Wichita used to big volleyball crowdsBy Cindy Luis,
Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 1:30 a.m. HST, Aug 27, 2015
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
The UH Wahine volleyball team practiced during their Green White scrimmage at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday in preparation for this weekend’s matches.It didn't take the Wichita State volleyball team long to realize it wasn't in Kansas anymore. The Shockers arrived early to get acclimated and were greeted with steamy conditions when the Gym II doors opened Wednesday morning.
However, WSU began its preparation for the trip to Honolulu and this week's Chevron Invitational last Saturday with its seventh Volleyball 101 Dinner at the Aetna Multipurpose Center. The event, which normally raises more than $50,000, "had a great Hawaiian theme that everyone enjoyed," Shockers coach Chris Lamb said Wednesday.
"We had over 500 people, great food and auction, clinic and a scrimmage. It's always a great way to give back to the community that supports us."
That support is echoed by the attendance numbers -- the Shockers have been among the NCAA top 10 for more than a decade. Last season's average in the Koch Arena was 3,078, second-best for the program and eighth-best nationally.
Hawaii, which averaged 6,652 last year, is hoping for around that for Friday's opener against Idaho at 7 p.m. How many will show up for the 4:30 p.m. match between Wichita State and Oregon State would be a wild guess, but "we get big crowds, so it's nothing we're not used to," Lamb said. "It's the teams that we'll be challenged by.
"It's tough for mid-major, non-Power Five programs to put up a good RPI, and I like us to have the best chance at that by always scheduling as tough (nonconference) as we can.
"We also like being in gyms where volleyball is supported. That's why we come here. We want to get back on the plane feeling that we had some success in finding what's best for us. We're still working on things. It's early. You never know."
He started five freshmen last year as the team went 20-10 and finished third in the Missouri Valley (13-5). Reaching the 20-win mark is something that Lamb looks at as a good starting base for the returnees, four redshirt freshmen and 6-1 hitter Jody Larson, who transferred back to her hometown from Oklahoma.
The Shockers were to continue their acclimatizing Wednesday afternoon with what Lamb called "Hawaii time" with visits to some of his favorite south-side beaches.
A LOOK AT THE TEAMSLast season's record in parentheses.
No. 18 Hawaii (22-7, 13-3): The Rainbow Wahine return five starters from a team that finished second in the Big West, breaking a string of 19 consecutive seasons in which Hawaii either shared or won the conference crown outright. The Wahine were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament by host Washington, the third consecutive season Hawaii did not advance to a regional.
The talent is deep and tall, with coach Dave Shoji having the tallest roster in his 41 seasons and one of his most physical. Two-time sand All-American and two-time All-Big West first-teamer Nikki Taylor appears fully recovered from the right elbow injury that hampered her most of her sophomore season.
Although the returning starters -- Taylor, senior middle Olivia Magill, senior outside Tai Manu-Olevao, junior setter Tayler Higgins and sophomore hitter Kalei Greeley -- have the edge, they continue to be pushed by the returning reserves and the three newcomers (freshman hitters Casey Castillo and McKenna Granato, and two-time JUCO player of the year Annie Mitchem, a middle. Shoji expects to insert two sophomores into the starting lineup in middle Emily Maglio and libero Savanah Kahakai, as well as have an AYSO weekend where the entire active roster will see some playing time. That is expected to include Manu-Olevao joining the Wahine for a Sunday match for the first time in her career. She had previously sat them out for religious reasons.
Idaho (15-14, 11-5 Big Sky): Hawaii's former WAC rival was picked to finish fifth in the conference, something that 16th-year head coach Debbie Buchanan feels is good motivation for a team that lost four starters and has seven freshmen.
Buchanan, heavily recruited by Shoji in the 1990s before playing at USC, has four seniors back, including all-conference setter Meredith Coba. Coba led the Big Sky in assists (11.07 aps) and appears recovered from a late-season knee injury that contributed to the Vandals losing their last three matches. Also back is senior hitter Katelyn Peterson, second on the team in kills (234) and third in digs (305).
Vs. Hawaii: 0-19.
Oregon State (21-13, 9-11): The Beavers were a bit of a surprise when they received an NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 2001 with a sub-.500 Pac-12 record, but they knocked off their first two opponents before falling to Stanford 3-1 in the Sweet 16. They were picked ninth in the conference and are receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Top 25; the Pac-12 has nine ranked teams.
Among the four returning starters are senior defensive specialist/libero Darby Reeder, who set the program's single-season digs record last season (614), and third-team All-American and 2014 Pac-12 and AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year outside hitter Mary-Kate Marshall.
OSU can go big, very big, by moving 6-5 middle Haley Clarke and 6-5 hitter Katelyn Driscoll into the lineup. They each had nine starts last season as the Beavers ranked second in the league in blocks (2.64 bps) and were third in digs (16.22 dps) and aces (1.22 aps).
Creating the most buzz among the freshmen is 6-1 middle Daniela Vargas from Puerto Rico. Back for his 11th season is former Pacific and U.S. national team coach Terry Liskevych, the reigning Pac-12 coach of the year. Longtime Wahine fans will remember the Klum Gym battles with Liskevych's Tigers in the early 1980s and also recall the 2007 upset sweep by OSU at the Sheriff Center, the final season in which sets were played to 30 points.
Vs. Hawaii: 1-4.
Wichita State (20-10, 13-5): The Shockers have all of their starters back from what many would consider a sub-par season (third in the MVC as the defending champion). But not 16th-year head coach Chris Lamb, who was fairly statisfied with 20 wins with having five freshman starters.
WSU, picked to win the 10-team MVC, is led by sophomore middle Abbie Lehman, an honorable-mention All-American who averaged 2.55 kills and 0.85 blocks while hitting .382. Lehman also was picked on the preseason all-MVC team.
Junior libero Dani and sophomore libero Gabi Monstrom are the fifth set of sisters to wear Shockers uniforms and second to be on the roster at the same time. The last were Marsha and Pam Olmsted in 1976.
Vs. Hawaii: 0-4.
CHEVRON INVITATIONALStan Sheriff Center
>> Friday: Oregon State vs. Wichita State, 4:30 p.m.; Idaho at No. 18 Hawaii, 7 p.m.
>> Saturday: Idaho vs. Oregon State, 4:30 p.m.; Wichita State at No. 18 Hawaii, 7 p.m.
>> Sunday: Idaho vs. Wichita State, 2:30 p.m.; Oregon State at No. 18 Hawaii, 5 p.m.
>> TV: Hawaii matches only, OC Sports (Ch. 16)
>> Radio: Hawaii matches only, 1420-AM
>> Streaming: BigWest.tv
>> Live stats: hawaiiathletics.com
Whomever making judgement on the team based on a minute worth of video must never have played organized athletics. If you played, you know how it is.
