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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 29, 2013 0:19:05 GMT -5
I really feel a OH transfer committing before the end of Spring. I really do hope so. One that can really pass atleast and would add a bigger block on the leftside. Is this a hint? Something you know you wanna share?...lol! I'm not worried about Nikki as a passer. She will get that done in the off season and ready for pre-season come August 2014. I won't miss Tai and I still wanna see another MB transfer in as well. If Taylor Higgins can really make her serve consistent and affective, this could be another weapon for the Wahine, I really do like her jumper though.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 29, 2013 0:24:19 GMT -5
I really feel a OH transfer committing before the end of Spring. [br But will shoji give her a scholorship? He only has 3. He might give passi one (the agreement was she pay her own way her first season and might get it this one) plus he has castillo and the granato and maybe annie mitchem if she comes. And considering he does not get any scholorships from kalei or mendoza. It will be a tricky thing
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Post by OptimusPrime on Dec 29, 2013 0:35:39 GMT -5
The Wahine are going to miss Em something fierce but Mita and Tai leaving can be a blessing!!!!
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 29, 2013 0:38:54 GMT -5
The Wahine are going to miss Em something fierce but Mita and Tai leaving can be a blessing!!!! Ehh mita leaving isnt a blessing. Buts its not horrible either. Tai not playing is a blessing honestly.
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 29, 2013 0:42:22 GMT -5
I like Tai and her athleticism. If she really really works hard at her passing game and ball control, she can really become a force like the past AA from Hawai'i. If she does leave, we will miss her. If she doesn't, she can add depth to the leftside position.
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Post by OptimusPrime on Dec 29, 2013 0:43:09 GMT -5
The Wahine are going to miss Em something fierce but Mita and Tai leaving can be a blessing!!!! Ehh mita leaving isnt a blessing. Buts its not horrible either. Tai not playing is a blessing honestly. It is!!! Taylor will be much better and will connect much better with the middles. Just give her a chance to jell...
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 29, 2013 0:48:43 GMT -5
Ehh mita leaving isnt a blessing. Buts its not horrible either. Tai not playing is a blessing honestly. It is!!! Taylor will be much better and will connect much better with the middles. Just give her a chance to jell... Im not saying higgins will be worse, cause she wont. She will be better. But uiato leaving isnt a blessing. Just not a setback like losing hartong
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Post by karrietfan on Dec 29, 2013 4:08:51 GMT -5
I really feel a OH transfer committing before the end of Spring. [br But will shoji give her a scholorship? He only has 3. He might give passi one (the agreement was she pay her own way her first season and might get it this one) plus he has castillo and the granato and maybe annie mitchem if she comes. And considering he does not get any scholorships from kalei or mendoza. It will be a tricky thing Four if Olevao goes on a mission. Five if Long plays sand only. Nothing serious just guesses with the feedback I'm getting from the girls.
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Post by 5100 on Dec 29, 2013 6:39:09 GMT -5
I'm not sold on any of our middles really. Compared to the 2003-2011 seasons, they really underperform. 2003 we had duggins and gustin. 2004-2005 we had prince (one of the best middles uh has seen, not the best but one of them) she was also robbed of 1st team AA. 2006-2007 we has sanders. 2008-2009 we have Kaufman. 2009 we also had Hewitt and then hartong comes along. UH usually has pretty dominant middles, but with vorster and kalei, we don't The thing for Hawaii is, we've never had a great "all-around team". The one area that has been truly lacking in Hawaii is a true OPP player who can shut down opposing teams OH's. We either have a Willoughby/Kahumoku, but Jen Carey/Vakasausau was at best a bit below-avg setters We have a Kamana'o, but a bit below-avg OH's in Boogard/Arnott Then when you have below-avg everything you have a 1997/2007 season. There's never been a season with good (doesn't need to be great) players at each position. To me, the closest was the 1995 team. Next year, Taylor seems to be above average, Higgins, to me, is still unproven, the middles are average (they're better than below average). I wouldn't consider Boogaard/Arnott as below average OHs. Arnott hit .220 with 4 kills and 3 digs/game. Not first team All-America numbers, but definitely NOT below average. Boogaard put up a good block and was a six-rotation passer, oftentimes the most consistent of the UH passers. And they went undefeated until the Regional Semifinal. 2003 - Kamana'o was setting Willoughby, Kahumoku, Gustin, Duggins and Tano. Tano hit .400+ by the way. They had good blockers in Lundqvist, Gustin, Duggins, Eckmier and Boogaard. Arnott and Watanabe were weapons from the service line. Villaroman was a steady and consistent libero. Still didn't win the championship. 18 players on the roster, but everyone knew the ball was going to Willoughby and Kahumoku.
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Post by ACE on Dec 29, 2013 7:13:04 GMT -5
The thing for Hawaii is, we've never had a great "all-around team". The one area that has been truly lacking in Hawaii is a true OPP player who can shut down opposing teams OH's. We either have a Willoughby/Kahumoku, but Jen Carey/Vakasausau was at best a bit below-avg setters We have a Kamana'o, but a bit below-avg OH's in Boogard/Arnott Then when you have below-avg everything you have a 1997/2007 season. There's never been a season with good (doesn't need to be great) players at each position. To me, the closest was the 1995 team. Next year, Taylor seems to be above average, Higgins, to me, is still unproven, the middles are average (they're better than below average). I wouldn't consider Boogaard/Arnott as below average OHs. Arnott hit .220 with 4 kills and 3 digs/game. Not first team All-America numbers, but definitely NOT below average. Boogaard put up a good block and was a six-rotation passer, oftentimes the most consistent of the UH passers. And they went undefeated until the Regional Semifinal. 2003 - Kamana'o was setting Willoughby, Kahumoku, Gustin, Duggins and Tano. Tano hit .400+ by the way. They had good blockers in Lundqvist, Gustin, Duggins, Eckmier and Boogaard. Arnott and Watanabe were weapons from the service line. Villaroman was a steady and consistent libero. Still didn't win the championship. 18 players on the roster, but everyone knew the ball was going to Willoughby and Kahumoku. The reason I didn't list the 2003 team was that Gustin played nearly the entire season injured and Kamana'o was still a true freshmen. The only setter to set her team to a national title as a true freshmen was Bryne Kehoe of Stanford 2004. I still think (just my opinion) Arnott was not a great OH. She was good in 2004 because Hawaii literally had little options, when they did have options 2005/2006 and it seemed she would not have much playing time she decided not to play for her senior year whatever reasons.
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Post by 5100 on Dec 29, 2013 10:50:35 GMT -5
I wouldn't consider Boogaard/Arnott as below average OHs. Arnott hit .220 with 4 kills and 3 digs/game. Not first team All-America numbers, but definitely NOT below average. Boogaard put up a good block and was a six-rotation passer, oftentimes the most consistent of the UH passers. And they went undefeated until the Regional Semifinal. 2003 - Kamana'o was setting Willoughby, Kahumoku, Gustin, Duggins and Tano. Tano hit .400+ by the way. They had good blockers in Lundqvist, Gustin, Duggins, Eckmier and Boogaard. Arnott and Watanabe were weapons from the service line. Villaroman was a steady and consistent libero. Still didn't win the championship. 18 players on the roster, but everyone knew the ball was going to Willoughby and Kahumoku. The reason I didn't list the 2003 team was that Gustin played nearly the entire season injured and Kamana'o was still a true freshmen. The only setter to set her team to a national title as a true freshmen was Bryne Kehoe of Stanford 2004. I still think (just my opinion) Arnott was not a great OH. She was good in 2004 because Hawaii literally had little options, when they did have options 2005/2006 and it seemed she would not have much playing time she decided not to play for her senior year whatever reasons. I don't think it had much to do with Gustin being injured. Lundqvist was doing fine in her place. The problem was that it was a Kim/Lily offense and everyone knew that. It had nothing to do with Kamana'o. She was great even as a freshman. Arnott may not have been great, but she was not below average as you originally posted. I don't know what her reasons were for redshirting and eventually retiring, but she did a good job in 2004 and she became ill in 2005.
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 29, 2013 15:34:55 GMT -5
That team with Kim/Lily/Duggins/Tano/Gustin/Kamana'o/Lundqvist was the most fiercest Hawai'i team I have seen in awhile and still haven't seen a Wahine team like that yet. I do agree that if the offense was more spread moving Kim and Lily around and getting the middles involved more, I would've thought they would beat out USC that year and Florida.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 29, 2013 15:56:58 GMT -5
I know most people won't care about this thread, but this is for my fellow wahine fans. What are you thoughts about next season? I'm actually looking forward to next season. I picture the starting lineup to be OH1: Nikki Taylor OH2: kalei Greeley OPP: keani passi MB: kalei Adolpho and jade vorster S: tayler higgins L: savannah kahakai They will have a younger roster, but I think this group will mesh will together, and Nikki Taylor and tayler higgins will take on the leadership role well. Hawaii will need a lot more production from the middle to be successful in 2014 and I just don't see it coming from Vorster. Adolpho has a slightly better shot of holding on to her spot. As good as Higgins is, I think this team could have serious passing problems with at least two, if not three new passers out on the court. Her setting could be put to the test if she is continually dealing with poor passes. i agree ... there will be a lot of untested players in the lineup. passing will be the first concern.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 29, 2013 16:03:49 GMT -5
Tai is most likely going on her Mission and will miss the 2014 season. Mendoza played through the pain of a broken left foot all season and had surgery over Christmas break to remove the bone fragments and should be real focused next year. mendoza was a pleasant (and as it turns out, much needed) surprise this year. heal and rehab quickly, sarah ... i suspect you will be a big part of the wahine's season again next year.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 29, 2013 17:54:27 GMT -5
She plays for Punahou, sort of like Tai, if that tells you anything. I am a little surprised Dave offered her a scholarship, and did not just invite her to walk-on.
Off the subject, have you heard anything about Tai going on a 2 year Mormon mission starting next year, I have heard rumors to that regard.
Have you even seen McKenna play besides some videos up on youtube?? She is a fabulous recruit, and will be very very good in college. i agree ... a lot of upside to granato. her skills appear to be ahead of where tai was at that level.
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