|
Post by Psychopotamus on Dec 10, 2011 17:26:51 GMT -5
I have to say I am a little disappointed Hawaii didn't go with its bigger lineup in G3 when the USC outsides started going to shorter Hawaii pin blocker. I guess so can't fault them being that they had a very good chance to be up 2-0. The thought kept wearing on me as the match wore on and the USC OHs became more and more effective. It really has me looking forward to next year. As good as she is in the middel, I think Hartong needs to be on the RS. Next year should play out similar to this one, a lot of teams are returning some quality LSs.
|
|
|
Post by Psychopotamus on Dec 10, 2011 17:33:44 GMT -5
Three hours later and I am still depressed about the Wahine losing. Even after Hawaii lost the second game I was pretty sure they would pull it out. They seemed to have 2 and 4 in the palm of their hands and it just eluded them. I'm putting this match right up there with the 95 team losing in five. This could have been their year. I feel the same way. It's like with all the upsets that has gone on, this is the year Hawaii could've taken the title. I know you want your team to win a title by beating the best, but defeating USC, Florida/Illinois, Texas/UCLA, Iowa State/FSU would have done just fine for this year. It's hard to swallow a loss after your team is "statistically" better in every aspect of the game. Hawaii even outscored SC (total points) 112-107. Again, it shows that SC just got the points when it mattered the most. Again, at least Hawaii put up a fight, a fight not many (aside from Hawaii fans) thought was even there. Also, after listening to Danielson's post game comments, I finally understand where "playing in the WAC" hurt Hawaii. As she had mentioned, when it was towards the end of a set and they needed a play, it usually was easy to do against WAC opponents, however it is not as easy against good teams such as SC. Being able to be in that pressure situation where you need a kill against a good team at critical times is what top-notch competition on a weekly basis will do. And that's what cost Hawaii the match tonight, being able to get those points at the critical moments of each set - the ending. Aloha NCAA, Aloha WAC, hello Big West. I was already worried at the end of G4, you could see the Wahine start to play tight and USC was going for their shots. It was kind of high risk/high reward volleyball that really payed off for USC. As I said before, a season is usually measured by how the season ends. IMO you couldn't have asked for more, Hawaii lost to the best team in the country no matter what happens the rest of the way. This was the real championship match, and I think all the players out there felt this way.
|
|
|
Post by Psychopotamus on Dec 10, 2011 17:35:56 GMT -5
I hope as soon as this match was over Dave started thinking about scheduling USC for 2012... even without the two best players from tonight's match, I think both teams will be very, very good next year.
|
|
|
Post by midnightblue on Dec 10, 2011 17:37:32 GMT -5
I hope as soon as this match was over Dave started thinking about scheduling USC for 2012... even without the two best players from tonight's match, I think both teams will be very, very good next year. There are rumors that Stanford will be playing in a pre-conference tournament at Hawaii.
|
|
|
Post by haw2991 on Dec 10, 2011 17:37:45 GMT -5
I hope as soon as this match was over Dave started thinking about scheduling USC for 2012... even without the two best players from tonight's match, I think both teams will be very, very good next year. Especially if Fayln joins our lineup, would love to see her facing her old team.
|
|
|
Post by Psychopotamus on Dec 10, 2011 17:42:57 GMT -5
I hope as soon as this match was over Dave started thinking about scheduling USC for 2012... even without the two best players from tonight's match, I think both teams will be very, very good next year. Especially if Fayln joins our lineup, would love to see her facing her old team. Even without Falyn I think the Wahine will be very good. The difference with this year's team is that you could see it in their eyes that everyone wanted the ball at crunch time. That was something that was missing last year.
|
|
|
Post by kolohekeiki on Dec 10, 2011 17:48:58 GMT -5
I have to say I am a little disappointed Hawaii didn't go with its bigger lineup in G3 when the USC outsides started going to shorter Hawaii pin blocker. I guess so can't fault them being that they had a very good chance to be up 2-0. The thought kept wearing on me as the match wore on and the USC OHs became more and more effective. It really has me looking forward to next year. As good as she is in the middel, I think Hartong needs to be on the RS. Next year should play out similar to this one, a lot of teams are returning some quality LSs. I have to disagree with going with the bigger line-up...the Wahine's smaller line-up did absolutely fine against USC...the Wahine ran away with the first and third set behind the smaller more experienced line-up and the Wahine were holding there own at the net with Hewitt shutting down Jupiter for most of the match before Jupiter adjusted and started swinging smarter... I don't believe the bigger line-up would've done as good as the more experienced line-up did last night
|
|
|
Post by Psychopotamus on Dec 10, 2011 18:02:06 GMT -5
I have to say I am a little disappointed Hawaii didn't go with its bigger lineup in G3 when the USC outsides started going to shorter Hawaii pin blocker. I guess so can't fault them being that they had a very good chance to be up 2-0. The thought kept wearing on me as the match wore on and the USC OHs became more and more effective. It really has me looking forward to next year. As good as she is in the middel, I think Hartong needs to be on the RS. Next year should play out similar to this one, a lot of teams are returning some quality LSs. I have to disagree with going with the bigger line-up...the Wahine's smaller line-up did absolutely fine against USC...the Wahine ran away with the first and third set behind the smaller more experienced line-up and the Wahine were holding there own at the net with Hewitt shutting down Jupiter for most of the match before Jupiter adjusted and started swinging smarter... I don't believe the bigger line-up would've done as good as the more experienced line-up did last night I think Uiato was relying on Satele too much as a diversion to the LS attack, and she wasn't effective at later stages of the game. The USC bloock took a while to adjust to the tempo of the sets she was getting and once they did her attack wasn't as effective. I still assess that the tradeoff for additional blocking would have been more effective since the passing wasn't allowing Uiato to set the middles.
|
|
|
Post by Psychopotamus on Dec 10, 2011 18:03:03 GMT -5
Kind of a moot point anyway since I am expecting the bigger lineup next year. I know Hartong has said that RS is her least favorite of the three positions she can play, but I think it is where Hawaii needs her the most.
|
|
|
Post by kolohekeiki on Dec 10, 2011 18:07:26 GMT -5
Kind of a moot point anyway since I am expecting the bigger lineup next year. I know Hartong has said that RS is her least favorite of the three positions she can play, but I think it is where Hawaii needs her the most. I kindly disagree, if and that's a big IF Fonoimoana plays for the Wahine next season, I believe she's the one the Wahine is going to need on the right... Hartong will be needed more in the middle where is is now or on the left to contribute to the serve receive game for the Wahine...the matches that she played on the left for the Wahine she was real lethal...
|
|
|
Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 12, 2011 15:38:31 GMT -5
Still can't get enough of this match.
|
|
|
Post by floater on Dec 12, 2011 15:57:13 GMT -5
Its over, move on.
|
|
|
Post by NotKingOfAnything on Dec 12, 2011 16:01:24 GMT -5
Hard to believe this thread is so active.
I caught the espn3 broadcast when I got home after the Gophers game. I was really disappointed that Hawaii lost the match. It would have made for a really interesting FF.
|
|
|
Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 12, 2011 17:01:52 GMT -5
Such a crabby comment, floater.
|
|
|
Post by haw2991 on Dec 12, 2011 17:23:14 GMT -5
lol, I don't feel like it.
|
|