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Post by soljah808 on Dec 5, 2015 11:10:43 GMT -5
I had the chance to watch all the teams practice while in and out of the gym. Very few people in the open practices besides the actual teams but I work nights typically so I had the opportunity to see each team. watched all of Hawaii and TCU and TCU spent more time on gameplan it seemed. Corbelli in fact prepped her team for CC quite well in terms of scouting and still they had miscues that I was like thinking as it happened the staff went over that specific thing. I chalk it up to jet lag but the setting was all over the place during practice by the taller setter to a point I honestly thought for a bit she was a middle just setting balls on her side of the court. Kendra is a converted setter.....that's not her true position. They only brought her in because of that. She is a good beach player but given up that goal to try and focus solely on her indoor game. Mind you, this girl couldn't even jump set last year. But has made tremendous strides for being in a position she is trying to learn in college. But doesn't it seem sad that our main setter seems so inconsistent that Hawaii fans often ask for back up setter to come in?
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Post by StuffU on Dec 5, 2015 11:14:00 GMT -5
I had the chance to watch all the teams practice while in and out of the gym. Very few people in the open practices besides the actual teams but I work nights typically so I had the opportunity to see each team. watched all of Hawaii and TCU and TCU spent more time on gameplan it seemed. Corbelli in fact prepped her team for CC quite well in terms of scouting and still they had miscues that I was like thinking as it happened the staff went over that specific thing. I chalk it up to jet lag but the setting was all over the place during practice by the taller setter to a point I honestly thought for a bit she was a middle just setting balls on her side of the court. Kendra is a converted setter.....that's not her true position. They only brought her in because of that. She is a good beach player but given up that goal to try and focus solely on her indoor game. Mind you, this girl couldn't even jump set last year. But has made tremendous strides for being in a position she is trying to learn in college. But doesn't it seem sad that our main setter seems so inconsistent that Hawaii fans often ask for back up setter to come in? It is the same every year, no matter the names of the starter and the backup. Robyn AhMow was likely the last Hawaii setter that didn't have fans asking to see the backup. Higgins is getting the same fan treatment as every starting setter since AhMow.
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Post by nakedcrayon on Dec 5, 2015 11:15:27 GMT -5
heck everyone as some point in time wants the back up setter...or back up quarterback. One of the things I saw yesterday was that Taylor was used quite a bit in back row even when in system. aggies will block middle a lot more solo than most teams and have the pin blocker pull off but they will probably stay with taylor then help the middle with a middle attack I would think tonight
I don't think the setting was that bad location wise for Higgins. I think the fact that passing wasn't good to start and Taylor was been keyed on in TCU blocking scheme left her little options. When passing got better middles were good and that opened up the RS for Taylor to get some kills. I think more than anything you played a quality opponent who game planned really well
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Post by X-Play on Dec 5, 2015 11:21:13 GMT -5
Setting is definitely the Achilles heel this year. There's a reason all the other starters were all-conference except for the setter. I think Robyn Ah Mow must be pulling her hair out watching them but they have to work with what they have.
I've always suspected that the reason Kendra does not get more playing time is because she just does not perform well in practice. I do agree that she comes alive at game time and provides a huge spark for the team when they are down.
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Post by soljah808 on Dec 5, 2015 11:21:13 GMT -5
Kendra is a converted setter.....that's not her true position. They only brought her in because of that. She is a good beach player but given up that goal to try and focus solely on her indoor game. Mind you, this girl couldn't even jump set last year. But has made tremendous strides for being in a position she is trying to learn in college. But doesn't it seem sad that our main setter seems so inconsistent that Hawaii fans often ask for back up setter to come in? It is the same every year, no matter the names of the starter and the backup. Robyn AhMow was likely the last Hawaii setter that didn't have fans asking to see the backup. Higgins is getting the same fan treatment as every starting setter since AhMow. You know what....I'll just stop. Sounds like I'm picking on Higgins. My bad.
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Post by X-Play on Dec 5, 2015 11:23:48 GMT -5
I don't think the setting was that bad location wise for Higgins. I think the fact that passing wasn't good to start and Taylor was been keyed on in TCU blocking scheme left her little options. When passing got better middles were good and that opened up the RS for Taylor to get some kills. I think more than anything you played a quality opponent who game planned really wellAgreed.
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Post by Seahawks 1972 on Dec 5, 2015 11:31:08 GMT -5
I watched a bit of the open gym practice and the taller setter Koelsch set location and footwork were not good. The problem with that is that every single time (and you can watch past games on youtube) Kendra is the spark of this team when they are down and gets points and does her part to bring Hawaii back. Maybe she does struggle in practice....but when the lights come on and she is called in.....GIRL BALLS OUT! No one can dispute that. If Shoji is gonna live or die with Higgins.....that's cool. But please, I hope he tries to refrain from talking about depth again, if he isn't gonna use it when its needed. Spot on Keep the Faith
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Post by masahnsahn on Dec 5, 2015 11:40:29 GMT -5
If you look at Greeley's number last night they show she has a good game. But my thoughts when I was watching it, like most other games, is that she isn't aggressive enough. She plays it safe too many times. When the other team is on a run she always goes out and tips it on a good set. Then there is Tai who swings at everything, even when sometimes a tip or roll shot is the better choice. The outsides need to make better offensive choices and put up a better block in order to take off some of the pressure of Nikki. It seemed like Nikki was getting most of her kills from the back row last night, so they should try and capitalize on that. I think I would have liked to see Kendra get a little more playing time.
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Post by soljah808 on Dec 5, 2015 11:48:32 GMT -5
If you look at Greeley's number last night they show she has a good game. But my thoughts when I was watching it, like most other games, is that she isn't aggressive enough. She plays it safe too many times. When the other team is on a run she always goes out and tips it on a good set. Then there is Tai who swings at everything, even when sometimes a tip or roll shot is the better choice. The outsides need to make better offensive choices and put up a better block in order to take off some of the pressure of Nikki. It seemed like Nikki was getting most of her kills from the back row last night, so they should try and capitalize on that. I think I would have liked to see Kendra get a little more playing time. I honestly wish Tai will tip it more than once today. She hits it hard every single time non-stop I guarantee you her tipping a couple of those balls would get TAMU a bit off guard.
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Post by X-Play on Dec 5, 2015 11:48:36 GMT -5
On a positive note, I just want to say that Magill and Maglio were fantastic offensively and saved the day (along with under-the-radar Greeley). Congrats to them on a monster match. Nikki was obviously neutralized so if they didn't step up, it would have been a TCU sweep. Glad that Magill saved her best match of the season for the post-season.
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Post by soljah808 on Dec 5, 2015 11:52:48 GMT -5
On a positive note, I just want to say that Magill and Maglio were fantastic offensively and saved the day (along with under-the-radar Greeley). Congrats to them on a monster match. Nikki was obviously neutralized so if they didn't step up, it would have been a TCU sweep. Glad that Magill saved her best match of the season for the post-season. Agreed. Great job on both! Maglio just keeps getting better and better. She will be an absolute force the next two years. So quiet and meek but has a heart of a lion deep within. And while congratulating them both I must also give Higgins props for her sets that allowed them to get those monster numbers. See....I'm not a total Higgins hater. lol Well done Higgs.
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Post by StuffU on Dec 5, 2015 11:54:29 GMT -5
There is a quote from the post-match interviews where Dave said he liked the way Higgins was setting and blocking, so saw little reason to use Koelsch most of the match.
That was an interesting quote to me. I felt Higgins setting was super tight to the net most of the match. I thought Taylor's first few blocked attacks were really trap sets right into the TCU block. I also felt, and it was echoed by Nikki in the post match interviews, that Taylor was more successful out of the back row because the sets aren't tight to the net and she can see the block and the defense when she hits. Same with the tips by Greeley and Magill, feel like they tip when the set is too tight and will be blocked. When the sets came a bit off the net, especially to the middles, we started really attacking the ball.
So, to hear Shoji say he was happy with Higgins' setting, it made me wonder if Shoji WANTS the sets tighter. Can't imagine he does, but Shoji's comments don't seem to jive with what I saw yesterday afternoon. Of course, I'm watching this on TV, he's watching it live (and nakedcrayon, who was also on site, thinks Higgins' location was fine).
Anyway, here's hoping for a cleaner match against the host Aggies...and a win.
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 5, 2015 11:56:34 GMT -5
Maglio stated in an interview that her biggest accomplishment was getting a scholarship offer from Hawaii. Now, it's probably Big West 1st team and, who knows, she might make All-American this year -- at least honorable Mention.
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Post by X-Play on Dec 5, 2015 11:57:23 GMT -5
On a positive note, I just want to say that Magill and Maglio were fantastic offensively and saved the day (along with under-the-radar Greeley). Congrats to them on a monster match. Nikki was obviously neutralized so if they didn't step up, it would have been a TCU sweep. Glad that Magill saved her best match of the season for the post-season. Agreed. Great job on both! Maglio just keeps getting better and better. She will be an absolute force the next two years. So quiet and meek but has a heart of a lion deep within. And while congratulating them both I must also give Higgins props for her sets that allowed them to get those monster numbers. See....I'm not a total Higgins hater. lol Well done Higgs. Ha! I had to force myself not to add on that post that Magill had a monster match despite the majority of sets to her being too low because I wanted to stay positive. But yes, they couldn't have had the great game without the setting.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 5, 2015 11:59:46 GMT -5
There is a quote from the post-match interviews where Dave said he liked the way Higgins was setting and blocking, so saw little reason to use Koelsch most of the match. That was an interesting quote to me. I felt Higgins setting was super tight to the net most of the match. I thought Taylor's first few blocked attacks were really trap sets right into the TCU block. I also felt, and it was echoed by Nikki in the post match interviews, that Taylor was more successful out of the back row because the sets aren't tight to the net and she can see the block and the defense when she hits. Same with the tips by Greeley and Magill, feel like they tip when the set is too tight and will be blocked. When the sets came a bit off the net, especially to the middles, we started really attacking the ball. Course, I'm watching this on TV, he's watching it live (and nakedcrayon, who was also on site, thinks Higgins location was fine). So, to hear Shoji say he was happy with Higgins' setting, it made me wonder if Shoji WANTS the sets tighter. Can't imagine he does, but Shoji's comments don't seem to jive with what I saw yesterday afternoon. Of course, I'm watching this on TV, he's watching it live (and nakedcrayon, who was also on site, thinks Higgins' location was fine). Anyway, here's hoping for a cleaner match against the host Aggies...and a win. I am with you. I couldn't watch the match yesterday but caught the replay, Higgins' sets looked off to me to. Not only location wise but she has to make better decisions if the passing is there.
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