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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 11, 2015 14:17:56 GMT -5
Warriors hungry as they take on Cal Baptist
By Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 11, 2015
Neither a split with last week's second-ranked team nor opposite attacker Brook Sedore's winning a national award has doused the Hawaii volleyball team's feistiness.
"There's a sense of urgency on our team," said outside hitter Scott Hartley, whose Rainbow Warriors (6-3, 4-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) play road matches against California Baptist Wednesday and Friday. "We're very frustrated, especially myself. … I think this is the most inspired our team has been."
After beating USC last week Wednesday in five sets, the Warriors lost the rematch two nights later in five. The Warriors were up, 13-10, in the fifth set but fell, 20-18.
Moral victory?
"There is no redeeming quality," Hartley said of that loss. "There is nothing to be happy about."
"We're looking for more than moral victories, UH coach Charlie Wade said. "You can't judge success only by winning, but it's about winning."
USC now shares the No. 2 spot this week with Lewis in the national poll. The Warriors remained at No. 6 and are in fifth place in the MPSF. The top eight MPSF teams make the postseason, with the first four serving as first-round hosts.
Cal Baptist (3-9, 1-8 MPSF) plays home matches in Van Dyne Gym, which features a low overhang near an end line. While the volleyball never touched the low ceiling when the teams played there in 2013, the Warriors are expected to go with shorter tosses and two-step approaches on jump serves.
"We'll have to change it up a little bit," said Sedore, who was named the national player of the week on Tuesday.
Once again, the Warriors will be without one of their best defensive players, left-side hitter Siki Zarkovic, who has a sprained left ankle and did not make the trip. Hartley, Kupono Fey and Hendrik Mol will rotate at the two left-side positions.
The Warriors practiced for 30 minutes on Monday morning before heading to the airport. They worked out for two hours on Tuesday at Van Dyne Gym.
"It's a short turnaround," setter Jennings Franciskovic said. "But I think we're ready."
Wade has implored the Warriors to be more aggressive, particularly on defense and serve-receive. It was that approach that helped libero Kolby Kanetake earn a kill against USC, his first since he played for Moanalua High.
"I was trying to get the ball over the net, but it hit the tape and fell down," Kanetake said. "I know you have to be aggressive and not give them an easy free ball. That's what I was trying to do, and it paid off. We need to be aggressive in everything we do. That's been paying off for us, and it shows in our play."
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 12, 2015 15:00:00 GMT -5
Change of pace helps Warriors win
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 12, 2015
The University of Hawaii volleyball team changed gears, then raced to a 25-15, 25-15, 25-23 road victory over California Baptist at Van Dyne Gym in Riverside, Calif., on Wednesday.
The sixth-ranked Warriors improved to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Lancers fell to 3-10 and 1-9.
"It's one more league win, man," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "We don't know how many it takes to get into the (MPSF) playoffs or to host or to win it. They all count the same, whether it's SC or Cali Baptist."
The Warriors usually rely on high-velocity serves to disrupt opponents' offense. But the Lancers are known for aggressive play, and the Warriors figured a conservative scheme would be the best counter-attack. The Warriors committed 12 service errors, but they played an active defense and out-blocked the Lancers, 12.5 to 3. The Lancers hit .132, including minus-.022 in the first two sets.
"We're typically aggressive in serving," Wade said. "You can't play the same way against all opponents. … We wanted to change it up and play a little more conservatively, place a real value on defense. You have to know how to play a different style when it's required."
The Warriors parlayed good defense into a diversified attack. Opposite attacker Brook Sedore, who was named the national player of the week on Tuesday, continued his torrid hitting. Sedore slammed 13 kills, with his lone error coming in the third set, and hit .571. In the past four matches, Sedore is averaging 4.29 kills per set and hitting .399.
"He's a senior, and he's playing well," Wade said. "The connection with him and (setter) Jennings (Franciskovic) is coming along. I think he's enjoying playing volleyball right now."
Middle blocker Taylor Averill contributed 11 kills and factored in nine blocks.
Scott Hartley, who has started three matches in place of injured outside hitter Siki Zarkovic, added seven kills and hit .375.
The Lancers scored the match's first four points, taking advantage of Van Dyne's low ceiling.
UH's goal? "We had to keep the ball off the ceiling," Wade said. "Literally, the first four points all hit the ceiling."
But the Warriors rallied, and hit .632 the rest of the opening set.
They easily dominated the second set.
In the third, the Lancers took a 23-21 lead. But Jonathan Tuttle's serve struck the net, cutting the deficit to one. With Averill behind the service line, the Warriors scored the next three points.
The Lancers' starting pin hitters struggled. Jackson Burge had four kills and five errors in 16 swings. Rohit Paul had two kills and five errors. Tuttle's team-high nine kills were neutralized by seven errors.
The rematch is Friday night.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 13, 2015 15:20:36 GMT -5
Cuts could go deep for UH athleticsA university report is expected to project record deficits and propose serious impacts on programsBy Ferd Lewis and Nanea Kalani, STAR-ADVERTISERPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 12, 2015 University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay is expected to paint a bleak picture of future department finances — including the prospect of record deficits and some options for cutting sports and raising fees — in a scheduled report to a Board of Regents committee Thursday. The athletic department has run at a deficit for 11 of the past 13 years and has been projected to finish $3.5 million in the red for the fiscal year that closes June 30. But an appearance Tuesday by UH officials before the House Committee on Higher Education, where it was suggested the deficit could reach $4 million this year with $3.8 million next year and $5 million in 2017, provided a glimpse of the report's tenor. The largest athletic department annual deficit to date had been $3,379,132 for the 2013 fiscal year. The regents' Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics last year tasked Jay with compiling a report on the department's financial standing before he leaves. The agenda for Thursday's board committee meeting lists a "review of financial state of UH Manoa Athletics report." Jay announced his resignation Dec. 9 and is remaining on the job pending the selection of his successor. People who have seen the 93-page report, "The Financial State of Hawaii Athletics: Version 2.0 — Revising the Game Plan" — describe it as "blunt," "eye-opening" and "comprehensive." People who have seen the document say the report says, "given conservative growth of current revenue streams and projected growth in operating expenses, our analysis indicates that the department's history of year-end operating deficits will certainly continue." The UH administration is already seeking $3 million from the Legislature but officials concede that if the school offers cost-of-attendance stipends to its athletes beginning Aug. 1, as many Division I schools are planning to do, the deficit will deepen by more than $1 million. Rep. Isaac Choy (D, Manoa), chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, Tuesday asked UH representatives, "So, we're at a negative $3 (million), $3.5 (million), and if that subsidy thing comes in, we'll actually be down $5 million?" Jeff Portnoy, chairman of the Regents committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, replied, "at least." Under questioning by Choy, Jay said only football among the school's 21 teams makes money. He said women's volleyball breaks even and the rest of the teams run in the red. Jay's report Thursday presents limited options for cutting as many as three teams, the most that could be dropped without affecting Division I or conference membership requirements and Title IX. Under federal law, schools are bound to provide proportional opportunities to women and men in education, including athletics. Under one scenario, dropping swimming and diving for both men and women, in addition to coed sailing, would save $1,377,727 million but eliminate 98 opportunities. Another option, eliminating men's volleyball, women's sailing and coed sailing, would save $533,921 because men's volleyball brings in $285,000 in revenue. That would trim 68 opportunities.Cutting football, along with women's swimming and diving, women's sailing and coed sailing, the report concludes, would actually cost the department nearly $2 million and not leave it compliant with Title IX proportionality, the report said. An estimated 201 opportunities would be lost. In addition, Jay told legislators, "I really fear that our fans will not support it (UH athletics) if we're not playing Division I football." Dropping to Division II or Division III, Jay told legislators, "doesn't work. The expenses are the same. Having to pay the travel subsidies will not go away." In addition to the possibility of dropping sports, Jay's report is also expected to raise the question of hiking student athletic fees. Currently students pay $50 per semester but the report lists an option of raising it to $75. UH is the only major college that pays conference travel subsidies, approximately $1.2 million per year. In addition, studies show UH receives less in school and outside subsidies than most of the schools it competes against in the Mountain West and Big West Conferences. In 2013, then-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple "forgave" a $17 million accumulated net deficit built up over the previous decade and charged the department with balancing its bottom line in three years. GRIM SOLUTIONSUH sports program reduction options Option I Eliminate men's and women's swimming and diving, and coed sailing teams. » Potential net savings: $1,377,727. » Opportunities lost: 98. » Title IX Participant Proportionality: Maintained. Option II Eliminate men's volleyball, women's sailing and coed sailing. » Potential net savings: $533,921. » Opportunities lost: 68. » Title IX Participant Proportionality: Maintained. Option III Eliminate football, women's swimming and diving, women's sailing and coed sailing. » Potential net loss: $1,870,853 » Opportunities lost: 201. » Title IX Participant Proportionality: Does not meet proportionality. Source: "The Financial State of Hawaii Athletics: Version 2.0 -- Revising the Game Plan" report due to be presented to Board of Regents Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics Thursday.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 14, 2015 12:44:57 GMT -5
UH too much for Cal Baptist
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 14, 2015
A weary Hawaii volleyball team overcame fatigue and self-inflicted errors for a 26-24, 25-16, 25-23 victory over California Baptist at Van Dyne Gym in Riverside, Calif., on Friday night.
The Rainbow Warriors gave away 35 points on errors, but managed to win for the fourth time in five matches. The Warriors won every set in this Wednesday/Friday series to improve to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Lancers fell to 3-11 an 1-10.
"Really, we looked tired," UH coach Charlie Wade said afterward. "It's three weeks in a row of Wednesday/Friday (matches), and a full week on the road. We didn't have much practice. It's just draining being out on the road this long."
The Warriors did not practice last weekend following a five-set loss to USC. They left town Monday afternoon ahead of Wednesday's match. The Warriors return to Honolulu today. They play Cal State Northridge this coming Friday.
"We're finally going to get a nice week of practice," Wade said.
By then, one of their best defensive players — outside hitter Siki Zarkovic — should be healed from a sprained ankle that kept him out of the past four matches. His replacement, Scott Hartley, pounded a match-high 12 kills, hit .409 and collaborated with middle Taylor Averill on the aloha-ball block. Zarkovic, Hartley and Kupono Fey, a primary passer, give the Warriors at least three possibilities for the two left-side positions.
"It's nice to have more options," Wade said. "We have guys who have experience with live league play. That's only going to help us moving forward."
The Warriors rallied to win the first set, then dominated the second. In the third, the Lancers emerged from a timeout to score consecutive points to tie it at 23.
But opposite Brook Sedore, who had cooled after four consecutive torrid matches, reignited for a crossing-kill of a D set.
Then Hartley and Averill combined for the last of the Warriors' 12.5 blocks.
"I thought we played good at the end of sets 1 and 3 when we needed to," Wade said.
Indeed, the Warriors committed seven of their 16 service errors in the first set. "Which is just neurotic," Wade said. "We settled out, and we were better."
Wade made several moves, including a double switch in which backup setter Alex Jones played a back-row rotation in place of Sedore.
"We tried to give it a different look," Wade said.
The Lancers also sought answers to their hitting woes. Roy Powell pounded a team-high nine kills, but Giovanni Llinas-Rosa, Enrique Garcia and Jonathan Tuttle each had more errors than kills. Setter Cody Jackson moved to outside hitter to provide an offensive oomph.
The Lancers committed 21 attack errors, hit .073 and couldn't avoid UH libero Kolby Kanetake, who had 10 digs.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 18, 2015 15:11:50 GMT -5
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 19, 2015 16:10:44 GMT -5
Role player and role modelKupono Fey continues his family's sports legacy at UHBy Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 19, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 01:52 a.m. HST, Feb 19, 2015 BRUCE ASATO / JAN. 11 Hawaii's Kupono Fey passed a serve against UC Irvine at the Stan Sheriff Center.What's in a name? "We liked the idea of the honesty trait," said Shelley Fey, who named her son Kupono, which translates to forthright, honest and fair. That was fitting the past spring, when University of Hawaii volleyball player Kupono Fey asked to retrieve items from the locker room in the Stan Sheriff Center. Arena manager Rich Sheriff opened the dead-bolt lock, let Fey enter, then relocked the room after he saw Fey leaving. A few days later, UH coach Charlie Wade needed to go into the locker room. "As we were walking there, Rich said, ‘It's a mess. They left it in total chaos," Wade recalled. "We walked in, and it was immaculate. Rich was looking around, with this look on his face, and he said: ‘It was Fey. He was the only guy in here. He cleaned up.'" Fey confessed to picking up trash, straightening chairs and taking used towels to the laundry room. "The first time I stepped in there during my recruiting trip, it was a great feeling to see that locker room," Fey said. "I wanted everyone to see it the way I saw it, not the mess when I went in there." Shelley Fey said her son always has been "pretty neat. He's been washing and folding his own clothes since middle school. He puts things away. He keeps things pretty orderly." The past semester, Shelley Fey and Kupono Fey did a public-service announcement to bring awareness to domestic abuse. Wade, who suggested the project, recalled a similar PSA featuring former UH basketball player Bobby Nash and his mother several years ago. "It was a good idea," said Kupono Fey, who accepted the assignment immediately. Wade said Fey was a logical choice as a role model. "My life would be a lot simpler if I had more guys like that in it," Wade said. "He's a hard worker and a nice athlete and a good player. He's serious about school and serious about being a better player. He's a good dude. You can't have too many of those." To be sure, Fey is competitive, a drive nurtured growing up with cousin Micah Christenson, USC's setter and a Kamehameha Schools graduate. Fey said they competed for bragging rights in sports, cards, chess and, even, Easter egg hunts. In two-on-two basketball, it was Fey and Christenson's sister, Joanna, — they are nicknamed the "twins" because they were born two weeks apart — against Christenson and Fey's sister, Keaupono. "Micah is the oldest of the pack," Shelley Fey said. "The younger ones look up to him." Kupono Fey had an opportunity to join his cousin at USC. But the Trojans had signed two other outside hitters that year and the financial package to Fey would have been minimal. Cappex.com estimated the annual cost of attending USC at $58,403. "It just wasn't a good fit," said Fey, a Punahou School graduate. "It's expensive. I didn't want to put a burden on my parents." Wade said Fey's commitment was significant to the Warriors. Wade said Punahou's Rick Tune-coached teams produces many of the state's best volleyball players, and "we always want the best players here, too." Wade said Fey saw the "value in staying home," adding, "when he's finished his four years here, everyone in the state is going to know who he is, and it's only going to help his employment opportunities in the future. I don't think it's going to get him a job, but it might get him the interview, and he gets the job on his own." For now, Fey has the unheralded role as OH2, the second left-side position and fourth offensive option. OH2's primary function is passing and defense. "He does a lot of the grunt work on the floor for us, for sure," Wade said. "He's made for it. He's a gym rat. I like that. All coaches do." Setter Jennings Franciskovic said Fey is "one of those guys Charlie likes to call a role player. He's in there to dime ball. That's what he does. When I do give him the ball, he puts the ball down. You can't ask for anything more from an OH2." Fey said it's "everyone's dream" to smash 20 kills a match. But he said he gets as much satisfaction with a perfect pass against powerful servers. "It's probably the best satisfaction," Fey said. Fey is part of UH history. His mother played basketball for the Rainbow Wahine. His grandfather Harry "Clown" Kahuanui was a UH football and basketball player. Kahuanui was inducted into UH's Circle of Honor in 1984. His plaque hangs in the Sheriff Center concourse. "Kupono is unique," Wade said. "He's a legacy (at UH) with his family." UP CLOSE / KUPONO FEYUH volleyball outside hitter >> Height: 6-5 >> Class: Sophomore >> High school: Punahou School >> Parents: Kyle Fey and Shelley Fey >> Relatives: Grandfather Harry "Clown" Kahuanui was a UH football and basketball player. He was inducted into UH's Circle of Honor in 1984. Cousin Micah Christenson is the starting setter for USC and U.S. national team. Rainbow Warrior volleyball practicePublished on Feb 18, 2015 The Rainbow Warrior volleyball team prepares for its upcoming match against CSUN. VIDEO BY: STEVEN TONTHAT
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 20, 2015 14:56:08 GMT -5
UH grateful for full week of practice
By Stephen Tsai, Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 01:50 a.m. HST, Feb 20, 2015
The University of Hawaii's generically named Gym I is nearly 35 years old and has undergone more makeovers than a Kardashian.
But for the Rainbow Warrior volleyball team, the practice gym was a welcomed sight — and site.
"It's nice to have a full week of practice," said UH coach Charlie Wade, whose Warriors play Cal State Northridge Friday night and Sunday afternoon in the Stan Sheriff Center. "It's been a long time."
The Warriors had played three consecutive Wednesday/Friday series, including two on the road. With Monday departures, the Warriors had only one practice ahead of a Wednesday road match.
"Playing on Wednesday is brutal," Wade said. "This week has been nice with (three) days of practice. We looked a lot better."
There is a strong possibility that left-side hitter Siki Zarkovic will miss his fifth consecutive match while recovering from a sprained ankle.
In Zarkovic's absence, Scott Hartley is averaging 2.5 kills per set and hitting .329. During Tuesday's practice, outside hitter Hendrik Mol was "the best player in the building," Wade said, noting Mol was striking from the top of the antennae (and) crushing balls.
Wade has the luxury of Zarkovic, Hartley, Mol and Kupono Fey competing for the two outside positions. Hartley and Fey, an accurate passer, are expected to start on Friday.
"There are four guys in the mix all day every day," Wade said.
Middle blocker Taylor Averill has emerged as one of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's top players. Averill leads the MPSF in hitting (.460), is third in blocks (1.30 per set) and, despite playing in only half the rotation spots, 13th in points (3.75 per set).
Opposite Brook Sedore is averaging 3.81 kills per set in MPSF matches, and is hitting .329, nearly 40 points higher than last season's efficiency.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 22, 2015 2:54:31 GMT -5
Warriors put away stubborn CSUNBy Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 02:00 a.m. HST, Feb 21, 2015 BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Scott Hartley of Hawaii put down a kill from the 3-meter line during the second set on Friday. BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Brook Sedore got a kill down the line past Cal State Northridge’s Sam Holt in the first set.The Hawaii volleyball team emptied the playbook and played to exhaustion to outlast Cal State Northridge 25-21, 25-12, 28-30, 30-28 at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday night. A crowd of 2,075 saw the Rainbow Warriors use all of 2 hours, 26 minutes to improve to 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The rematch is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, with first serve at 5 p.m. Brook Sedore slammed 18 kills — crossing the 900-kill career milestone along the way — and pounded six aces for the Warriors. Middle Taylor Averill had 11 kills, including two slams off bic swings from behind the 3-meter line, and assisted on nine of the Warriors' 14.5 blocks, including the aloha-ball rejection. Left-side hitters Scott Hartley had 14 kills in his fourth replacement start for injured Siki Zarkovic, and Kupono Fey had 10 kills and nine digs. And the shortest Warrior, libero Kolby Kanetake, conjured a career-high 21 digs, including a sliding save in the third set. But for all those performances, the Matadors refused to go away easily. With backup setter John Peachy at the controls and smack-talking teammates chirping across the net, the Matadors seized the third set and nearly pulled off the fourth. "I guess we have to be prepared for it," Sedore said. "We almost got beat there." Indeed, the night's storyline was filled with several twists. The Warriors had spread their attack to win the first set and then dominate the second. But the Matadors emerged from the 10-minute intermission with a reshuffled lineup and attitude. They built leads of 9-4 and 12-7, with Peachy serving five points in a row. "We were rolling along, and we let them have that one service turn where they got five, six in a row," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "Jennings (Franciskovic, the setter) had a couple bad locations, and next thing you know, it's game on." Still, the Warriors fought back, in part to Averill sticking around for an extra turn as a back-row threat and Hartley and Fey producing timely kills. Averill's smash gave UH a 24-23 lead, the first of five aloha balls that did not finish the match in the third set. Sam Holt's consecutive kills gave the Matadors the lead at 29-28, then Josiah Byers forced the fourth set with a kill. The Matadors took a 20-18 lead in the fourth set. But on volleyball's version of a give-and-go play, Fey passed to Franciskovic, then hit the ensuing set for a kill. Sedore then tied it at 20 with his fifth ace of the match. After protesting the ace — they felt a pancake dig should have counted — the Matadors realigned in the wrong defensive formation. They were called for a rotation error, giving the Warriors the lead. Then Sedore delivered his final ace for a 23-21 lead. But following the match's late theme, aloha ball proved to be elusive. The Matadors took a 28-27 lead when Hartley's swing off a pipe set struck the net. Then Sedore tied it with a line shot on the right side. Averill and Fey then teamed to block middle Greg Faulkner. On the final play, Sedore and Averill rejected Holt. Full Photo Gallery here. Photos by BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
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Post by ACE on Feb 22, 2015 21:55:18 GMT -5
Is this game gonna be on TV...the rematch?
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Post by vballfreak808 on Feb 22, 2015 22:13:18 GMT -5
Is this game gonna be on TV...the rematch? Not on TV, only stats and radio are available.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 23, 2015 19:30:41 GMT -5
Jones comes off sidelines to catapult UH over CSUNBy Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 23, 2015 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii's Alex Jones, left, and Davis Holt combined on a block against CSUN in the second game against Cal State Northridge on Sunday.
It was business when setter Alex Jones was cut from the Cal State Northridge volleyball team at the end of the 2014 season. It was personal when Jones came off the sideline to lead Hawaii to a 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 victory over CSUN in the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday. On Oscar night, Jones put on a dramatic performance, providing leadership, enthusiasm and crushable sets. The Warriors had a plus-22 advantage in scoring when Jones was at the controls. Opposite Brook Sedore smashed a season-high 24 kills, middle Taylor Averill had 17 kills and hit .714, and the Rainbow Warriors finished at .338 accuracy. "He was playing with heart," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "He set a pretty good match for a decent number. I'm really happy for Alex. There's a little back story there, a little motivation. He came in there, did really well, and got us another win." The Warriors improved to 11-3 overall and 8-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. In plotting for this season, CSUN coach Jeff Campbell decided to go with a rebuilding model. That meant cutting Jones, who earned his bachelor's degree but still had a year of eligibility remaining. Jones said Campbell "made a business decision with the roster," adding that he was told the move was "performance based." But Jones felt he "was good enough to play in this league for one more year." Wade agreed, and asked Jones and middle blocker Vaughn Wellenreiter, who also was cut by CSUN, to join the Warriors. Jones, who aspires to be a coach, has given the starters fits in practices while leading the reserves. "I hate when I'm playing against him, but I love it when he's on my team," Sedore said of Jones. Asked about the root of his energetic style, Jones mused, "Some coffee. Other than that, I love playing volleyball. Our backup side, or B side, is very, very strong. We have so many guys come off the bench and do well. I'm so proud of how we're able to make a good use of practice. Even during the season, everyone was battling for spots. I hoped I would get my chance eventually." That came in the opening set, when the Matadors stormed to a 16-8 lead. Wade summoned Jones to replace Jennings Franciskovic. "We were playing flat," Wade said. "I'm like, ‘Who's going to give us a spark?' Alex is going to give us a spark." The Warriors fell behind 19-10 before rallying to tie it at 23. The Warriors lost that set, but won the momentum. "That's volleyball," Averill said. "It's easy to give up when you're down by that much. I'm proud of the way the guys played." Siki Zarkovic, who missed the previous five matches because of a high-ankle sprain, entered late in the first set. He delivered 10 kills, six digs and active middle-back defense. Zarkovic pestered Wade into watching him in warm-ups. Satisfied that Zarkovic was healthy, Wade raced to the scorer's table to add him to the active roster. Averill was nearly unstoppable, scoring on 16 of his first 17 swings. "When the passing is like that, it makes it so much easier," Averill said. "Hat's off to Alex Jones. He was awesome." LIbero Kolby Kanetake had 14 digs and received 20 serves without an error. And Sedore continued to feast on right-sided sets at the pin and behind the 3-meter line. After one play ended, the ball ricocheted and struck Sedore's private area. "The ball hit off Siki's knee and hit me in the manhood," said Sedore, who was asked to float serve after that. "I was like, ‘I'm not going to float-serve it. I'm going to rip it. Pain is pain. I can play through that." Fittingly, it was Jones who served the aloha point. "You can't write a better story than playing against my old teammate and trying to get the win," Jones said. 3 Hawaii
1 CSUNKEY: Alex Jones somes off the sideline to spark Hawaii in the win NEXT: UH vs. Long Beach State, 7 p.m. Friday
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Post by ACE on Feb 23, 2015 22:16:37 GMT -5
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 24, 2015 14:38:46 GMT -5
Kanetake is first UH libero named MPSF player of the week
By Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 24, 2015
University of Hawaii volleyball player Kolby Kanetake was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation/Molten player of the week on Monday, the first time a UH libero has won the award.
The defensive position was implemented in NCAA men's volleyball in 2000.
In two four-set victories over Cal State Northridge, Kanetake amassed 35 digs, including a career-high 21 on Friday.
"All those digs Friday night were well-earned," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "They were not roll shots he was picking off. He was digging some hot shots and really chasing some balls down. That was pretty impressive."
Kanetake is a junior and 2012 Moanalua High graduate.
"He's been the biggest gym rat on our team since he joined as a freshman," Wade said. "He clearly leads the team in hours logged in the gym and with the ball machine and with whomever he can find off the street to feed balls into the machine or serve balls at him. To me, that's the takeaway. That kid has worked that hard to get that good."
The Warriors ascended one spot, to No. 6, in this week's AVCA rankings.
They depart Wednesday afternoon in advance of road matches Friday and Saturday against Long Beach State.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Feb 28, 2015 14:53:54 GMT -5
Hawaii wins its fifth in a row
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 01:56 a.m. HST, Feb 28, 2015
The University of Hawaii solved Pyramid schemes for a 25-22, 24-26, 25-14, 25-22 road victory over Long Beach State on Friday night.
A crowd of 1,056 in the Pyramid saw the Rainbow Warriors overcome injuries, illness and inconsistency to win their fifth in a row and improve to 12-3 overall and 9-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The 49ers fell to 8-7 and 5-7.
The rematch is Saturday, with first serve at 5 p.m.
"They're all important, man," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "They all count the same. We've got nine (MPSF victories). It's like, the most we can get is 20. The most important one will be 10. You just know on any given night in this league, anybody can win. You've got to be able to play your best. Winning games on the road is hard to do."
The Warriors, who are 4-1 in road matches this season, had a preview of the spacious Pyramid when they participated in an exhibition tournament there in the fall. What the Warriors did not expect for Friday's match was outside hitter Scott Hartley being unavailable because of flu-like symptoms, libero Kolby Kanetake crashing into a sideline chair, and prolific opposite Brook Sedore struggling for points.
Hartley's illness meant Siki Zarkovic, who is recovering from a high-ankle sprain, would need to play extensively. Zarkovic responded with nine kills, nine digs and four blocks.
Sedore's nine kills were offset by nine attack errors. But he produced seven digs and his 38 swings prevented the 49ers from over-committing on UH's left-side hitters.
"He struggled a little bit," said Wade, who predicted, "he'll play better (Saturday)."
The Warriors were able to rally from a 14-9 deficit to win the first set. Middle blocker Taylor Averill keyed the surge with consecutive aces during a 5-0 run that tied it at 14-all.
Later, Hendrik Mol, serving in place of middle Davis Holt, had back-to-back aces in a mini-run that gave the Warriors a 21-20 lead.
In the second set, the Warriors again surged from a five-point deficit to seize leads of 23-21 and 24-22. But the 49ers fought off set point twice to even the match.
The Warriors dominated the third set, then called in the reserves to close out the match.
Setter Jennings Franciskovic, who played well through the first three sets, gave way to Alex Jones after the 49ers took a 7-5 lead in the fourth set. Jones provided accurate sets — and an emotional boost.
"Alex Jones gave us a big lift in the fourth set," Wade said. "He came in that fourth set and was fiery and played really well. He connected well with the middles."
Averill led the Warriors with 14 kills and nine blocks.
Holt added seven kills, hit .455 and contributed a career-high eight blocks.
Kanetake finished with 10 digs and a noticeable bruise on his deltoid and left biceps. Franciskovic assisted on six blocks and had three kills on second-touch dump shots.
The Warriors scored four points, including three on aces, in Mol's eight serves.
Dan Glamack led the 49ers with 13 kills. One of their best attackers, Cody Martin, had more errors (six) than kills (five).
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Mar 1, 2015 19:32:55 GMT -5
Switch in strategy leads to another UH sweep
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 01, 2015
The start of Saturday night's volleyball match was delayed 35 minutes.
Hawaii needed only 93 to finish off Long Beach State, 25-17, 27-25, 25-19, in the Walter Pyramid.
By defeating the 49ers on the road for the second consecutive night, the Rainbow Warriors moved into a two-way tie for second place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. UC Irvine has an 11-2 MPSF record. UH and Brigham Young are 10-2. Pepperdine is 9-2.
"I look at it as a four-way tie," said UH coach Charlie Wade, applying sports math. "There are four (teams) with two in the loss column. That's the one thing you can't change. You can put on more wins. You can't take losses off."
Wade and assistant coaches Milan Zarkovic and Spencer McLachlin met after Friday's match to edit the game plan. UH usually opens with outside hitter Siki Zarkovic in the back row. On Saturday, UH flipped the rotation, with outside hitter Kupono Fey in the back row and middle blocker Taylor Averill behind the service line. Averill usually is third in the serving rotation.
The strategy was twofold: 1) Change the matchup with 49er middles Bryce Yould and Taylor Gregory, and 2) Mess with the 49ers' serving tactics.
In Friday's match, the UH libero received only four of the 49ers' 85 serves.
"Which means they very much had scripted who was going to serve where in what rotation," Wade said.
On Friday, Zarkovic received 43 serves and Fey was targeted 26 times. On Saturday, Zarkovic and Fey each received 17 serves, and libero Kolby Kanetake received 12.
The rotation tweak apparently affected the 49ers, who had three errors in their first four serves.
"That was a side benefit," Wade said.
The Warriors scored the first five points in dominating the first set. They squandered a 12-8 lead before rallying in the second set. They led 10-9 in the third when they scored five in a row — four with opposite Brook Sedore serving — to seize control.
The Warriors scored nine points on plays initiated with Averill serving.
"We're going to be a lot better when we really get Taylor Averill serving for points," said Wade, who permitted Averill to blast away on serves. "It's one more guy in the lineup having the big serve for us. That's pretty significant."
Averill was hitting above .500 until late in the third set, when he hit long on attacks. He finished with nine kills, substantial because the 49ers often slid an outside defender to the middle to create a double wall.
Fey led the Warriors with 12 kills and hit .556.
"He played great," Wade said. "That's good to see."
Wade praised his pin hitters' defensive play. Sedore had seven digs.
"(Friday) night, when your libero is only touching the ball four times on serve/receive, the outside hitters passed a lot," Wade said. "Tonight, they were good again. That's one of the things we needed to get the offense going: accurate passing."
Dan Glamack led the 49ers with 12 kills.
But the 49ers struggled for a rhythm, pulling starting setter Curtis Stallings early in the first set. The Warriors scored natural points on 41 of their serves.
"Wins on the road are significant," Wade said. "I'm proud of the guys. They were very businesslike. There was no letdown."
The Warriors return to Honolulu this afternoon.
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