foot, it was WSU instead. so i say good job to the wahine, it was a match well played, another nail bitter but people got to see some good volleyball on a friday night.
|
|
|
Post by Jayme Lee fan on Sept 8, 2007 4:51:18 GMT -5
From what I've heard on TV, WSU hasn't played any 5 game marathons like UH this year. So, I think they wore down the longer the match went.
For the record, I remember reading a long time ago that Dave Shoji would not have switched to rally scoring if he had it his way.
|
|
|
Post by hwnstunner on Sept 8, 2007 4:53:43 GMT -5
My observations on the middle situation:
I think it's unfortunate for Gregory and Sanders... I am THE BIGGEST advocates for these two, I really, REALLY wanted the two to have strong All-American like senior seasons, HOWEVER, I must say that they have probably become spoiled playing with Kamana'o for three seasons. The three played under Kamana'o the longest and I am pretty sure people will agree that the middle connection is SO important and takes a lot of time to get it where it was last season. Now that there is a new setter, I think the two just haven't been able to adjust to the sets. Or maybe Brandt can't adjust to Sanders and Gregory. Or maybe its both... but bottom line is Blood, Kaufman, and Simmons can connect with Brandt... but Gregory and Sanders can't. I think that has a lot to do with the loss of Kamana'o, who had BEAUTIFUL connections with the middles and knew how to isolate them and get them one on ones.
I hate saying this, but I think Gregory should sit... I really hate saying that. But I think Kaufman or Simmons can put up what Gregory is, and better and GREGORY, IMO was the biggest benefactor of Kamana;o's sets.
|
|
|
Post by Gorf on Sept 8, 2007 4:56:02 GMT -5
WSU's 0 aces and 19 servie error over the course of the match had as much (or more) impact on the match than anything else IMO.
If they had managed to stop those errors in game 5 they could easily have won the match in game 5 instead of losing it in 5.
UH certainly came out firing in game 3, and did similar in game 4 - except WSU was liberally using backups for stretches in that game.
In game 5 UH seems the have Houston out for much / most of it and brought be back into he game in time to help stop WSU's comeback late in the game.
|
|
jabberwocky
Freshman
"Its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. Woof woof"
Posts: 76
|
Post by jabberwocky on Sept 8, 2007 5:04:34 GMT -5
So one of the reasons UH won was because WSU put in their backups in game 3 and 4? Is that really what you are saying? Hmmm. Sounds like really bad coaching on their part then. Either that or bad conditioning of the players. Houston was taken out when she rotated to the back row and seeing how Kaaihue and others played on defense, that was a good call. I think if you actually saw the game you would understand why your comments seem off.
|
|
|
Post by jesusofsuburbia on Sept 8, 2007 5:30:53 GMT -5
Hey All! Just got back from the match. I am a die hard WAHINE fan and really live and die by everypoint. Tonight was no exception. I am glad they won, but left the arena for irritated than anything. On my mind I was thinking Hawaii should be 6 - 1 this year thus far. At 14-12 I was having Michigan flashbacks!
What I notice with this years team is their bad streaks of errors. They give up 3-4 points so quickly. Also the feeling I get from the stands from the fans is anger. Everyone is disgusted with the patches of sloppy plays and bad decesion making by the setters. Also with this anger, the crowd doesnt really want to cheer. I feel bad for the UH band when they play that fight song and no one really sings along. It is because from what I see, the fans are irritated with the team. Also dont get me started on the middles attacks! The mis connections are so frustrating to watch. You have to feel sorry for Gregory who we know can hit, but all the tips and patty cake shots she hits because the sets are low or too high are too common now. With her slumping offense, I feel affects her defense. Her block is no where near last season because her confidence is low. I think she needs to work out this mental slump she is in an believe in herself. Sometimes I wonder what the Wahine practices entail, when the middle attacks are an obvious problem.
It is true about WSA Game 3,4, and 5 they did look tired. I watched their coach in game 1 and 2 and he is intense. Their bench was sooo excited too and very enthused, I was getting worried, because their intensity level was way more than Uh. You could tell they wanted it more. I am glad and Uh is too, that they cooled off just in time for Uh to make it's move.
Bringing in Kaufman was a great idea. She is soo much imporoved from last year and plays alot steadier. We really need that true middle attack with speed and hops. She has it and she must be in the line up. I agree that Gregory needs to sit for now and be a role player. I am so sad for her, but this years team is a little different. Lets hope she starts tomorrow.
Another peeve I have is Shojis comment on this years offense that he wanted it to be basic. Why is that? Watching WSA with their double quicks, 3 sets, and inside slides was so intresting. They have more deversity for an unranked team. Hawaii's offense is so boring! Left, Left, Middle, and the occasional slide when we get a decent set. I dunno, Im just venting.. I just wish Shoji can mix things up with our offense, since the game is changing so rapidly, that all teams seem to be trying new things except for Hawaii. We rely too much on the left, it gets sooo predictable.
Okay Im done for now.. Sorry for the rant.
|
|
|
Post by Gorf on Sept 8, 2007 5:38:56 GMT -5
So one of the reasons UH won was because WSU put in their backups in game 3 and 4? Is that really what you are saying? Hmmm. Sounds like really bad coaching on their part then. Either that or bad conditioning of the players. Houston was taken out when she rotated to the back row and seeing how Kaaihue and others played on defense, that was a good call. I think if you actually saw the game you would understand why your comments seem off. No, I said having in their backups for game 4 allowed UH to win that game more easily than if they had left in their starters. I said nothing about backups in game 3. Plus, I'd said in earlier posts the the best chance for WSU to win game 5 would be to get some extra rest for their starters in game 4. Their starters may have started slowly in game 5, however, they managed to maintain their energy and focus better for the entire game. Not at the level they were at in the first 2 game but much better than in game 3. WSU made to many errors in the 1st half of game 5 while UH was making errors of their own in the 2nd half. UH's resting Houston for a good part of game 5 then bringing her into the game in the later part of game 5 helped a lot in slowing down WSU's momentum late in the game to allow UH to get the win. What I said in my post was that if WSU could have limited their errors more in game 5 they could has just as easily win that game instead of losing it. The didn't limit their errors enough so they lost the game and the match in a very good comeback by UH. WSU outdug UH for the match 81 to 76 with the digs for each team being pretty close in all 5 games. UH outblocked WSU for the match 15 to 14 WSU outhit UH 0.211 to 0.210 UH outserved WSU 1-9 to 0-19
|
|
jabberwocky
Freshman
"Its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. Woof woof"
Posts: 76
|
Post by jabberwocky on Sept 8, 2007 6:01:46 GMT -5
Uh okay. I guess I'll agree that WSU could've - should've - would've won if they had done many things differently and if Hawaii hadn't done certain things right. (?)
|
|
|
Post by 5100 on Sept 8, 2007 6:02:23 GMT -5
Maybe Shoji should continue to give both Kaufman and Simmons (along with Blood) a look in the middle, because Gregory is not really a terminator type. Even with Kamana'o, Gregory's best hitting stats as a starter were 2.06 kills per game and a .319 hitting percentage. I love what Gregory brings to the court, though. Along with her blocking, she has a feisty attitude and can do all the little things well - serving, digging, putting up emergency sets and saving balls dribbling down the net. Sometimes those little things can come at crucial situations.
Gregory is a valuable player. I sure hope Shoji gives the other three behind her a chance to win the starting job, but if she continues to start, then I'll be happy with that as well. Whatever works for the team.
|
|
|
Post by jr67 on Sept 8, 2007 6:46:08 GMT -5
Good win tonight. I believe their success tonight can be credited to their serving and the lineup change.
Kaufman might be a little short for a middle blocker but her movement along the net is the best of any of the other middles and more importantly she's the only middle who hit the step out, actually she's the only one who can hit a back set period. She still needs to prove herself against taller and better teams, but for now I think the Wahine have finally found their lineup:
Brandt Houston & Otineru (with Ferrell as backup) Sanders & Kaufman (with Simmons as backup) Hittle (with Ferrell as backup) Ka'aihue
Whichever coach came up with the strategy of going with the short serve deserves a raise because it worked like a charm. It slowed Wichita's offense as they never were really able adjust. Plus in my opinion it was the first thing this season that the Wahine as group was able to execute and execute well.
They still have a long way to go but it was the best they played so far and a well deserved win.
|
|
|
Post by pineapple on Sept 8, 2007 6:51:32 GMT -5
From what I've heard on TV, WSU hasn't played any 5 game marathons like UH this year. So, I think they wore down the longer the match went. For the record, I remember reading a long time ago that Dave Shoji would not have switched to rally scoring if he had it his way. That may have been a factor, but they already had run out of gas in game 2 and 3.
|
|
|
Post by Pipe Attack on Sept 8, 2007 6:53:03 GMT -5
I was watching the match, and although Stephanie Brandt was a little off with her sets in the first two sets, you can't really fault her entirely for the sets she feeds to the middle. In my opinion, I think Gregory is too slow to hit the 1s Brandt likes to set, and she's not strong enough to power it through if it was set higher. Juliana kind of also, I mean, how can it be that she can't hit low ones and when she hits a high one she gets blocked?? Yep, these 2 are just too picky with how they want their ones!!! I think Stephanie is doing her best to deliver a nice set to the middles, but I think the type of middles that will work well with her are those that are quick -- that's why i think Simmons and KIaufman hit her 1s better.
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Sept 8, 2007 10:40:00 GMT -5
My observations on the middle situation: I think it's unfortunate for Gregory and Sanders... I am THE BIGGEST advocates for these two, I really, REALLY wanted the two to have strong All-American like senior seasons, HOWEVER, I must say that they have probably become spoiled playing with Kamana'o for three seasons. The three played under Kamana'o the longest and I am pretty sure people will agree that the middle connection is SO important and takes a lot of time to get it where it was last season. Now that there is a new setter, I think the two just haven't been able to adjust to the sets. Or maybe Brandt can't adjust to Sanders and Gregory. Or maybe its both... but bottom line is Blood, Kaufman, and Simmons can connect with Brandt... but Gregory and Sanders can't. I think that has a lot to do with the loss of Kamana'o, who had BEAUTIFUL connections with the middles and knew how to isolate them and get them one on ones. I hate saying this, but I think Gregory should sit... I really hate saying that. But I think Kaufman or Simmons can put up what Gregory is, and better and GREGORY, IMO was the biggest benefactor of Kamana;o's sets. This is a very interesting and insightful post on so many levels. Reminds me of three things: 1. Rich spoiled kid gets his way up until the point the trust fund is cut off. Then, he can't figure out how to support himself. (Gregory/Sanders) 2. Classic evolution theory. In the case of Gregory and/or Sanders: adapt to changing environment to survive; otherwise, die. Or, organism (Kaufman) meanders along without much notice in one environment, but thrives when the environment changes (Brandt). 3. John Dunning once said he doesn't play the best players, but the players who play best together. (Never mind the fact that he ends up playing his best players). It may be Kaufman and Simmons benefitting greatly this year over Gregory and Sanders, because their blocking is just as good and they work better with new setter Brandt.
|
|