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Post by po'okela on Dec 6, 2011 16:49:41 GMT -5
Not so fast my friend. Usually a two loss Pac-10/12 team is pretty much a lock to make the FF. But, as we have seen, USC's Pac-12 record has to be called into question due to the apparent weakness of teams like Stanford, UW, Oregon, and Cal. I mean, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Now add in the fact Hawaii gets to eat home cooking, and I conclude Hawaii is the "real" favorite. I have to disagree with you, my friend. Granted the PAC 10 was down this year but USC looks very much like a team ranked number one. USC is the favorite going in, and as a Hawai'i fan, I am good with that. for someone to believe that hawaii is the clear favorite in this friday's matchup is absolutely idiotic.
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Post by vball838 on Dec 6, 2011 16:50:14 GMT -5
How does the #1 in the nation UPSET anyone? I just feel like USC is a huge underdog for this match. I personally think Hawaii is the #1 team in the country for the last few weeks. (Or maybe I am just so heavily influenced by the opinion of Hawaii fans on VT, LOL) I still think SC's the #1 team in the country but I think Hawaii's a great team and with the big time home court advantage that they have at their home court, I think they have to be slight favorites. On a neutral court I think SC wins in 4, in Hawaii it's goning to be tough. It all depends on how they react to the crazy atmosphere. They did ok infront of a big crowd against Penn State for 3 and a half sets then completely collapsed and were unable to recover. Even in front of a huge home crowd against UCLA (5,000+), the sheer size of the crowd and occasion seemed to get to them and they played terrible. They need to be able to cope with the huge crowd and occasion and maintain their concentration for the whole match.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 6, 2011 16:53:09 GMT -5
Jupiter will get hers. Wahine just can't have Fuller going off again. BTW Fuller's been playing lights out the last few weeks. She's playing by far the best volleyball of her career so far. Whether that translates to a good performance on Friday or not, who knows, but she's certainly in good form going into the match. fuller torched hawaii last year ... i don't doubt she will be a threat again. and hawaii sometimes has difficulty stopping/slowing the opposing team's opposite.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 6, 2011 16:54:03 GMT -5
Don't know if the crowd will affect USC but I anticipate 9,000 plus screaming Wahine fans for the match between Hawai'i/USC on Friday. It'll be loud.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 6, 2011 16:55:36 GMT -5
We've talked about Hawai'i trying to stop USC but haven't talked about USC trying to stop Hawai'i. USC, although bigger than the Bows, is not a better blocking team. How is SC going to deal with all of the options at Mita's disposal?
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 6, 2011 16:58:28 GMT -5
When this match is over I predict a lot of sullen expressions on the Wahine fans. Olgard was not playing earlier in the year and since she has returned they have been a different team...this U$C team is very good and my pick to win it all... thanks, beachman ... and i really mean that! hawaii's lucky charm is back, folks!!! ;D
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 6, 2011 17:02:06 GMT -5
Satele has been playing solidly lately. I think she'll get a shot at starting. If Hawaii's passing is on, then Satele's live/quick arm becomes an asset. If Jupiter goes on a tear, I think Shoji won't hesitate to make an appropriate sub. Otherwise, I expect a lot of timely/situational blocking subs (Goodman for Uiato, and Stauber for Satele/Griffy, whoever is in the backrow at the time), as was used throughout the CSU match. In big matches like this Satele just needs to settle down a little. She definitely has game, she just needs to relax a bit, have some patience (Like Kanani,) and believe in her abilities. i agree. when satele was benched for a string of matches during the season, and she was brought back in... she was suddenly playing with a lot of aggression and tenacity. in the words of ah-mow, satele was hitting the "crap" outta the ball... i want that satele back. she was timid again at times during the CSU match. but she did take some smart swings, and the clutch game winner to end set 2.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 6, 2011 17:11:38 GMT -5
We've talked about Hawai'i trying to stop USC but haven't talked about USC trying to stop Hawai'i. USC, although bigger than the Bows, is not a better blocking team. How is SC going to deal with all of the options at Mita's disposal? gotta serve tough. i know jupiter has a lethal jumper, but are any other usc players good servers? they're gonna target croson (during the times she is in the passing rotation), and when she's not lined up to pass, you gotta go for the seam b/w griffy and maeda. there's always the strategy of going at kanani, but then you run the risk that hawaii will be in system too much, allowing mita to set all her weapons.
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Post by C on Dec 6, 2011 17:12:16 GMT -5
the only thing I'm worried about for USC is that hawaii crowd... that crowd could be very scary if your not used to it.. especially if they're cheering against you!
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Post by haw2991 on Dec 6, 2011 17:49:04 GMT -5
Those who havent seen Hawai'i play. Well, here's your chance. Full match between Hawai'i and Colorado st.
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Post by serviceace on Dec 6, 2011 18:53:17 GMT -5
I expect to see that lineup at some point but perhaps not in the first game. Satele has been playing solidly lately. I think she'll get a shot at starting. If Hawaii's passing is on, then Satele's live/quick arm becomes an asset. If Jupiter goes on a tear, I think Shoji won't hesitate to make an appropriate sub. Otherwise, I expect a lot of timely/situational blocking subs (Goodman for Uiato, and Stauber for Satele/Griffy, whoever is in the backrow at the time), as was used throughout the CSU match. Agree= this is the first really big match for Hawaii in a couple of months, and for the younger Wahine players it their first regional match. Have to hope that Croson, Satele, etc. will have figured out how to hit effectively against a bigger Pac 12 team, and that Hawaii can pass well.
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Post by hammer on Dec 6, 2011 20:11:09 GMT -5
I have to disagree with you, my friend. Granted the PAC 10 was down this year but USC looks very much like a team ranked number one. USC is the favorite going in, and as a Hawai'i fan, I am good with that. for someone to believe that hawaii is the clear favorite in this friday's matchup is absolutely idiotic. "Clear favorite" might be too strong. I'd prefer slight favorite or at least pick 'em as they say on the betting line.
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Post by redincolorado on Dec 6, 2011 20:33:48 GMT -5
I'm hoping Hawaii not only wins this match but wins the NC as well.
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Post by beachman on Dec 6, 2011 20:44:53 GMT -5
Well, after reading all of the totally predictable posts, and a trip to the bathroom, I have to agree that I have seen the light! I am not picking The Rainbow Wahine to win it all and every single match will be a sweep, starting with the one against the Women of Troy! Bring on the garlic fries!! ;D
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Post by po'okela on Dec 6, 2011 20:57:32 GMT -5
what's been done has been done lol
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