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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Sept 9, 2014 13:51:18 GMT -5
Hawaii's Magill named conference player of weekThe junior middle set a program block record against St. John'sBy Star-Advertiser Staff POSTED: 09:58 a.m. HST, Sep 08, 2014 LAST UPDATED: 04:22 a.m. HST, Sep 09, 2014 BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii middle blocker Olivia Magill gets a set in the middle from setter Tayler Higgins in the second set of the San Diego State vs. Hawaii volleyball match at Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii junior middle Olivia Magill set a school record en route to being named the Big West Women's Volleyball Player of the Week Monday. The 6-foot-1 transfer from Arizona also was selected Most Outstanding Player of the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic after averaging 3.38 kills and 1.92 blocks per set, while hitting .440 (44-7-84) in three matches. Her record-setting performance came in a four-set win over St. John's, where she broke the Rainbow Wahine rally scoring mark for blocks in a 4-set match with 12. Magill added 15 kills to secure the double-double, and hit .538 for the match with just one error in 26 attempts. Magill opened the tournament by helping UH to a 4-set victory against New Mexico with 11 kills on .500 hitting, adding seven block assists. She had another strong performance in a 5-set defeat to No. 22 Oregon, with 18 kills on .333 hitting to go along with six blocks. Outside hitter Kalei Greeley was nominated for Freshman of the Week and senior libero Sarah Mendoza for Defender of the Week. They lost out to Fullerton's Niki Withers and the Beach's Tyler Jackson, respectively.
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Post by mcman27 on Sept 9, 2014 16:16:04 GMT -5
Is it just me, or does that picture show how much higher Olivia can make contact?
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 9, 2014 17:23:42 GMT -5
Is it just me, or does that picture show how much higher Olivia can make contact? Part of it is the angle of the picture but Magill can jump and attacks the ball at a high point (When Higgins gives her a good set.) She is very Kaufman-like in her jumping ability.
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Post by karrietfan on Sept 9, 2014 17:39:49 GMT -5
In pre-season practice Olivia touched 10'7" on the height swing gadget.
Before her injury in the summer Nikki touched 10'2" and dropped 15 lbs from last season.
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Post by baywatcher on Sept 9, 2014 17:51:36 GMT -5
UCLA is in with two new OH and Felix at MB, plus a transfer setter played last week. Both teams with new players getting acclimated, should be exciting. I saw Illinois/UCLA and thought that Nightengale was far superior at MB, but Felix had better numbers v. Penn State. I guess there are reasons she is playing. The new libero for UCLA, Formico, looked like a UCLA libero, meaning very good. I hope my computer works when UCLA and Hawaii meet; really looking forward to what Shoji does v. Lowe.
If UCLA wins I think that puts a damper on Hawaii's hope for a seed; however, when Hawaii gets Taylor back, and works out the wrinkles, they are going to be a really, really good team. Trouble for a Pac 12 power in the second round? (Oregon, here comes the Wahine). (The Big West made a nice recovery last week, hopefully can keep it up and raise conference prestige and get Hawaii a seed, if the Wahine go on a long winning streak, as I expect they will.)
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Post by Wolfgang on Sept 9, 2014 18:14:22 GMT -5
My first thought when I saw the Magill photo was that it exemplified the lack of connection between Higgins and Magill. It's to Magill's credit that she has the numbers that she does. Imagine what her numbers would be like if the connection was perfect.
Re. Karsta Lowe. She's not a mystery to Hawaii. Lowe played for UCLA against Hawaii the past two years, notching 16 kills total (in two meetings).
My only concern with Nikki Taylor is that she hasn't seen the court as a full-time leftside hitter. All of last season, she played OPP (Hartong and Manu-Olevao played LH). Occasionally, she'd hit from the left. Her biggest match last season was against Cal State Fullerton where she got 20 kills, most of which were made at the OPP position. Heck, opponents camped on the left because of Hartong, which freed Taylor to do some damage against solo (or no) blockers on the right. Taylor is not a proven leftside hitter.
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Post by StuffU on Sept 9, 2014 18:47:49 GMT -5
My first thought when I saw the Magill photo was that it exemplified the lack of connection between Higgins and Magill. It's to Magill's credit that she has the numbers that she does. Imagine what her numbers would be like if the connection was perfect. Re. Karsta Lowe. She's not a mystery to Hawaii. Lowe played for UCLA against Hawaii the past two years, notching 16 kills total (in two meetings). My only concern with Nikki Taylor is that she hasn't seen the court as a full-time leftside hitter. All of last season, she played OPP (Hartong and Manu-Olevao played LH). Occasionally, she'd hit from the left. Her biggest match last season was against Cal State Fullerton where she got 20 kills, most of which were made at the OPP position. Heck, opponents camped on the left because of Hartong, which freed Taylor to do some damage against solo (or no) blockers on the right. Taylor is not a proven leftside hitter. Taylor was always a left side hitter. She was out of position at Opposite last year and was still able to terminate effectively and often from both the front and back row. Assuming her injury will not affect her abilities (which is a fairly large assumption, I admit), she will continue to be the terminator. EDIT : She's also a Sand Volleyball All-American, perhaps lending credence to her ability to control the ball as well as terminate and move efficiently. She has all the tools, size, attitude and experience to be what Hawaii needs her to be. Although, I'd really like to keep her at Opp!
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Post by karrietfan on Sept 9, 2014 19:39:53 GMT -5
About Nikki Taylor's return -- I'm guessing that Shoji may put her on the RS for starters, to limit her swings in a set. Greeley and Olevau have shown in the last few matches that they are capable of handling the left.
Check out Cindy's blog, Stan Lee has posted a video taken this morning on Nikki's comments of her status. She has been taking swings from the 3 meter as of Monday.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 9, 2014 20:14:27 GMT -5
If UCLA wins I think that puts a damper on Hawaii's hope for a seed; At this point, I just want the Wahine to make the tournament (which, unlike in year's past, is not a foregone conclusion.) This is still a young, new and inexperienced Wahine team. They have much room for improvement. Taylor coming back soon will help them tremendously.
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Post by volleyballfan99 on Sept 9, 2014 21:01:20 GMT -5
If UCLA wins I think that puts a damper on Hawaii's hope for a seed; At this point, I just want the Wahine to make the tournament (which, unlike in year's past, is not a foregone conclusion.) This is still a young, new and inexperienced Wahine team. They have much room for improvement. Taylor coming back soon will help them tremendously. I agree with you BIK. This is one year I am not even thinking about RPI. Like you said, I just want the Wahine to make the tournament, and gain experience playing in the tournament, especially for the Freshmen.
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Post by baywatcher on Sept 9, 2014 22:12:00 GMT -5
To me it looks like Hawaii should make the tourney as Big West champ. UCSB is struggling, LBSU continues to have issues, and I suspect Northridge may have been a bit of a flash in the pan, graduating some of their best players. That program does not have a continuous history of success. UCI may surprise and I guess Fullerton has an uber frosh, but can either sustain success? Cal Poly is still growing and Davis and Riverside bring up the rear. Hawaii's first two weeks of conference are eminently winnable, the pressure will be on the other programs to catch up.
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Post by madonna on Sept 10, 2014 0:20:14 GMT -5
Is it just me, or does that picture show how much higher Olivia can make contact? I wish the photo of her was her hitting the ball. In that photo, it looks like she was doing a last second body adjustment to try and hit a too low set for her.
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Post by ACE on Sept 10, 2014 1:16:17 GMT -5
Again, imagine if (or when) she develops different shots.
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Post by network155 on Sept 10, 2014 1:43:10 GMT -5
About Nikki Taylor's return -- I'm guessing that Shoji may put her on the RS for starters, to limit her swings in a set. Greeley and Olevau have shown in the last few matches that they are capable of handling the left. Check out Cindy's blog, Stan Lee has posted a video taken this morning on Nikki's comments of her status. She has been taking swings from the 3 meter as of Monday. Cindy also talked about an a poster on VT who posted about Huff getting a basketball scholarship which will free one up for Annie Mitchem, which is NOT TRUE. Huff right now is definitely focused on volleyball. I see a lot of potential from her as well!
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Post by mcman27 on Sept 10, 2014 2:34:46 GMT -5
Is it just me, or does that picture show how much higher Olivia can make contact? I wish the photo of her was her hitting the ball. In that photo, it looks like she was doing a last second body adjustment to try and hit a too low set for her. I love me some Tayler Higgins, but you're echoing my thoughts. If the sets overall were a bit higher she could go over most blocks. BiK likens Magill to Kaufman, and Kaufman was a higher jumper. 'Nuff said. Taylor can terminate. Period. So happy for Olivia. Excited to see what she can do this season. Her, Greeley, Taylor, Olevao, and Adolpho represent a formidable attack. Interested to see how UH can counter Lowe. Magill/Olevao/Greeley/Huff better work on lefty blocking.
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