Huh
Sophomore
"Look deep into nature.."--Einstein
Posts: 105
|
Post by Huh on Feb 9, 2014 19:38:33 GMT -5
hawaiiathletics.com/custompages/Stats/Mvb/2014/02082014.HTM
Warriors sweep up on the roadBy Star-Advertiser staff POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 09, 2014 The University of Hawaii volleyball team stuck with the same formula in a 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 victory over Cal State Northridge in the Matadome. Cal State Northridge went down for the second of a two-match weekend series with No. 11 Hawai'i. The visiting Rainbow Warriors swept the 13th-ranked Matadors 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 Saturday afternoon in The Matadome. CSUN, which dropped to 3-6 overall and 3-5 in the MPSF, was led by Andrew Freiha's career-high 12 kills as the freshman hit .455 on a match-high 22 attacks. Junior Greg Faulkner added eight kills (.286) and a pair of blocks but the Matadors struggled on offense for the second straight match, hitting .193 (36-20-83) as a team. Chance Earnest came off the bench to add four kills (.286) to go with six digs and the junior had one of the Matadors' three aces in the loss. Hawai'i, which hit .360 as a team in defeating CSUN Friday, hit .338 (34-9-74) on Saturday to take a two-match series by identical 3-0 scores in Northridge for the first time in the series which dates back to 1979. Sinisa Zarkovic had 10 kills (.300) to lead the Rainbow Warriors who also got seven kills each from Brook Sedore and Taylor Averil. Hawai'i improves to 7-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play. Setter Joby Ramos distributed the set evenly for the match as three other Warriors finished with six kills or more. Middle blocker Taylor Averill blasted seven kills at a .667 hitting clip and finished the series with only one hitting error in 18 swings. Opposite Brook Sedore notched seven kills and two aces while outside hitter Jace Olsen added six kills, six digs, and three blocks. Quick sets: Coupled with Friday night's victory, also in three sets, the Rainbow Warriors produced consecutive road sweeps over a ranked opponent for the first time since 2006. UH returns to Honolulu to host a two-match MPSF series with California Baptist, Wednesday, Feb. 12 and Friday, Feb. 14 at the Stan Sheriff Center. --- Doodoos (who claims to not be a journalist), outside his cubicle, is slacking!
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 9, 2014 22:44:55 GMT -5
---
Doodoos (who claims to not be a journalist), outside his cubicle, is slacking!
Huh -- you're a real ass, both on here and on Cindy's blog. i've actually been sick with the flu the past few days, and so, that's why i haven't been able to keep up with the articles to your liking. and you're f*cking welcome by the way, for the articles that i have posted so far.
|
|
slBrown
Sophomore
http://coedbc.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/sandusky-fiesta-ring-1.jpg?w=600&h=350
Posts: 103
|
Post by slBrown on Feb 9, 2014 23:40:01 GMT -5
^ Schizoaffective disorder. I did REALLY like the thought 'Cubicle.d' article on help for Lanai and Molokai (a week ago) however. Kokua (is it), know what I mean?! &Care much??
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 14, 2014 3:17:15 GMT -5
Middles should help 'Bows make a strong move
By Stephen Tsai, The Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 12, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 04:48 a.m. HST, Feb 12, 2014
The University of Hawaii volleyball team is trying to use its middles to emerge from the middle of the pack.
Entering Wednesday's match against California Baptist, the Rainbow Warriors, at 5-3, are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The teams will meet again on Friday night in the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Warriors are coming off consecutive three-set road victories over Cal State Northridge last weekend. In both matches, the Warriors passed well, established the middle attack and then spread the offense.
That series marked middle Nick West's return after missing six matches while recovering from a broken pinkie on his left (non-hitting) hand. His left pinkie and ring finger are taped together and covered with a foam padding when he practices and plays in matches.
"It's a nice little brace, I guess," West said. "It's worked out."
At 6 feet 8 with a snap-quick swing, West is "just a tough matchup," UH coach Charlie Wade said.
Wade said West and Taylor Averill give the Warriors "six rotations at middle where offensively they are going to occupy some attention. They have to. It just opens up some stuff for the pins."
Joby Ramos, a senior who is in his second season as UH's starting setter, has spread the sets. Of the starters, 47 percent of the sets have gone to outside hitters on the left side or the middle back, and 26 percent each to the opposite attacker and middles. Five UH starters average at least two kills per game, led by opposite Brook Sedore's 3.47 average.
"It's a credit to all the guys how Joby is smart enough to see the other middles commit on both me and Sunny (Averill)," West said. "We're a good enough offensive presence to spread the love to everyone else. It's kind of a team success. That's always better knowing we all did it together."
Wade said accurate passing has expanded Ramos' menu.
"There's almost never a bad choice," Wade said. "We don't have 'the guy,' but we have a lot of good guys. If you look at our distribution, of the five starters, they're all over two kills a set. We don't have a five-kill-a-set-guy and a one-kill-a-set guy, we've got everyone around two or three."
West also is providing a surprising boost behind the service line. In his first two UH seasons, West often attempted jump serves. This year, he has tinkered, coming up with a hybrid float-spinner.
Wade said West is a "pretty big guy, and (his serve) has a sharp angle on it. You don't see that one a lot."
West is second among the starters in accuracy, placing 88.3 percent of his serves in play. The Warriors have scored natural points on 46.7 percent of West's 60 serves. West usually is replaced on his third service turn of each set. But West has been more productive than his replacements (42.9 percent in producing natural points.
West is between jump-servers Siki Zarkovic and Sedore in the rotation.
"It's good to mix it up between our jump servers," West said. "They're able to fire away. Then I can place it to one guy with a really weird spin (on the serve). It can really help if I can get really good at it and keep it up and get some aces and confuse (an opponent's) offense a little bit."
UH VOLLEYBALL
Who: No. 11 Hawaii (7-4, 5-3 MPSF) vs. California Baptist (3-7, 2-6 MPSF) When: 7 p.m. Wednesday and Friday Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: OC Sports (Ch. 16), Wednesday only Radio: KKEA 1420-AM Wednesday, and KHKA 1500-AM Friday
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 14, 2014 3:24:09 GMT -5
'Bows put down Cal Baptist in 4 setsBy Stephen Tsai, The Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 13, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 03:48 a.m. HST, Feb 13, 2014 KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Jace Olsen powered a hit past Cal Baptist’s Brett Anderson. Hawaii weathered California Baptist's frenetic start and then seized control en route to a 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-10 victory Wednesday night in the Stan Sheriff Center. A crowd of 1,058 witnessed the Rainbow Warriors regain focus to earn their third consecutive victory and improve to 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The undermanned Lancers fell to 3-8 and 2-7. The rematch is Friday night. The Lancers brought only nine of the MPSF-allotted 14 players on this two-match, four-night road trip. Two players were injured. Four were suspended, including three starters -- outside hitter Rocky DeLyon, opposite Jonathan Tuttle and libero Michael Cate. CBU coach Wes Schneider did not want to use his only two reserves, who are redshirt candidates. Still, the Lancers played their best volleyball of the season in the first set, touching the Warriors' hardest spikes and finding digs with chest and foot saves. "It's a great group of guys," Schneider said. "It's unfortunate some guys got injured when they did, and we had a couple of hiccups there at home." The Lancers were forced to get creative with the lineup. Left-side hitter Johannes Brink moved to opposite. Jackson Burge, who played in three sets previously, started on the left side. Kevin Kustura, who made seven cameos this season, opened at libero. "I think these guys showed some heart," Schneider said. And some tonsils. Setter Brett Anderson, who is generously listed at 5-foot-10, provided running commentary that the Warriors could not hush. UH opposite Brook Sedore recalled: "We had to let it go. We couldn't let the setter get into our heads, which he did. He was getting a little vocal, and we let that get to us. We can't let him get to us in our gym." The Warriors rallied to win the second set, and then it was UH coach Charlie Wade's turn to turn up the volume. In a paint-peeling speech, Wade implored the Warriors to match the Lancers' energy. "I thought it was an appropriate spot (for a pep talk)," Wade said. "We needed to light a fire. Really, it's about respecting your opponent, respecting their game. That team came out and battled. You have to look across the net and respect that they're playing really hard. They played with a lot of energy in the first set." Wade then tinkered with the rotation, with middles Taylor Averill and Nick West switching spots. In the first two sets, CBU's 6-11 middle, Kristopher Johnson, crushed six kills without an error in nine swings. In the third set, West, who was playing with a heavily wrapped left hand, blocked Johnson three times. The Lancers would soon learn that adrenaline has an expiration point. Brink had five kills and hit .833 in the first set, but had nine kills and 12 errors in his next 27 swings. He hit minus-.111 in the final three sets. Sedore, who did not get his first kill until the middle of the second set, finished with nine kills and only one error. Left-side hitter Siki Zarkovic had 12 kills, and outside hitter Jace Olsen and Averill had 11 each. Averill also was in on a career-high 12 blocks. More photos by: KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 14, 2014 11:10:17 GMT -5
Hawaii libero finds peace
By Stephen Tsai, The Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 14, 2014
It was during a troubling time when University of Hawaii volleyball libero Kolby Kanetake was reminded to picture his happy place.
Kanetake was pulled after struggling to pass California Baptist's float serves during the second set of Wednesday's match. On the sideline, associate head coach Jeff Hall told Kanetake to think back to when he competed in outdoor matches in the summer.
"I told him to play like he was in a grass tournament in Lanikai, when he was free and focused, and not so worried about errors," Hall said. "He had to get back to that point because he was so stressed out."
Kanetake returned to the match, stabilized his passing, and helped the Rainbow Warriors go on to a four-set victory.
UH coach Charlie Wade said Kanetake needs to play as loosely in Friday's rematch. First serve is at 7:05 p.m. in a match that will not be televised.
"He needs to free it up," Wade said. "He's a little bit of a thinker. He has to go free it up and play."
Kanetake is an admitted perfectionist. It is why he spends extra time on school assignments. It also is why, he said, "I tend to focus on the mistakes that I've been making instead of moving on to the next play earlier."
Wade has praised Kanetake's passing and defensive skills. In Wednesday's fourth set, the Warriors shifted into a defensive stand. That left Kanetake to defend the back left with no block in front. Kanetake was able to dig Johannes Brink's spike off a D-set.
"That's what Kolby does," Hall said. "He's really good at just going for it. He will lay his body out to sacrifice for the team. That's what I like about him."
Kanetake said he played baseball, basketball and soccer, but "I never felt the passion until I started playing volleyball."
He was a regular attendee at UH volleyball matches.
"It's crazy to think I was watching from the stands a couple of years ago, and now I'm out here," Kanetake said. "I try not to think about it. But then it gets to you: ‘Wow, I'm here.' "
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 15, 2014 15:31:15 GMT -5
Warriors quiet Cal Baptist for a 2-match sweep
By Stephen Tsai, The Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 15, 2014
Hawaii used a spread-the-wealth offense and disruptive serves to hush California Baptist in a 25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23 victory Friday night in the Stan Sheriff Center.
A crowd of 1,341 saw the Rainbow Warriors answer the Lancers' smack-talking to win their fourth in a row and improve to 9-4 overall and 7-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Lancers fell to 3-9 and 2-8.
"It's not the greatest wins we've ever had," said opposite Brook Sedore, who led the Warriors with 17 kills. "A win is a win. We scratched it out. It doesn't matter how we did it. We did it."
Each team was assessed a yellow card for taunting in a match in which words crossed sides as often as spikes. In particular, CBU setter Brett Anderson used running commentary that pulled the emotional string that unraveled the Warriors in the second set.
Jace Olsen's kill gave the Warriors a 21-19 lead. But then UH middle Nick West was given a yellow card for mouthing to the Lancers. After a discussion, the officials decided to present the yellow card to the entire Hawaii team.
The Lancers then scored the next five points. After Sedore's crossing shot cut it to 24-22, Anderson, who is optimistically listed at 5-10, blocked the 6-5 Olsen.
"I've always been like that," Anderson said of his chatty style. "I'm always bringing positive reinforcement. The guys know I'll battle for them. I'll go through a wall for them. I'll run through 30 chairs if I have to."
UH coach Charlie Wade said Olsen tried to "thunder" spikes past Anderson three times late in the second set instead of "going up and going over him. Jace got anxious and swung at him. That happens."
It did not recur. Instead, the Warriors relied on powerful serves to force the Lancers out of system several times in the final two sets.
"When you put (serves) in the way we were, it's easy to put up a solid block," said UH middle Taylor Averill, who contributed to five of the Warriors' 11 blocks.
And whatever went past Averill or middle West, libero Kolby Kanetake was likely to dig. On one play, Kanetake hurdled the courtside seats to save a play. On another, he passed a spike with no block in between.
The Warriors received a boost from West, who was playing in only his fourth match since recovering from a fractured left pinkie on his non-hitting hand. His pinkie and left ring finger are heavily taped and padded for matches.
"I call it the 'crab hand,' " West said. "I'm down to limited digits."
Of West's 14 serves, the Warriors scored seven natural points. He had four of UH's six aces.
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 21, 2014 15:28:25 GMT -5
Pin production key for UH against USC
By Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 20, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 03:29 a.m. HST, Feb 20, 2014
In tailoring a strategy for tonight's road match against USC, the University of Hawaii volleyball team is counting on its pins.
As expected, the Rainbow Warriors have found success from middles Taylor Averill and Nick West this season. But coach Charlie Wade said he wants pin hitters Brook Sedore, Siki Zarkovic and Jace Olsen to increase their offensive production.
"We're going to need some of our outsides to do some of the heavy lifting as we start playing against higher-ranked teams in the league," Wade said. "Obviously, having that middle presence should help them. But there's no doubt we're going to need Siki, Jace and Brook to produce more as we go along."
Sedore, who starts at opposite, leads the Warriors with 3.43 kills per set. Zarkovic is second, at 2.91 kills per set, but is hitting .218. Olsen averages 2.18 kills, but is hitting .189.
Averill has nine more kills than Olsen on 70 fewer swings.
But the three starting pin hitters make other contributions. They are playing well defensively, with each averaging identical 1.11 digs per set.
Zarkovic has successfully passed 96 percent of the serves in his direction; Olsen has passed at 92 percent.
Olsen and Zarkovic put better than 80 percent of their serves in play. Sedore serves at 78 percent, but he leads with 16 aces.
If the Warriors were to make any changes on the left side, freshman Kupono Fey would get the first shot.
"He's been a very, very pleasant surprise in every way measurable," Wade said.
Fey has played in eight matches, mostly as a serving specialist.
This is the Warriors' third road trip of the season and, statistically, the most imposing opponent. The Trojans have three seniors and two impressive freshmen. Outside hitter Lucas Yoder, the sixth family member to play for USC, is averaging 3.85 kills per set in his inaugural season.
Andy Benesh, regarded as the nation's top high school middle last year, is averaging 2.15 kills per set and leads the nation with a .506 hitting percentage.
Henry Cassiday, a senior libero from Punahou School, tops the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with 3.07 digs per set.
USC's offense revolves around Kamehameha graduate Micah Christenson, who is regarded as one of the top setters in the world.
This past summer, Christianson started for the U.S national team.
The indications are Christenson will be playing in the 2016 Olympics.
"I expect him to be the starting setter (for USC on) Thursday night," Wade said. "That's as far as I'm getting to. ... But, yes, he's absolutely in the mix (for the Olympics)."
Christenson missed the past two matches with what was announced as a "back injury." UH anticipates he will be in the opening lineup.
"He's really good," Wade said of Christenson. "He's been around the game forever. He's one of those kids who's played at a high level his whole life. He was on the junior national team. He's been in the national-team system for a long time. Didn't he lead the state in 3-point shooting in basketball? He's a really good athlete."
Tonight's match begins at 5 p.m. Hawaii time and may be viewed at USCTrojans.com. Saturday's match will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 21, 2014 15:31:52 GMT -5
Steady USC dumps Rainbows in 4 sets
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 21, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 01:49 a.m. HST, Feb 21, 2014
In a volleyball match of streaks and valleys, USC was steady enough to pull out a 25-17, 15-25, 25-14, 25-22 victory over Hawaii at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Tanner Jansen's 20 kills, including a crossing spike that eluded libero Kolby Kanetake at aloha ball, boosted the Trojans to 8-5 overall and 7-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The Rainbow Warriors fell to 9-5 and 7-4.
The rematch is Saturday at 5 p.m., and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
"It's all about the runs," USC middle Tommy Leonard said. "We tried to limit their runs. When we go on runs, we try to extend them. Even if we get down a point, we just go right back. If we don't give up runs to them, they can't stop us."
With middle Taylor Averill serving in the second set, the Warriors scored five consecutive points to increase their lead to 14-6 and never looked back.
But the Trojans dominated the third set.
"We played good, solid volleyball and let it all flow together," Leonard said.
The USC servers were given the yellow light, collectively relying on placements rather than velocity. They committed only four service errors, putting 96 percent of their 89 attempts in play.
"We just don't need to do a whole lot from the service line," Leonard said, instead relying on a tall and active block and libero Henry Cassiday's defense.
"Let Henry dig the balls, and we can stop them no matter what they bring," Leonard said of the Punahou alum.
Cassiday conjured 13 digs, but it was setter Micah Christenson, a Kamehameha alumnus, who came up with a match-high 18 saves.
The Trojans also had 13.5 digs, including five in the first set.
Opposite Lucas Yoder contributed 18 kills for USC.
UH's middles played well Nick West and Averill combined for 11 kills against one error in 23 swings but the starting pins struggled. Opposite Brook Sedore had 14 kills but hit .205. Left-side hitter Siki Zarkovic had 13 kills but hit .200. Jace Olsen's three kills were overshadowed by seven errors. The three combined for 20 attack errors.
NO. 8 SOUTHERN CAL DEF. NO. 11 HAWAII 25-17, 15-25, 25-14, 25-22
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 24, 2014 14:11:44 GMT -5
USC hammers Hawaii
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 23, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 01:36 a.m. HST, Feb 23, 2014
The Hawaii volleyball team received its new uniforms, but not better fortune in a three-set road loss to USC in the Galen Center on Saturday night.
The 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 victory was the Trojans' second over the Rainbow Warriors in three nights. Hawaii, which had won four in a row entering this series, fell to 9-6 overall and 7-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. USC improved to 9-5 and 8-5.
After a delay of more than two months, the Warriors' new uniforms were delivered. That meant that players were able to use numbers that were assigned for this season.
But the new-look Warriors could not overcome illness (several players suffered flu-like symptoms on the trip) and the Trojans' steady play.
The Trojans put 89 percent of their serves in play, were active near the net (11.5 blocks) and hit .378.
The Warriors relinquished 11 points on service errors, hit .194 (their third-lowest accuracy this season) and shuffled the lineup.
Left-side hitter Jace Olsen, who had no kills and two errors in seven swings, was replaced by Johann Timmer, the usual serving specialist. Freshmen Kupono Fey and Hendrik Mol also played in that second outside-hitter position. Late in the second set, Davis Holt replaced middle Nick West. Holt started the third set.
Although Holt had four kills and no errors, the move was designed to improve UH's blocking, coach Charlie Wade said.
"Davis has been a better blocker, and really, we were trying to get something going, trying to push some button, trying to get a little mojo going," Wade said.
The Warriors could not hold a three-point lead in the first set. In the second, a block that would have drawn UH to 20-18 was nullified because of a rotation error. The Warriors scored three in a row to close to 20-18 in the third set. But after a timeout, Holt served long, and the Trojans scored the rest of the match's points.
USC opposite Tanner Jansen had 13 kills and hit .348.
"Our passing was just OK, our serving was just OK, (setter) Joby (Ramos) kind of struggled," Wade said. "Some of it was (the Trojans) played really well; some of it was we were off a little bit. We never really got into a rhythm."
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 27, 2014 18:40:26 GMT -5
Eclectic mix adds texture to the teamBy Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 27, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 01:40 a.m. HST, Feb 27, 2014 KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM UH's Iain McKellar, left, Taylor Averill and Jace Olsen block against Thompson Rivers' Casey Knight in the third set of an exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center in Manoa on Saturday, January 4, 2014.Symbolism can be found in Hawaii volleyball player Iain McKellar's Styrofoam container. "Barbecue chicken, rice and mochi," said McKellar, who was raised in England, of his preferred choices. "I really like the food here." The Rainbow Warriors are as diverse as McKellar's mixed plate. Of the 14 players on the active roster, five are international students attending UH on visas. Starting left-side hitter Sinisa "Siki" Zarkovic was born in Cyprus and raised in Serbia. Starting opposite Brook Sedore is from Alberta, Canada. Serving specialist Johann Timmer is from New Zealand, and freshman outside hitter Hendrik Mol is from Norway. "It's interesting," said middle blocker Davis Holt, a Maryknoll School graduate. "You get to see what people are like all over the world without having to leave home. I probably would never have met guys from these countries if we weren't teammates." The Rainbow Warriors have an internationally diverse history, with many of the program's best players Yuval Katz, Costas Theocharidis and Jonas Umlauft growing up overseas. This year, Milan Zarkovic Siki's father has joined the coaching staff. He was a long-time head coach of Serbia's Junior national team. Head coach Charlie Wade did not have a global blueprint in assembling the team. Timmer, a senior, was recruited because of his athletic background as a rugby player and track competitor. Zarkovic and Sedore were successful in international competition. Mol is an accomplished beach volleyball player who can play multiple positions. McKellar, a left-handed opposite, fills a role as coveted as a lefty reliever in baseball. "We have guys who have had some unique experiences playing, so they bring a little something different to the gym, to the team, in terms of volleyball," Wade said. "There's not just one way. People all over the world do different things in volleyball. The more people you have who can help share in that and look at things differently, that's good. It's a very diverse group of volleyball experience." Wade said communication was key in meshing styles. "Obviously, there has to be a level of trust," Wade said. "We may be asking them to do things differently than they've done it. They understand the reason behind that is to get better." Wade added: "I think you coach differently for different personalities regardless of where their driver's license is from. People are different. I had a professor who once told me: It's not human nature to treat everyone the same.' In terms of performance and how they process information, those things change from person to person." Timmer has had to learn to adjust to a specialty role. Zarkovic and Sedore have had to refocus their emotions. "I used to be aggressive and wear my emotions on my sleeve in a negative way," Sedore said. "Now I'm trying to put my emotions into positive energy." Mol and McKellar are learning patience while awaiting playing time. "So far, so great," Zarkovic said of his time at UH. "The whole team gets together. It's great." Mol said: "The whole experience has been really nice. It's a whole different culture and climate here. I was sweating at the start. I got used to it eventually. It's really nice to just have to wear shorts and a T-shirt. I don't have to wear a sweater anymore." Mol also has embraced the cuisine. "I love poke," he said. "I like kalua pork and (laulau), too. I've had some good experiences with the cuisine so far." Multicultural WarriorsJohann Timmer, Sr., OH, Auckland, New Zealand Hendrik Mol, Fr., OH, Sand, Norway Brook Sedore, Jr., OPP, Grand Prairie, Canada Sinisa “Siki” Zarkovic, So., OH, Belgrade, Serbia Iain McKellar, Fr., OPP, Macclesfield, England RAINBOW WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL At Stan Sheriff Center>> Who: No. 11 Hawai‘i (9-6, 7-5 MPSF) vs. No. 3 UCLA (13-3, 10-2 MPSF) >> When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday >> TV: OC Sports (Ch. 16) >> Radio: KHKA (1500-AM)
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 28, 2014 14:04:14 GMT -5
Averill is big man in the middleTaylor Averill has developed into a solid middle blocker for UHBy Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 28, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 02:06 a.m. HST, Feb 28, 2014 KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM Taylor Averill has improved as a blocker, averaging 1.27 per set this season, up from 0.84 in 2013.In volleyball, middle school can be a challenging learning time. "Blocking is a hard skill," Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said of a middle's primary responsibility. "That's one skill you can do really well, but it doesn't count if the (blocked ball) goes out of bounds." The Rainbow Warriors have worked extensively on block reads and defense ahead of matches against UCLA on Friday and Saturday in the Stan Sheriff Center. The Bruins run a rat-a-tat offense revolving around outside hitters Gonzalo Quiroga and 7-foot Robart Page. "It'll be an interesting matchup," UH middle Taylor Averill said. "With that kind of team that runs that kind of (fast) offense, it's going to be a test how disciplined we are." The Warriors' focus begins front and center. While the Warriors' middle attack has opened the offense this season, Wade has emphasized the basics. "A lot of the middles get caught up in the attacking part," Wade said, reminding them: "Your responsibilities are defined by your position. You're a middle blocker. You've got to get out there and block." The Warriors are averaging 2.7 blocks per set this year after averaging 2.3 in each of the previous three seasons. Their best blocker Averill is in the middle because of need and circumstances. "I'm still asking myself," Averill said, smiling. His resume includes extensive work at setter, outside hitter and opposite attacker. Averill took a recruiting visit to UH in 2010 before eventually signing with UC Irvine. After redshirting as a freshman in 2011, Averill transferred to Hawaii. He initially trained as a setter with the Rainbow Warriors. "At the 11th hour, Jonas Umlauft no-shows," Wade said of UH's All-America opposite who decided to remain in Germany. "We were stuck without an opposite. We moved (Averill) to opposite." Averill played the 2012 season despite a shoulder injury that continued to worsen. He was shut down for the final two weeks of the season, and then underwent surgery during the summer. After that, Wade recalled saying to Averill: "You need to play middle." Averill is a unique middle who can dig, set and hit out of the back row. Several times, Averill has remained in the back row for a rotation after completing his serving turn. Against UC Santa Barbara, he had eight digs. He has passed 12 serves with only one error this season. "Middles, a lot of times, are guys who played that position their whole world," Wade said. "They never receive serve. Taylor's been a six-rotation player. That, in itself, is an advantage having a guy on the floor who's a bit of a volley guy. He is as good as anyone out of sequence. If the ball comes to him, he can step in and set. And he can pass." Pin hitters need a wide repertoire to navigate around, over or off blocks. Averill's compact, downward swing is conducive to quick middle sets. Wade said Averill has mastered cutback and wrist-away hits. "He's also good at creating his own separation and not always hitting from the same spot," Wade said. "He moves around a lot." Averill also is an improved blocker. He is averaging 1.27 blocks per set, up from 0.84 in 2013. His average is the highest for a UH blocker since Steven Grgas' 1.32 in 2009. Averill said his background is useful in understanding opposing setters, outside hitters and right-side attackers. "I think that helps and correlates into how I read," Averill said. Wade said: "He's embraced it. We challenged him. You have to be obsessed with becoming a better blocker.' He's worked at it. He's become a very good middle." RAINBOW WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL At Stan Sheriff Center>> Who: No. 11 Hawaii vs. No. 3 UCLA >> When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday >> TV: OC Sports (Ch. 16) >> Radio: KHKA (1500-AM)
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Mar 1, 2014 23:26:26 GMT -5
VolleyBows stun No. 3 UCLA in 4By Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 01, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 02:02 a.m. HST, Mar 01, 2014 BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Taylor Averill won a joust at the net over UCLA’s Jackson Bantle in the second set. Wearing Hawaii's new home uniform, opposite attacker Brook Sedore was dressed to kill on Friday night. Sedore tied a career high with 24 kills in the 11th-ranked Rainbow Warriors' 25-23, 26-24, 25-27, 25-22 volleyball upset of No. 3 UCLA in the Stan Sheriff Center. "The win was great, man," UH middle blocker Nick West said. "You can't ask for a better volleyball (match) in terms of highs and lows. We won some good rallies, and we ended up finishing first." The Warriors ended a two-game losing streak to improve to 10-6 overall and 8-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Bruins fell to 13-4 and 10-3. "In the MPSF, rankings don't matter," UH middle Taylor Averill said. "Clearly, any team can beat any team on any night. We focused on the opponent in front of us and gave our best." Because of injuries and circumstances, the Bruins were playing with Hagen Smith, their third starting setter of the season. No matter who was at the controls, the firepower comes from two left-side hitters All-America Gonzalo Quiroga and 7-foot Robart Page. Both entered the match taking 58 percent of the Bruins' 1,673 swings. "Those two are magnificent players," Sedore said. "If we wanted to win the (match), we had to take care of those two guys. I think we did a pretty good job." Quiroga had 19 kills and hit .417 and Page contributed 17 kills on .273 accuracy. But neither was disruptive with their serves. UCLA did not score a natural point on Quiroga's six serves in the first two sets. And the Warriors were able to quell opposite Jackson Bantle, who had more errors (three) than kills (two). "I think we did an OK job," Averill said. "We can still do better. They have good middles, too. That's what makes this game so much fun." The Warriors entered with two basic goals: handle the Bruins' float serves, and feed Sedore. The Warriors used the second libero, Garrett Komisarek, in situations in which UCLA's three float servers were behind the line. "Komo is good on float serves," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "We knew they were 50-50 (between jump serves and floats). Half the time we could get out there. Komo helped out. He gave us a lift." In the past five matches, Sedore averaged 10.6 kills. "We kind of got away from going to our point-scoring opposite," Wade said. "We needed Brook to carry a little more load. He did. He gave us a lift." In the second set, the Bruins tied it at 24 when Sedore hit wide left on a crossing shot. On the next play, setter Joby Ramos went back to Sedore, who launched a line shot from the right side for the kill. Sedore then ricocheted a serve off Quiroga for an ace and a 2-0 lead entering the intermission. "In clutch moments, he's a good guy to go to," Ramos said of Sedore. "We worked on it a lot in practice. I say we keep it going." The Bruins overcame a five-point deficit to win the third set. They scored the final three points to force a fourth set. The Bruins took their first lead, at 21-20, in the fourth. But then Sedore tied it with a kill, sparking a 3-0 run. After UCLA middle Spencer Rowe cut the deficit to 23-22, UH scored the final two points. Jackson Bantle was wide left, and then Page hit into a double block. Siki Zarkovic finished with 15 kills for UH. Averill added 12 kills and contributed to six of UH's 11.5 blocks. 3 HAWAII
1 UCLAKEY: Hawaii’s Brook Sedore put down a career-high 24 kills NEXT: Hawaii vs. UCLA, 7 p.m. Saturday More photos by BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Mar 2, 2014 14:20:19 GMT -5
'Bows sweep BruinsBy Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 02, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 04:24 a.m. HST, Mar 02, 2014 KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Joby Ramos, right, celebrated with his teammates as the Rainbow Warriors were closing out UCLA in the fifth set.This time, the University of Hawaii volleyball sequel was just as dramatic. The Rainbow Warriors rallied several times Saturday night before producing a 22-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 15-11 upset of third-ranked UCLA in the Stan Sheriff Center. A season-high crowd of 2,715 saw the Warriors seize their second victory over the Bruins in as many nights to improve to 11-6 overall and 9-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Bruins, playing for the third time in six nights, fell to 13-5 and 10-4. "This is exactly what we needed," UH setter Joby Ramos said. "We're still hungry for more." UH coach Charlie Wade, who worked to exhaustion, needed to sit down after the 2-hour, 38-minute match against the Warriors' longtime rival. "I'm really proud of our guys," Wade said. "Our staff — (assistant coaches) Jeff Hall and Milan (Zarkovic) — worked really hard this week putting together a scouting report and training the guys. We were there training in the practice gym on Monday, and we did a lot of stuff to prepare for (this series). I could not be prouder of the guys at how they worked, how hard the staff worked." The Bruins were moving parts. Because of injuries and circumstances, the Bruins were down to their third setter, Hagen Smith. Michael Fisher started at opposite in place of Jackson Bantle, who struggled in Friday's match. Then in the middle of Saturday's first set, middle blocker Spencer Rowe suffered an apparent ankle injury when he landed awkwardly. He did not play the rest of the match. Still, the substitutions did not alter the Bruins' basic strategy: Feed left-side hitters Gonzalo Quiroga and Robart Page. Quiroga, an All-American the past two seasons, and Page, who is 7 feet, account for nearly 60 percent of the Bruins' swings. Page amassed 16 kills and Quiroga had 15, but they combined for only four in the fifth set. Still, the Bruins jumped to leads of 3-0 and 6-3. But then the Warriors, with disruptive serving, managed to fight back. UH middle Nick West's slam off an overpass tied it at 6. The fifth set would be tied five more times, the last at 11. Then middle Taylor Averill slammed a kill to give the Warriors a 12-11 lead they would not relinquish. On the next play, Page's spike was rejected by Averill and opposite Brook Sedore. After a timeout, UH outside hitter Siki Zarkovic sizzled a serve that ricocheted off Quiroga. Then Fisher hit a crossing shot that Ramos was able to dig. Garrett Komisarek, UH's second libero, fed Sedore on the right side. Sedore crushed aloha ball. "You think I was going to take anything off the ball?" Sedore said. "I was going to rip it no matter what." Sedore finished with 22 kills. He had 46 kills in the two matches. "Brook was on fire," Ramos said. "But I felt I could set anybody and they would have put it away." The Warriors had lost two road matches entering this series. But this weekend, Ramos said, "I felt we were all in the zone. We were all fired up." Sedore said: "It was good to beat a team we know we're going to see later on when, or if, we make the postseason. We struck the fear in their hearts for when we play them next." This was the first time UH swept a two-match series from the Bruins since 2006. 3 HAWAII
2 UCLAKEY: Hawaii hits .404 and makes just two hitting errors in the final two sets. NEXT: UC Irvine at Hawaii, 7 p.m. Friday More photos by KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
|
|
|
Post by Cubicle No More ... on Mar 4, 2014 21:28:39 GMT -5
Sedore nets MPSF honorBy Stephen Tsai, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 04, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 09:53 a.m. HST, Mar 04, 2014 BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Brook Sedore served for match point in the fourth set against UCLA on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Sedore finished the two-match series with 46 kills.University of Hawaii opposite attacker Brook Sedore collected 46 kills over the weekend. On Monday, he collected the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's player of the week award. "It's much deserved," UH coach Charlie Wade said of the honor for Sedore, who helped the Rainbow Warriors sweep a two-match series from UCLA, which entered the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally. Sedore had 24 kills in a four-set victory on Friday night and 22 in the five-set rematch. "He had a great weekend," Wade said. "He was pretty instrumental in both of our wins. It's nice to see the team's progress validated through Brook's recognition." This was the second time Sedore won the MPSF weekly award during his three-season UH career. He was the first Warrior to win the honor this season. "Any time you beat a team ranked higher than you two nights in a row, it's big for your season," Sedore said. Sedore is averaging a team-high 3.62 kills per set. He is hitting .320. In the past eight years, only two pin hitters — opposite Jonas Umlauft and left-side attacker Joshua Walker — hit better than .300 in a season. Entering the UCLA series, the Warriors had managed to establish the quick-middle attack. Against the Bruins, the strategy was to increase the sets to Sedore on the front and back right. Sedore said he spent four practices leading to Friday's match working on hitting trouble sets from setter Joby Ramos. The extra work paid off. "I was more effective," Sedore said. "I got more opportunities to score points. It went in my favor, I guess." Sedore said he benefitted from playing for Team Alberta in the Canada Games last summer. He was named one of Alberta's captains. "I got tons more reps," Sedore said. "I actually ended up playing left side. I got my ball control better. I got down my arm swing." By playing through the summer, he was game-ready entering UH's fall training. "Instead of taking off a couple of months and getting rusty, I came back better," Sedore said. Wade also noticed that Sedore managed to control his emotions. In the past, Sedore's quest for perfection often left him fretting over mistakes. "He's still Canadian," Wade joked, "but he's done a better job of having his reactions and emotions be appropriate for the moment. "A lot of times, it's great to be fired up, and a lot of times it's great to be cerebral and focused on what you're doing." The Warriors also moved up three spots and are tied for eighth (with UC Irvine) in this week's AVCA poll. The Warriors and Anteaters meet Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.
|
|