Post by roy on Feb 2, 2005 13:48:32 GMT -5
With undefeated conference record, Hawaii poses tough battle
By Alice Ann Spurgin
Contributing Writer
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
last updated February 1, 2005 11:25 PM
This time of year, who wouldn’t want to be a member of the Stanford men’s volleyball team?
While much of the Stanford student body is struggling through midterms, the Cardinal men are flying to Manoa for a pair of matches against Hawaii.
Despite the team’s recent home losses to Northridge and UC-Santa Barbara, the Cardinal (3-6, 2-4 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) are looking forward to leaving the Farm.
“Hawaii is probably one of the best trips of the year,” senior outside hitter David Vogel said. “They get tons of people – thousands of people – into the stadium. It’s a riot, a lot of fun.”<br>
The No. 10 Cardinal are particularly upbeat to face the No. 3 Warriors, who are 6-1 overall and are undefeated (4-0) in MPSF play.
Stanford will play Hawaii in back-to-back matches Thursday and Friday evening. If the Cardinal are able to defeat the Warriors in either match, it will be Stanford’s first victory over a higher-ranked team this season.
Hawaii’s only loss this season came at the hands of No. 3 Brigham Young. To say that the Warriors will be an intimidating opponent is an understatement.
“It’s extremely difficult to play there because they’re very good at home,” Vogel said. “They have a few good attackers that we’re going to have to really key on.”<br>
Such attackers include Hawaii senior Pedro Azenha, an outside hitter and second team All-American who recorded 53 service aces last season. Azenha finished second nationally in aces per game (.576).
Giving the Warriors additional depth at the position of outside hitter is senior Delano Thomas. Another strong server, Thomas led the conference in aces last season and led his team in kill average, with four per game.
Hawaii junior Maulia La Barre, a middle blocker, won’t have to jog Stanford’s mind Thursday and Friday night to remind the Cardinal of his presence.
The Cardinal should have no problem remembering La Barre, who recorded career single-match bests in hitting (1.000), kills (11) and solo blocks (4) last season — all in one match against Stanford.
In that Feb. 13 match last year the Cardinal never scored more than 19 points. It was their second shutout defeat by Hawaii that season.
However, this year’s Cardinal squad has a greater level of overall experience than they did last year. Using this advantage and working well together on the court will be key if Stanford is to upset the Warriors.
“If we can do a good job of keeping their hitters to a lower percentage, which we kind of failed to do [Saturday] with Evan Patak, I think we have a good shot of winning out there,” Vogel said.
By Alice Ann Spurgin
Contributing Writer
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
last updated February 1, 2005 11:25 PM
This time of year, who wouldn’t want to be a member of the Stanford men’s volleyball team?
While much of the Stanford student body is struggling through midterms, the Cardinal men are flying to Manoa for a pair of matches against Hawaii.
Despite the team’s recent home losses to Northridge and UC-Santa Barbara, the Cardinal (3-6, 2-4 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) are looking forward to leaving the Farm.
“Hawaii is probably one of the best trips of the year,” senior outside hitter David Vogel said. “They get tons of people – thousands of people – into the stadium. It’s a riot, a lot of fun.”<br>
The No. 10 Cardinal are particularly upbeat to face the No. 3 Warriors, who are 6-1 overall and are undefeated (4-0) in MPSF play.
Stanford will play Hawaii in back-to-back matches Thursday and Friday evening. If the Cardinal are able to defeat the Warriors in either match, it will be Stanford’s first victory over a higher-ranked team this season.
Hawaii’s only loss this season came at the hands of No. 3 Brigham Young. To say that the Warriors will be an intimidating opponent is an understatement.
“It’s extremely difficult to play there because they’re very good at home,” Vogel said. “They have a few good attackers that we’re going to have to really key on.”<br>
Such attackers include Hawaii senior Pedro Azenha, an outside hitter and second team All-American who recorded 53 service aces last season. Azenha finished second nationally in aces per game (.576).
Giving the Warriors additional depth at the position of outside hitter is senior Delano Thomas. Another strong server, Thomas led the conference in aces last season and led his team in kill average, with four per game.
Hawaii junior Maulia La Barre, a middle blocker, won’t have to jog Stanford’s mind Thursday and Friday night to remind the Cardinal of his presence.
The Cardinal should have no problem remembering La Barre, who recorded career single-match bests in hitting (1.000), kills (11) and solo blocks (4) last season — all in one match against Stanford.
In that Feb. 13 match last year the Cardinal never scored more than 19 points. It was their second shutout defeat by Hawaii that season.
However, this year’s Cardinal squad has a greater level of overall experience than they did last year. Using this advantage and working well together on the court will be key if Stanford is to upset the Warriors.
“If we can do a good job of keeping their hitters to a lower percentage, which we kind of failed to do [Saturday] with Evan Patak, I think we have a good shot of winning out there,” Vogel said.