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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Sept 16, 2014 13:26:58 GMT -5
Wahine fall out of Top 25By Cindy Luis, Star-Advertiser POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 16, 2014 BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji, left, says his team’s ranking — outside the Top 25 for the first time since 1992 — is “only someone’s opinion.” UH lost 3-0 to then-No. 25 UCLA on Friday.Unexpected? Probably not. But somewhat surprising to most who have followed the Rainbow Wahine volleyball program for decades. On Monday, Hawaii did not appear in the AVCA Coaches Top 25, the first time since the final four weeks of the injury-plagued 1992 season. The Wahine went 15-12 and did not make the postseason tournament for the only time in program history. Hawaii's third loss of the season, a sweep by then-No. 25 UCLA on Friday, resulted in the Bruins (6-2) replacing the Wahine at No. 22. With two previously unranked teams debuting in the poll — Texas A&M (7-1) at No. 21 and Loyola Marymount (9-0) at No. 23 — it pushed Hawaii just outside of the Top 25; the Wahine received 95 points, 22 fewer than No. 25 Michigan State (5-3), which fell two spots. "Only someone's opinion," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji, who is not one of the 60 voters for a second consecutive year. "But all we can do is win as many as we can and maybe gain some respect back. Expected with three losses, but none of those were bad losses." The three teams to defeat Hawaii this season at the Stan Sheriff Center — Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA — are a combined 22-3. The Ducks (8-0) moved up four spots to No. 14 and Arizona State (7-1) dropped three spots to No. 18 after a loss to Appalachian State (11-0) in the Louisville tournament. UCLA (6-2) moved up three spots to No. 22. Both of the Bruins' losses have been in sweeps on the road, at Loyola Marymount and to then-No. 1 Penn State at the the Pac-12/Big 10 tournament hosted by Stanford. There was no change in the top five, led by Stanford (7-0) receiving 52 first-place votes. The Cardinal were followed by Texas (7-0, six votes), Penn State (8-1), Wisconsin (8-0, two votes) and Washington (9-0). Rounding out the top 10 are Florida State (8-0), Florida (5-2), Colorado State (9-1), Nebraska (5-2) and USC (6-2). The other team to drop out of the Top 25 was former No. 20 Duke (6-3). Hawaii remains No. 3 on the all-time list of weeks in the poll, which dates back to 1982. Only Nebraska and Stanford have been ranked every week of every poll, a total of 466 weeks; Hawaii is third at 461 and UCLA and USC tied for fourth at 447.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Sept 16, 2014 13:28:23 GMT -5
I really like the funny faces Olivia Magill makes during her kills. They're kind of cute. At times, I get confused with the girls whose names contain the letters "M" and "G" in close proximity: Magill, Maglio, Megan (Huff), not to mention Tayler (Higgins) and (Nikki) Taylor, plus the two Kaleis. It makes my head spin. you did pretty well getting the names straight right there
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Post by madonna on Sept 16, 2014 16:37:22 GMT -5
At times, I get confused with the girls whose names contain the letters "M" and "G" in close proximity: Magill, Maglio, Megan (Huff), not to mention Tayler (Higgins) and (Nikki) Taylor, plus the two Kaleis. It makes my head spin. Imagine if Jim Leahey was still doing the play-by-play this year.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Sept 16, 2014 23:38:53 GMT -5
Kanani Danielson: Toyota Auto Body vs. HawaiiStar-Advertiser Published on Sep 16, 2014 Former Rainbow Wahine Kanani Danielson and her Toyota Auto Body club team will play Hawaii this week. Per Cindy Luis' blog, Kanani won't be playing tomorrow in the exhibition, b/c she just underwent shoulder surgery. Too bad ... wouldn't been cool to see her playing again. hawaiiwarriorworld.com/volleyshots/coachs-show-6-pm-tuesday-danielson-wont-play/
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Post by Wolfgang on Sept 17, 2014 3:29:21 GMT -5
Kanani shouldn't rely on her translator too much. Such reliance will make her complacent and she'll never learn Japanese. You've got to really immerse yourself in the language (think, breathe, eat, sleep) and struggle some.
If she isn't scheduled to play, why is she in Hawaii? Isn't it a waste of money to fly her out here? Or perhaps it was a goodwill/ambassador gesture on the part of Toyota Auto Body, knowing Kanani is from Hawaii?
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Post by network155 on Sept 17, 2014 4:25:01 GMT -5
Just watched some Toyota Auto Body matches on youtube, boy...the game is superfast, sets to the middles and to the outside are so quick, you gotta pay attention.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 17, 2014 11:50:31 GMT -5
High energy tune-upHawaii's match against Toyota Auto Body offers more than an exhbition; it promises to be a high-energy tune-up
By Cindy LuisBRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Nikki Taylor started for the first time this season in Hawaii’s win over San Francisco on Sunday.After three straight weeks of intense tournament play, Hawaii returns to the Stan Sheriff Center on Wednesday for a different type of intensity, one with a foreign flair. Toyota Auto Body is back for a third consecutive season, the Queenseis bringing a high-speed offense matched by a very high energy level. The exhibition with the Japanese pro team opens Hawaii's final week of preconference play. The Rainbow Wahine also have 7 p.m. matches Friday and Saturday against Northern Arizona (9-0), the second match preceded by the annual alumnae contest at 5 p.m. Missing out on both the alumnae match and Wednesday's exhibition is Wahine All-American Kanani Danielson. Danielson, in her third year with the Queenseis, is continuing to rehab after March surgery for a torn labrum in her hitting shoulder. "The team is so excited to be here, especially the new players," said Danielson, who earned All-America recognition all four years at Hawaii (2008-2011). "They are so honored to be able to represent Japan. "They are amazed by the size of our arena, that this is where volleyball matches are played. I'm excited to share this with them, they really like playing down here. It's weird for me, being on the opponent's side." Hawaii (6-3) is looking forward to the less frenetic pace of this week and especially to the exhibition. Coach Dave Shoji said he intends to use all 16 players against Toyota Auto Body, including sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor (hyper-extended elbow), who made her first start of the season Sunday against San Francisco. "It's another opportunity for us to compete and get better," Shoji said. "This is the first week that we have everyone available. "The Japanese run a much faster offense and they will help prepare us. They're almost like Oregon but faster. We were not ready for that pace. We know we have to pick it up." "I think this will give us a chance to try things that maybe we aren't comfortable doing, take chances," senior middle Kalei Adolpho said. "You have nothing to lose and you can work on different things. "Every game, every time you play is another chance to get better." Something the Rainbow Wahine know they need to improve on is avoiding sluggish starts. It showed Sunday against the Dons, especially in an ugly Set 1 in which Hawaii was outscored 11-2 at the end of a 25-15 loss. Hawaii rebounded to win in four, "but playing bad is never a good thing," Adolpho said. "The positive thing is that we bounced back. We need to make it a point to come out stronger and perform at our best from the start." NOTES In Big West statistics, Hawaii leads the conference in blocks (105.5) and ace average (1.64 aps). Rainbow Wahine junior blocker Olivia Magill is tops in blocks (55) and junior hitter Tai Manu-Olevao in ace average (0.56 aps).
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Post by po'okela on Sept 17, 2014 13:02:05 GMT -5
I watched one game of the queenseis online and noticed kanani isn't in the passing rotation. is that normal?
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 17, 2014 17:07:38 GMT -5
LIVE CHAT with Rainbow Wahine Middle Blocker Olivia Magill 9/17/2014 9:01:00 AM HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i middle blocker Olivia Magill will participate in a live chat, Thursday, September 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., on UH's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HawaiiAthletics. On Thursday, fans may submit their question in the comment section of the Live Chat post. Magill will begin answering those questions in the order they are received beginning at 1:30 p.m. In order to participate in the live chat, you must be a fan of UH's Facebook page.
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Post by Wolfgang on Sept 17, 2014 19:18:40 GMT -5
Someone should ask her about all the bizarre funny faces she makes when she goes up to block/hit.
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Post by madonna on Sept 17, 2014 23:57:57 GMT -5
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Post by Psychopotamus on Sept 18, 2014 3:12:41 GMT -5
Nice to see Hawaii going five, looks like it was a competitive match. I'm noticing that Nikki Taylor didn't play, perhaps to rest her arm? I hope this was just precautionary and not an indication that she is still recovering.
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Post by po'okela on Sept 18, 2014 3:30:11 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure it was precautionary since it was just an exhibition match. best way to get the freshman more playing time.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 18, 2014 11:30:44 GMT -5
Wahine play well, but fallBy Cindy LuisRainbow Wahine Tayler Higgins sets the ball too low for Olivia Magill during the first set of Wednesday's exhibition match against the Toyota Auto Body QueenseisRainbow Wahine Kalei Adolpho and Tayler Higgins anticipate a Sarah Mendoza service error during the first set of Wednesday's exhibition match against the Toyota Auto Body Queenseis.Energized and entertaining. It was everything that an international volleyball exhibition should be and more. On an AYSO kind of night where Hawaii played everyone except for sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor, the Rainbow Wahine had a chance to take chances with lineups and rotations against Toyota Auto Body of Japan. The Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 2,558 even saw two UH front-row players make rare visits to the service line against the Queenseis. In the end, the Japanese pros were just a little better at the little things in turning back Hawaii 27-25, 25-19, 21-25, 20-25, 15-10. Rika Kawashima put down 15 kills, Aya Takeuchi added 14 and libero Kaori Nakamura had 21 of the team's 81 digs. Hawaii's defense was exceptional as well, finishing with 74 digs — 18 by senior libero Sarah Mendoza — and 11 blocks. Freshman Kalei Greeley had a match-high 16 kills, Olivia Magill added 11 kills and Tai Manu-Olevao 10 kills to go with 10 digs. Toyota won the service battle, with five aces to none for Hawaii. The Wahine also had 16 service errors to 15 for the Queenseis. "I thought to play as well as we did against that level of competition was impressive on our part," sophomore setter Tayler Higgins said after finishing with 43 assists and 11 digs. "It showed us what we are capable of. Even though we had a number of lineups out there, we played well together and we improved on a lot of things." The Wahine went to a 6-2 lineup at times, alternating setters Higgins and freshman Kendra Koelsch in the back row. It allowed for three attackers and a different look in the front row. "It was super fun tonight," said Koelsch, finishing with 11 assists. "The Japanese played really inspired ball control. They were so consistent. "That's something for us to work on as a team. They went for everything. We've got to get that same drive, that same mind-set." While Hawaii coach Dave Shoji planned to sit out Taylor, who missed the first seven matches with a hyper-extended elbow, the concern now is for freshman defensive specialist Savannah Kahakai. She injured her right knee in Set 2 and is scheduled to have an MRI Thursday. Otherwise, Shoji was pleased by the overall performance Wednesday night. "I had no idea how we were going to do against a very good professional team," He said. "We knew we could contend with them after that first set." Hawaii played well enough to win Set 1, leading most of the way as 10 Wahine saw the court. Middles Magill and Kalei Adolpho combined for eight kills with no errors on 13 swings. Toyota's defense kept them within striking distance as did the deceptively quick armswing of Kawashima. Kawashima capped a 3-0 run with her fifth kill to tie it at 23. Adolpho's third kill gave Hawaii set point and a tap-back of an overpass by Greeley appeared to have ended it. But instead Greeley was called for a questionable overreach to tie it. The Wahine had another swing at 25-24 only to have Kawashima put down her sixth kill for another tie. The Queenseis used a UH hitting error and a kill by Takeuchi to take the set. The Wahine's planned revolving door continued in Set 2 against the Japanese pros. The Queenseis trailed early but continued to ride the arm of Kawashima and the solid defense headed by Nakamura. By the time that Toyota had taken a 2-0 advantage with a 25-19 win, Kawashima had 11 kills, Nakamura 11 digs and the Wahine had played 14 of their available players. Set 3 saw Hawaii got to a 6-2 lineup, alternating setters Higgins and Koelsch in the back row, as well as giving Magill and and Megan Huff rare serving time. The loudest cheer from the Wahine bench came when the 6-foot-1 Magill came up with a dig that Hawaii eventually converted for an 18-15 lead. UH evened the match with solid all-around performances in Set 4. Set 5 got away early as Toyota jumped to an 8-4 lead and was never threatened. Hawaii finishes out its nonconference season with 7 p.m. matches Friday and Saturday against Northern Arizona (9-0).
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Post by karrietfan on Sept 18, 2014 12:24:11 GMT -5
Wahine play well, but fallBy Cindy LuisRainbow Wahine Tayler Higgins sets the ball too low for Olivia Magill during the first set of Wednesday's exhibition match against the Toyota Auto Body QueenseisRainbow Wahine Kalei Adolpho and Tayler Higgins anticipate a Sarah Mendoza service error during the first set of Wednesday's exhibition match against the Toyota Auto Body Queenseis.LOL hahaha! funny BIK. Me and the people around me were muttering those captions all night long, multiple times. I'm sure Cindy appreciates those very much. :>)
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