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Post by OptimusPrime on Oct 21, 2014 12:27:46 GMT -5
Agree. If all options are truly on the table, give the newbies a shot. Noth'n to lose here. I may be wrong but we may not have the talent pool we had when we played Pepperdine and Kim Hill in 2011. Longing for the good old days... sigh... check it out. We really had a shot to get to the FF that year. That SC match was a bummer. Jane, Em, and KD together with darn good passing team! What a team that was.
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Post by 808valleyguy on Oct 21, 2014 13:22:44 GMT -5
We really had a shot to get to the FF that year. That SC match was a bummer. Jane, Em, and KD together with darn good passing team! What a team that was. Satele was a great RS hitter. And Hewitt in the middle wasnt to shabby either.
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Post by 5100 on Oct 21, 2014 13:30:39 GMT -5
You kinda just proved my point why I feel KK deserves a shot to prove herself now instead of next year. You are correct....there isn't an upgrade between the two....which is more a reason to give KK more playing experience. People here have said, "she can compete for starting spot next year." Um, the excuse next year will be, "well, TH has more game experience understands the offense better, and was the starter last year." KK will not be able to fairly compete for that starting spot next year.....and everyone knows it. TH has struggled in a few matches.....not setting the middles high enough, trapping the outsides....its those struggles that should allow KK to prove to the coaches what she got. People say, "well, she doesn't look like starting material in practice." Well, maybe she doesn't do as well in practice but performs while in the spotlight! Anyone ever thought of that? How many times has Hawaii been down, and TH is replaced only for KK to help spark a comeback and turn the momentum? KK is a gamer and I still believe has more upside than TH. If I recall correctly Uiato didn't set the middles well either and was less dynamic than TH. Unless KK shows an upside in practice, TH should remain as the starter! Thats just the way it rolls guys... Sucks for the 2nd setter but if all adds equal the one with seniority gets the play time and the other gets the bread crumbs off the table. What do you mean more dynamic? You mean she distributes the ball more? Not sure if you can blame that on Uiato. Her direction from the coaches was to set Hartong all the time, even if Hartong was on the bench. Even Kamana'o was setting almost exclusively to the left when she played with Kim and Lily. That has been Shoji's way. Adolpho didn't struggle as much with Uiato as she is now with Higgins. Higgins is certainly a downgrade from Uiato. She's easily rattled and she plays clumsy when she's rattled.
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Post by OptimusPrime on Oct 21, 2014 14:36:23 GMT -5
If I recall correctly Uiato didn't set the middles well either and was less dynamic than TH. Unless KK shows an upside in practice, TH should remain as the starter! Thats just the way it rolls guys... Sucks for the 2nd setter but if all adds equal the one with seniority gets the play time and the other gets the bread crumbs off the table. What do you mean more dynamic? You mean she distributes the ball more? Not sure if you can blame that on Uiato. Her direction from the coaches was to set Hartong all the time, even if Hartong was on the bench. Even Kamana'o was setting almost exclusively to the left when she played with Kim and Lily. That has been Shoji's way. Adolpho didn't struggle as much with Uiato as she is now with Higgins. Higgins is certainly a downgrade from Uiato. She's easily rattled and she plays clumsy when she's rattled. How is setting Em while she is out possible? Which then brings me to the rest of your comments! Hawaii of 2011 could have gone much farther with a better setter...
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Post by OptimusPrime on Oct 21, 2014 14:38:12 GMT -5
Jane, Em, and KD together with darn good passing team! What a team that was. Satele was a great RS hitter. And Hewitt in the middle wasnt to shabby either. Shame on me for forgetting Britt. Love her play and heart for the game. Satele stepped up her game. I was not a fan of her at first but she rose to the occasion.
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Post by network155 on Oct 21, 2014 14:42:11 GMT -5
I agree with Higgins about being easily rattled. I think being mentally tough is very important. You can tell it from her face. Kendra Koelsch on the other hand, I don't know if it's because she is a freshman, but when she gets on the floor, she has that determined look, against Northridge in the third set, she went in and dump the ball three times to the floor.
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Post by OptimusPrime on Oct 21, 2014 14:58:35 GMT -5
I agree with Higgins about being easily rattled. I think being mentally tough is very important. You can tell it from her face. Kendra Koelsch on the other hand, I don't know if it's because she is a freshman, but when she gets on the floor, she has that determined look, against Northridge in the third set, she went in and dump the ball three times to the floor. Mita had that deer in the headlights look on her face for her first 3 years but stepped up her game for her senior year. TH will step up her game sooner.
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Post by network155 on Oct 21, 2014 15:12:46 GMT -5
I agree with Higgins about being easily rattled. I think being mentally tough is very important. You can tell it from her face. Kendra Koelsch on the other hand, I don't know if it's because she is a freshman, but when she gets on the floor, she has that determined look, against Northridge in the third set, she went in and dump the ball three times to the floor. Mita had that deer in the headlights look on her face for her first 3 years but stepped up her game for her senior year. TH will step up her game sooner. Actually, Mita, was tough as nails. She never let up, no emotion on her face, like it never phased her, especially matches on the road.
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Post by internationalball on Oct 21, 2014 15:16:25 GMT -5
I agree with Higgins about being easily rattled. I think being mentally tough is very important. You can tell it from her face. Kendra Koelsch on the other hand, I don't know if it's because she is a freshman, but when she gets on the floor, she has that determined look, against Northridge in the third set, she went in and dump the ball three times to the floor. Mita had that deer in the headlights look on her face for her first 3 years but stepped up her game for her senior year. TH will step up her game sooner. Mita never had that look on her face. She never looked stressed, she was well composed on the court. Mita was actually really good.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Oct 22, 2014 13:38:12 GMT -5
Rainbow Wahine rework lineup for weekend’s big matchesBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 02:20 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2014 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii freshman Megan Huff might be asked to fill Tai Manu-Olevao’s shoes on Sunday.Back in the gym. Back to work. And, in some respects, back to the drawing board. Or, as in the case of the Hawaii volleyball team, back to the dry-erase board used to keep practice stats. On the morning of the 20th anniversary of the Stan Sheriff Center's opening, the Rainbow Wahine were in adjacent Gym I reworking a lineup that would end their two-match losing streak. The players and coaches have had more than a week to revisit what went wrong on the disastrous road trip where Hawaii got smacked by Cal State Northridge in three and then fell short in five the following night at Long Beach State. The Wahine have also had a week off from play, a good thing for those with injuries: junior middle Olivia Magill (leg) and freshman defensive specialist Savanah Kahakai (knee). Kahakai has been cleared to practice and expected to be cleared to play for Friday's match against Cal Poly. Magill was cleared for light workouts and was expected to be cleared to fully participate in Wednesday afternoon's practice. Also missing practice due to illness was sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor, who has not recovered fully from her right elbow sprain incurred over the summer. It is a concern that, nearing the midpoint of Big West play, Hawaii is in this position of lineup uncertainty. "It is a little scary," Wahine coach Dave Shoji admitted after practice. "We lost twice. We're looking at the whole lineup. "We need to make sure we've got the best six out there at any one time." To that end, under strong consideration is a 6-2 offense that alternates the setter in back-row rotations. That would mean both sophomore Tayler Higgins, the starter for all 17 matches, alternating with freshman Kendra Koelsch, who has played sparingly in 16 matches, most often as a blocking sub. "She hasn't had a chance to run much offense," Shoji said of Koelsch. "We're giving her a shot to do that." The libero position also is under scrutiny. Senior Sarah Mendoza has been there for all 17 matches and leads the team in digs (235) and is third in aces (16), but she was being pushed hard by Kahakai until Kahakai injured a knee during the exhibition with Toyota Auto Body on Sept. 17. There's also the question of who will replace junior left-side Tai Manu-Olevao and her team-leading 3.45 kill average and 30 aces Sunday against UCSB. She will miss her third match, sitting out for religious beliefs. The leading possibility looks to be freshman Megan Huff, who is still making the conversion from middle blocker to left-side hitter. If Magill is unable to play, that leaves freshman Emily Maglio as the replacement. That scenario then leaves Hawaii very young and Shoji with the substantial dilemma on defense since Huff and Maglio haven't seen much time in the back row; Huff has served once, Maglio not at all. While no one is looking past Friday's match with Cal Poly, one result from Saturday raised Hawaii's collective eyebrows. UC Santa Barbara swept CSUN, the seventh straight season the host Gauchos defeated the Matadors in straight sets at their Thunderdome. "We know Santa Barbara is a good team," Shoji said. "They're capable of beating anybody. "We're not good enough that we can just show up and play. We have to do all the little things it takes to win." NotesSunday's match with UC Santa Barbara has been moved up to 4 p.m. to accommodate UCSB's travel arrangements. ... Hawaii will officially celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sheriff Center during the intermission of Friday's volleyball match against Cal Poly, the alma mater of the late Stan Sheriff, who was UH athletic director from 1983 to 1992. BIG WEST VOLLEYBALLStan Sheriff Center FRIDAY, 7 p.m. >> Cal Poly (7-10, 2-5) at Hawaii (12-5, 4-2) SUNDAY, 4 p.m. >> UC Santa Barbara (9-9, 4-3) at Hawaii >> TV: OC 16 >> Radio: Friday, 1420-AM; Sunday, 1500-AM
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Oct 22, 2014 13:44:24 GMT -5
Stan Sheriff Center rocks; these are among highlights
By Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2014
Rich Sheriff is right. There is no bad seat in the arena that he runs and which is named for his father, Stan, the man who built the facility that instantly became one of the best things going at the University of Hawaii -- and still is, after 20 years.
Yes, there are a lot of things to complain about at UH, but the Stan Sheriff Center is rarely among them. The only one I can recall is a fan wishing garlic fries were available at a concession stand for a matinee game.
Although it doesn't get filled to its 10,300-seat capacity as often as it used to when things were going better for the UH court sports, it's the best venue of its kind in the Big West Conference.
It was also more than adequate when the Rainbow Warriors and Wahine competed in the Western Athletic Conference and other leagues.
Heck, it was good enough for the Los Angeles Lakers -- and that was when they were still at the top of the NBA.
I've seen several hundred events at the SSC over the years, most from press row, some from the cheap seats. Here are the ones that stand out most:
Sept. 6, 2013: Hawaii defeats Santa Clara in four sets, making Dave Shoji the winningest all-time coach in women's NCAA Division I volleyball with 1,107 victories.
Dec. 25, 2012: No. 3 Arizona beats No. 17 San Diego State 68-67 in the championship final of the Diamond Head Classic, as Nick Johnson comes out of nowhere to block a shot at the rim.
Dec. 9, 2011: It could have been -- some say should have been -- a final four match. But it was in the third round of the NCAA women's volleyball tournament and USC edges Hawaii in five games.
Nov. 19, 2005: UH beats Michigan State 84-62 in the men's basketball season opener ... one of the biggest wins of Riley Wallace's coaching career.
Oct. 12, 2003: The Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 107-89 in a preseason exhibition. Kobe Bryant did not play, but there was plenty of star power from Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton and Karl Malone.
Feb. 22, 2002: Carl English scores 28 points and Predrag Savovic 27 as Hawaii edges WAC rival Tulsa 86-85 in front of a full house "whiteout" crowd.
Dec. 30, 1997: Alika Smith and Anthony Carter lead Hawaii to a 76-67 win over No. 2 Kansas in the final of the Rainbow Classic. Smith and the Jayhawks' Paul Pierce both score 22 points.
Nov. 28, 1997: Bobby Knight eschews the team bus and instead walks back to his Waikiki hotel after UH beats his Indiana team 82-65.
1995 and 1996: The UH men's volleyball team lights up the arena with unprecedented talent and popularity, players headlined by Yuval Katz attaining rockstar status.
Feb. 16, 1995: UH guard Tes Whitlock hits a buzzer bomb to give the Rainbows a 73-70 win over BYU.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Oct 22, 2014 13:45:25 GMT -5
The Stan Sheriff Center turns 20
Star-Advertiser
Published on Oct 16, 2014
Rich Sheriff, the arena manager of the Stan Sheriff Center and son of Stan Sheriff talks about his father's legacy on the University of Hawaii and his plans for improvement for the 20-year-old facility.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Oct 22, 2014 13:54:16 GMT -5
the stanley is 20 years old ... i still remember the excitement of the first match in '94. it sold out so quick that we couldn't get tickets. had to settle for admission to the stanley at a later match.
a lot of great moments in the arena over the years. reardon's article doesn't really do it justice. far more great/epic matches and games took place there.
one of my favorites was in 1996, hawaii hosting the regional final (after losing in the heartbreaker the year before). they sweep byu before a sold-out crown, avenging a loss to byu just a couple weeks before. and get back to the final four after quite a drought.
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Post by volleyballfan99 on Oct 22, 2014 16:22:09 GMT -5
Rainbow Wahine rework lineup for weekend’s big matchesBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 02:20 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2014 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii freshman Megan Huff might be asked to fill Tai Manu-Olevao’s shoes on Sunday.Back in the gym. Back to work. And, in some respects, back to the drawing board. Or, as in the case of the Hawaii volleyball team, back to the dry-erase board used to keep practice stats. On the morning of the 20th anniversary of the Stan Sheriff Center's opening, the Rainbow Wahine were in adjacent Gym I reworking a lineup that would end their two-match losing streak. The players and coaches have had more than a week to revisit what went wrong on the disastrous road trip where Hawaii got smacked by Cal State Northridge in three and then fell short in five the following night at Long Beach State. The Wahine have also had a week off from play, a good thing for those with injuries: junior middle Olivia Magill (leg) and freshman defensive specialist Savanah Kahakai (knee). Kahakai has been cleared to practice and expected to be cleared to play for Friday's match against Cal Poly. Magill was cleared for light workouts and was expected to be cleared to fully participate in Wednesday afternoon's practice. Also missing practice due to illness was sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor, who has not recovered fully from her right elbow sprain incurred over the summer. It is a concern that, nearing the midpoint of Big West play, Hawaii is in this position of lineup uncertainty. "It is a little scary," Wahine coach Dave Shoji admitted after practice. "We lost twice. We're looking at the whole lineup. "We need to make sure we've got the best six out there at any one time." To that end, under strong consideration is a 6-2 offense that alternates the setter in back-row rotations. That would mean both sophomore Tayler Higgins, the starter for all 17 matches, alternating with freshman Kendra Koelsch, who has played sparingly in 16 matches, most often as a blocking sub. "She hasn't had a chance to run much offense," Shoji said of Koelsch. "We're giving her a shot to do that." The libero position also is under scrutiny. Senior Sarah Mendoza has been there for all 17 matches and leads the team in digs (235) and is third in aces (16), but she was being pushed hard by Kahakai until Kahakai injured a knee during the exhibition with Toyota Auto Body on Sept. 17. There's also the question of who will replace junior left-side Tai Manu-Olevao and her team-leading 3.45 kill average and 30 aces Sunday against UCSB. She will miss her third match, sitting out for religious beliefs. The leading possibility looks to be freshman Megan Huff, who is still making the conversion from middle blocker to left-side hitter. If Magill is unable to play, that leaves freshman Emily Maglio as the replacement. That scenario then leaves Hawaii very young and Shoji with the substantial dilemma on defense since Huff and Maglio haven't seen much time in the back row; Huff has served once, Maglio not at all. While no one is looking past Friday's match with Cal Poly, one result from Saturday raised Hawaii's collective eyebrows. UC Santa Barbara swept CSUN, the seventh straight season the host Gauchos defeated the Matadors in straight sets at their Thunderdome. "We know Santa Barbara is a good team," Shoji said. "They're capable of beating anybody. "We're not good enough that we can just show up and play. We have to do all the little things it takes to win." NotesSunday's match with UC Santa Barbara has been moved up to 4 p.m. to accommodate UCSB's travel arrangements. ... Hawaii will officially celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sheriff Center during the intermission of Friday's volleyball match against Cal Poly, the alma mater of the late Stan Sheriff, who was UH athletic director from 1983 to 1992. BIG WEST VOLLEYBALLStan Sheriff Center FRIDAY, 7 p.m. >> Cal Poly (7-10, 2-5) at Hawaii (12-5, 4-2) SUNDAY, 4 p.m. >> UC Santa Barbara (9-9, 4-3) at Hawaii >> TV: OC 16 >> Radio: Friday, 1420-AM; Sunday, 1500-AM Since when has Magill served or even played the back row. Having Maglio play for an injured Magill would not be considered a defensive dilemma. Dave has also substituted a defensive specialist for Olevao at times, so this would not be a dilemma also, if Megan Huff plays for Olevao, against UCSB, on Sunday. So I do not understand why Cindy mentioned that using Maglio and Huff would cause a defensive dilemma for Shoji.
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Post by manoamist on Oct 22, 2014 21:22:01 GMT -5
Great article and returned faith in the coaching if indeed this is true. Nothing to lose. In this case "Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine"
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