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Post by UHvbFan on Feb 13, 2007 12:42:54 GMT -5
Hawaii-USC showdown is a Loyola High reunion By Cindy Luis cluis@starbulletin.com Homecoming for Loyola High School changes both zip and area codes this week, with the Cubs' reunion moving from Los Angeles to the Stan Sheriff Center. On the volleyball court tomorrow and Friday are four Loyola alumni: Hawaii senior setter Brian Beckwith and junior hitter Jake Schkud, and USC junior setter Jimmy Killian and sophomore opposite C.J. Schellenberg. Heck, Beckwith and Schellenberg even carpooled together from their homes in Pacific Palisades to their downtown L.A. school. The four had a part in Loyola (20-0) winning the 2003 California Interscholastic Federation championship as well as the mythical national title bestowed by Volleyball magazine. MPSF VOLLEYBALL Who: No. 14 USC (3-8, 2-6) at No. 12 Hawaii (2-8, 2-6) When: Tomorrow and Friday, 7 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Live, KFVE Radio: Live, 1420-AM Tickets: $3-$14 Series: UH leads, 31-27 This week, they again share a common goal: putting their respective teams into the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoff picture. They share ninth place; the top eight teams make the playoffs. No. 12 Hawaii (2-8, 2-6) is also looking to avoid a seventh straight loss while the 14th-ranked Trojans look to end a three-match slide. "Desperation? No, but I am anxious and ready to win," Beckwith said. "I thought we'd do it last week, but we came up short (twice to UC Santa Barbara). But you can't ask for more when the team is giving their whole effort, playing their hardest. USC is a tough team and they've gotten better from last year." "I think it's more of a personal game for me and Brian against those guys," Schkud said. "They want to win. We want to win. We're both struggling. We both need to make a run." The matches also reunite Beckwith, Schkud and freshman middle Matt Rawson with their former club coach at Palisades. Bill Ferguson is in his first year as head coach of the Trojans after two stints as an assistant. "We know Hawaii will be good," Ferguson said. "We're worried about ourselves, the serving and passing. When we serve and pass well, we win. When we don't, we're very beatable." Case in point: The Trojans swept UCLA at Pauley Pavilion two matches after losing to perennial MPSF bottom-dweller UC San Diego. "They are capable of playing really good volleyball ... but so are we," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "These are huge matches for them and for us." The teams are similar in personnel. Good setters, solid in the middles and at the outsides. "Personally, I'm looking forward to this week, to seeing Brian against Jimmy," Ferguson said. "Brian is one of the best I've ever coached. He is real talented and I'm very proud of him. I'm hoping Jimmy will be able to match him (with an All-American honor)." Ferguson is also high on his backup libero, freshman Troy Tokuhama (Iolani '06). Already signing with the Trojans is setter Riley McKibbin, who graduates this spring. Notes: Hawaii dropped three spots to 12th in yesterday's CSTV/AVCA Top 15. starbulletin.com/2007/02/13/sports/story03.html |
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Post by UHvbFan on Feb 13, 2007 12:44:32 GMT -5
Hakala out as hitter for at least 10 days By Stephen Tsai Advertiser Staff Writer Lauri Hakala, the University of Hawai'i volleyball team's best overall player, said he will not be available as a hitter for another 10 days. For the past three weeks, Hakala has suffered from an abdominal strain. The injury prevented him from playing in Friday's match against UC Santa Barbara. It should sideline him for tomorrow's home match against Southern California in the Stan Sheriff Center. UH coach Mike Wilton said Hakala will be placed on the active roster for tomorrow's match. "We can use him to come in and pass for somebody," Wilton said. But Hakala can do little else. He said it is painful to reach back — a movement necessary for hitting, serving and blocking. In Hakala's absence, Jake Schkud, Mark Ribeiro, Matt Vanzant and Ernie Vidinha will compete for the two left-side positions. Hakala and libero Eric Kalima are the Warriors' best passers. Hakala was an All-America opposite attacker last season. He moved to the left side a week into this season. Hakala said he suffered the injury initially by repeatedly reaching back to attack sets on the left side. He started last Wednesday's first match against Santa Barbara. But after the match, he complained of soreness. X-rays have not been successful in determining the severity of the soft-tissue injury. "It could be either not too bad of a strain or something more serious," Hakala said. "There's really no way of telling unless it's a really bad tear and you can feel it." As a third-year senior, Hakala said, "You want to play. But you have to be realistic about it, and say, 'OK, now is not a good time to do this.' " He said he hopes to play in next week's road matches against top-ranked Brigham Young. A more reasonable goal, he said, is to be ready for the matches against Pepperdine March 8 and 10. "For sure, I don't want to sit out any more than that," Hakala said. Hakala worked only on his passing during yesterday's practice. "I'm not going to take any swings for maybe another 10 days," he said. "I'm going to take it easy for as long as it takes. I guess you could say I'm out indefinitely." Hakala doubles as a co-captain. Because Kalima, the other co-captain, plays a position that is not on the court the entire match, setter Brian Beckwith will be elevated to floor captain. The floor captain is the only player allowed to argue calls with the referees. "It's a role I feel fine in," said Beckwith, a senior. "With Eric out there, it helps." Kalima said: "(Hakala) is still here. He can do what he can, whatever the doctor allows. If he's not out there, we're going to miss him. Anyone on this team who is hurt is a loss, no matter if they suit up or not." Hakala has played in too many matches to be considered for a medical hardship. Even if that were an option, Hakala said, this will be his last season. "I want to graduate in December," said Hakala, a native of Finland. "I think three years (of NCAA volleyball) is enough for me, although I absolutely love it here. ... I want to go on and play somewhere else (professionally) and find new challenges. Until then, I want to win this year." For now the Warriors are focused on claiming one of the MPSF's eight playoff spots. The Warriors, who are 2-6 in the MPSF, probably would need to win eight of their final 14 league matches to be in contention. "I feel the progress, for sure," Beckwith said. "I feel we should have won some of those matches. But we can't try and make up a whole season in one or two matches. We can't sit here and dwell on what's going to happen if we don't start winning. We have to try and win. "You can't worry about the future," Beckwith added. "You can only worry about this week. We have to try and win this week." Wilton said: "The year's not over yet. Over the course of a long year, a lot of different things can happen." www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070213/SPORTS0202/702130337/1036/SPORTS |
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Post by Mac on Feb 13, 2007 19:48:11 GMT -5
"Bring A Date Night" At Men's Volleyball Wednesday
The men's volleyball team hosts USC on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Friday, Feb. 16, in the Stan Sheriff Center. Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m. In celebration of Valentine's Day, the match on Wednesday will be "Bring A Date Night" and fans will be provided two tickets for the price of one (maximum of two). The Honolulu Advertiser is the match sponsor. Also, the first 200 ladies to enter the arena will receive a free carnation, compliments of Watanabe Floral.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Feb 14, 2007 7:16:14 GMT -5
Oh my... I think USC is thinking they are going to lose... media.www.dailytrojan.com/media/storage/paper679/news/2007/02/14/Sports/Struggling.Usc.To.Visit.Hostile.Hawaii-2718814.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailytrojan.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.comStruggling USC to visit hostile Hawaii The USC men's volleyball team looks for first win at Hawaii since 1999. Hawaii has been a little more like Alcatraz and a little less like the island of paradise for the USC men's volleyball team in recent years. The Trojans have not won on the Warriors' home court since 1999. The No. 14 Trojans (3-8 overall, 2-6 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) face No. 12 Hawaii (2-8, 2-6) Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Honolulu, with a second match scheduled for Friday night. Coming off a four-set loss to Pepperdine, the Trojans will look to get back on the winning track against a team that has lost its last six matches including a four-match loss to UC Santa Barbara at home Feb. 9. The team knows, however, that the Warrior's latest home loss will not diminish the intensity of the crowd in the gym. Considered the largest home-court advantage in the conference, the Stan Sheriff Center is known for a raucous atmosphere that visiting teams must answer. "Hawaii is the toughest gym to play in, it gets packed," junior outside hitter Juan Figueroa said. "The fans really get on you so we can't pay attention to them." If the Trojans are able to overcome the impact of the fans, they will need to play fundamental volleyball, something they struggled with at times against Pepperdine. "We need to serve and pass the ball well," Figueroa said. "We're going to have to concentrate and play our game." The Warriors have beaten the Trojans 12-straight meetings dating back to 2001. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Feb 14, 2007 7:17:26 GMT -5
Are these guys talking about men's volleyball? I'm sorry, but I've never seen a men's crowd be so raucous that they distract the players.
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Post by bigfan on Feb 14, 2007 11:04:51 GMT -5
"Bring A Date Night" At Men's Volleyball Wednesday Is attendance that bad for the men? |
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Post by bigfan on Feb 14, 2007 11:05:58 GMT -5
Are these guys talking about men's volleyball? I'm sorry, but I've never seen a men's crowd be so raucous that they distract the players. If it is mostly women on "Bring a date" night it could be. |
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Post by UHvbFan on Feb 14, 2007 11:36:15 GMT -5
Warriors see no reason to panic By Stephen Tsai Advertiser Staff Writer At the start of yesterday's University of Hawai'i volleyball practice, head coach Mike Wilton summoned his players to the white board, where the word "urgency" was written in red ink. Then, in a symbolic move, Wilton wiped away the word. It is Wilton's wish the urgency will be erased when the Warriors host Southern California tonight and Friday night in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches. Each is 2-6 in the MPSF and fighting for a berth in the league's eight-team postseason tournament. "My concern right now is getting a little better every day," said Wilton, whose team has lost six in a row. "That's it. That's my focus. If we do, the rest will take care of itself. If somebody is feeling a sense of urgency about something, he's wasting time, actually. He's worrying about something that hasn't happened yet — and probably will happen, if that's what you're focused on." Opposite attacker Jim Clar added: "What are we going to gain from panicking? I don't see how, if we panic and we get worried, we'll get any better. We just have to do our best. We need to win." UH's best overall player, left-side hitter Lauri Hakala, will not be available as an attacker because of an abdominal strain. But Wilton said Hakala will be one of 13 players on tonight's active roster and, in an emergency, could be used as a back-row specialist. That leaves Jake Schkud, Mark Ribeiro, Matt Vanzant and Ernie Vidinha to compete for two left-side positions. Schkud and Ribeiro started last Friday's match, and are expected to be in tonight's opening rotation. It is a gritty ascent for Ribeiro, a third-year sophomore who was sent to the "third court" — occupied mostly by redshirts and newcomers — to practice after injury and inconsistency bumped him from the active roster. "To put me with a new group down there was kind of tough, to be honest," said Ribeiro, who was raised on the East Coast. Ribeiro, who redshirted last season and played in exhibition matches last month, is not even profiled in this year's media guide. The third-court players spend most of each practice serving and passing — the least artful of Ribeiro's skills. But his improved passing caught Wilton's attention. "Coach came to me right before practice (last week) and said, 'Lauri's down, and you're starting,' " Ribeiro recalled. Ribeiro had a two aces and a team-high 16 kills last Friday. Ribeiro said the competition in the East did not prepare him for the MPSF's skill level. "The game is a lot faster here," Ribeiro said. "There's a lot more coming at you from the other side." But he refused to become discouraged. "It comes from my father," he said. "I'm always positive in my head. Ever since I was a little kid, he taught me to think positively, and positive things will come. I'm always positive in my head." www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/SPORTS0202/702140371/1036/SPORTS |
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Post by UHvbFan on Feb 14, 2007 11:38:45 GMT -5
Ribeiro wants to step up his game against USC The 6-foot sophomore is one of the keys to the Warriors' success By Cindy Luis cluis@starbulletin.com "Juego bonito." To play beautifully. To respect the game as it's meant to be played. It's a phrase -- borrowed from the 2006 Brazilian World Cup soccer team -- that reflects Mark Ribeiro's Portuguese heritage. It's one that he wears on his right lower leg as a tattoo, and one he wears in his heart on the volleyball court. The 6-foot sophomore played fairly well in his season debut against UC Santa Barbara on Friday, with a team-high 16 kills and two aces in the 3-1 loss to the Gauchos. But to stay in the lineup, the New York native knows he's got to quit driving his coaches crazy. Goofy-foot is a good thing for surfing but it's not a good thing in volleyball, where Ribeiro often has problems with his footwork pattern. "I do drive the coaches crazy," he said as the 12th-ranked Warriors prepared for critical conference matches against No. 14 USC tonight and Friday. "But I love that they give me the chance. They want me to cut down on my mistakes. They know I can hit the ball well. I know I can hit the ball well. "The problem is with footwork, especially on blocking. I know it's going to come with time and experience." The Hawaii coaches hope so, as well. "Mark has lots and lots of athletic talent and a tremendous upside," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "We just need to get that all harnessed. "We like his athleticism, he's got the potential to be a starter. He needs the proper footwork and the understanding that volleyball is a visual-motor game. He needs to be able to see what's happening on the court. He drives us all crazy -- and I say that lovingly -- because we know what the player he could become." There's not a question about the talent. Ribeiro was a four-sport athlete in high school (volleyball, golf, track and bowling) and excelled in youth football, basketball and baseball. But volleyball was the ticket out of New York, one that brought along his entire family. Father Mark decided to move the ohana here, leaving a thriving business as a personal trainer. He is at UH, studying Chinese medicine, hoping to incorporate holistic medicine with fitness training. Mother Iris, a fashion designer, put her career as a marketing director with Paris Fashion Institute on semi-hold and is a car salesperson. Brother Jourdan Peter is a setter at Roosevelt. His parents, whose roots are intertwined with the Cape Verde Islands, Brazil and Portuguese communities in Massachusetts, had wanted to honeymoon in Hawaii when they first married but were unable to. "I gave them an excuse to move," Ribeiro said. "I'm studying Portuguese here. My mom speaks it when she goes back to Massachusetts, but she cooks a lot of Portuguese food ... really good Portuguese food. "It was very comfortable to have that culture here. I do miss the seasons in New York but how can you argue with 80-degree weather?" Ribeiro is what is considered an invited walk-on, with no athletic financial aid. But he knew he wanted to play for the Warriors after seeing them play on television and on tape. "I've wanted to come here since middle school," he said. "They were a team that didn't have the 6-7, 6-9 guys on the outside. They had Tony Ching, Aaron Wilton ... guys who weren't all that tall but could jump high and hit hard. That's me. It's what this team does." The team, currently on a six-game losing streak, has been struggling. Serving and passing have been the main concerns, two phases on which Ribeiro is working. "Passing is one of his weaknesses and comes in early to work on it," sophomore reserve setter Sean Carney said. "He's gifted athletically but doesn't take that for granted. He's always working hard." "Mark is a great guy, easy to set and very energized," senior setter Brian Beckwith added. "He's got a quick arm, hits high, jumps well." But just as the Warriors need to fine-tune their game, so does Ribeiro. Hawaii needs to start winning if it wants to keep its conference postseason hopes alive. "It's do or die this week because both us and SC are going to play hard," he said. "Hopefully, I can grab my (outside) spot for now. "We have so many guys who can play the position. I can see why Coach (Wilton) has problems deciding who will play. But we can't keep riding that roller coaster. We're on the fence and all we have to do is fall over and start playing like we know we can play." Or, as his tattoo sums it up: "Juego bonito." starbulletin.com/2007/02/14/sports/story03.html |
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Post by UHvbFan on Feb 14, 2007 11:44:51 GMT -5
I haven't found any news clips about USC-Hawaii in the LA Times, or I would post them. What a difference in interest in volleyball between the mainland press and the press in Hawaii...not having any professional sports teams (with the new exception of Farm-club baseball) in Hawaii may be the difference.
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Post by bigfan on Feb 14, 2007 12:34:48 GMT -5
I haven't found any news clips about USC-Hawaii in the LA Times, or I would post them. What a difference in interest in volleyball between the mainland press and the press in Hawaii...not having any professional sports teams (with the new exception of Farm-club baseball) in Hawaii may be the difference. The Usc mens team is lucky if the LA Times even posts their scores on the back page. The team gets no coverage in the LA TIMES. |
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