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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 7, 2016 14:20:49 GMT -5
’Bows test skills against unknown KingBy Stephen Tsai, Star-AdvertiserJanuary 7, 2016 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Stijn van Tilburg, left, and Iain McKellar went up to block Team SportConX’s Taylor Crabb during a men’s exhibition game on Monday at the Stan Sheriff CenterIn word association, the response to “King University” is … a shrug. “We don’t know a whole lot about them,” University of Hawaii volleyball setter Jennings Franciskovic said of the Warriors’ season-opening opponent in tonight’s Outrigger Resorts Invitational. First serve is 7 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center. Harvard and Lewis meet in the 4 p.m. match. King, an NCAA Division II private school in Bristol, Tenn., competes in 9-year-old Conference Carolinas. “It’s men’s volleyball,” UH coach Charlie Wade said. “There are way more players than there are programs. I imagine they’re going to have 20-, 21-, 22-year-old men who are going to spike and play volleyball. I imagine they’re going to be good.” The NCAA relies on its ratings percentage index to help determine the at-large teams for the postseason tournament. “Because of the way the RPI is structured, we need to play non-conference opponents,” said Wade, who declined to invite a fellow Mountain Pacific Sports Federation member to the 22nd Outrigger. “I felt it was important to get someone from that league.” The Warriors, who reached the NCAA play-in round last year, are expected to be favored in tonight’s match despite inexperience in the middle. Last year’s starting middles, All-America Taylor Averill and Davis Holt, completed their eligibility in May. Zach Radner decided to focus on academics, and freshman Patrick Gasman will miss the season because of a broken foot. The Warriors will rotate three at the two middle positions, none of whom played there last season. Hendrik Mol, a junior, moved from outside hitter to the middle after an infection resulted in diminished vision in his left eye. Iain McKellar, who recovered from a torn left meniscus, switched from opposite to the middle. McKellar is a rare left-handed-hitting middle. “It’s a completely different set when you’re dealing with a lefty,” Franciskovic said. “But, I think, Iain is good enough to make it a little easier.” In practices last year, Franciskovic would feed back-sets to McKellar, who would unleash powerful swings. “He could hit it,” Franciskovic said. Nainoa Frank, a 2013 Kalaheo High graduate, signed with UH that year but delayed enrolling because of financial and personal issues. This past summer, Frank called Wade, asking if he could still join. Wade agreed. Frank can bench press 300 pounds, thanks to weight-lifting equipment he and hisbrother purchased. “Anytime you wanted to work out, you could go to the backyard and do a couple sets,” Frank said. “I knew if I got into UH, I would be ready.” Mol, McKellar and Frank took turns in the middle during Monday’s exhibition loss to SportConX, a semi-pro team featuring former local standouts Taylor Crabb, Brad Lawson and Vernon Podlewski. “We played well against some of the best players to come out of this state,” Franciskovic said. The Warriors received a boost from Stijn van Tilburg, a 6-foot-8 freshman opposite from the Netherlands. Van Tilburg is the high-ball-hitting threat missing since Jonas Umlauft, the two-time NCAA scoring leader, departed UH after his sophomore season. “Earlier in the year, we were trying to work on playing faster,” Franciskovic said. “We got to the point where it was like, ‘Just put up a ball with air for (van Tilburg) to hit.’ He’s such a tall guy with a good jump who hits at a high point. Why put it down to the blockers’ level when I can just put it up and let him hit it. You can put any (set) up there. He’s such a volleyball guy who knows how to make adjustments. Even if I give him a (bad) set, he’s going to do something with it.” UH VS. KINGAt Stan Sheriff Center >> When: 7 p.m. today >> TV: none >> Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
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Post by ucsdfan on Jan 7, 2016 15:36:22 GMT -5
Did anyone who watched the match against Crabb, Lawson, and company see if Wade broke the mold when McKeller and Franciskovic were front row? On defense did Franciskovic block middle? Did they run a bunch of back ones? That is going to be really fun to watch if they do that.
I am really looking forward to the UCLA v. Hawai'i match with a 6-2 against a nonconventional 5-1. It'll be fun to see two teams break from the norm.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 8, 2016 15:02:06 GMT -5
UH reigns supreme over KingBy Stephen Tsai January 8, 2016 CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Stijn van Tilburg made a kill past King University’s Jeff Sprayberry in the second set of Thursday’s match. Van Tilburg led the Warriors with 14 kills.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Nainoa Frank put down a kill in the third set of Thursday’s match against King University.For opening night, the University of Hawaii volleyball team benefited from a Dutch treat. Stijn van Tilburg, a 6-foot-8 freshman opposite from the Netherlands, pounded 14 kills in 15 errorless swings to power the Rainbow Warriors to a 25-14, 25-14, 25-14 rout of King in the first round of the Outrigger Resorts Invitational on Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center. “He should have gone 15-for-15,” setter Jennings Franciskovic said, smiling. “We’ll work on that. I’ll have to talk to him.” It was an astonishing debut for van Tilburg, who produced kills from every direction in hitting .933. Van Tilburg hit line, seam, from both front corners and, four times, from behind the 3-meter line. “Jennings gave me perfect sets,” van Tilburg said. “The passing was correct. Everything fit. It was exciting.” Van Tilburg connected on his first six swings through early in the second set. His second swing hit the Tornado block, but was recovered by the Warriors. He didn’t miss on his next eight swings. “Stijn can get up there,” Franciskovic said. “I try to set him high and give him something to swing for. When we put it up there, he gets the kills. I trust him. I would have set him more tonight, but we have to rest his arm.” Van Tilburg filled the vacancy created when Brook Sedore completed his eligibility following the first round of the 2015 NCAA tournament. Hendrik Mol, Iain McKellar and Nainoa Frank addressed the void in the middle left with the graduations of Taylor Averill and Davis Holt. Mol, who was a pin hitter during his first two UH seasons, has adjusted to his unconventional role. There were sequences where Franciskovic, who can touch 12 feet, blocked in the middle while Mol defended UH’s front right. Mol slammed a clear-net kill against a startled King defense. “It’s not easy blocking me when I’m all over the place,” said Mol, who also was an offensive option from the back right. “That’s one of our strengths. We can be flexible.” The Warriors also scored points on 10 of Mol’s 13 serves in the first two sets. Mol eased on his jump serve, mixing in a 33-mph floater, as part of the Warriors’ strategy. Libero Kolby Kanetake said the plan was to serve the ball into play, then rely on the block and defense to create transition plays. “They didn’t really have the players who were really terminal,” said Kanetake, who had 18 digs. “We knew if we could keep the ball in play, we could use that to our advantage, whether we’re blocking it or just getting the ball back to get another attack.” King managed 20 kills in 73 swings and hit .068. King scored only six natural points, including one in the third set. “When we’re in system, we’re going to score,” UH coach Charlie Wade said. “We have guys who score in the pins, and our setter’s doing a nice job. There’s no question, we’re still a work in progress. But, obviously, it was a nice job.” The Warriors went to their sideline in the third set. Brett Rosenmeier, an outside hitter from Virginia, slammed five kills in five swings. “I can’t believe I’m playing in Hawaii,” Rosenmeier said. “I’m from the East Coast. We don’t get anything like this. … It’s great to have a bunch of fans supporting us.” The Warriors play Harvard, a five-set loser to Lewis, at 7 tonight. King and Lewis meet in the 4 p.m. match. None of the tournament’s matches will be televised.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 8, 2016 15:05:08 GMT -5
Rainbow Warrior volleyball team start season with winPosted: Thursday, January 7, 2016 9:00 pm | Updated: 10:08 pm, Thu Jan 7, 2016. Drew Afualo, Sports Editor File Photo / Ka Leo O Hawai‘iExcerpt: "The University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball team opened the 2016 season with a sweep over King University in the 22nd annual Outrigger Resorts Invitational this Thursday night. Even though the Warriors started off the first set slow, there was no stopping them from overtaking the Tornado of Conference Carolinas. The 'Bows were able to jump to a lead after scoring eight straight points, thanks in part to opposite hitter Hendrik Mol’s serving. This then put them at a score of 15-8 over King." Full story: www.kaleo.org/sports/rainbow-warrior-volleyball-team-start-season-with-win/article_ef169e96-b5dc-11e5-85b1-cb704b125a00.html
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 8, 2016 15:08:43 GMT -5
Men’s Volleyball Sweeps King To Open 2016 Season1/7/2016 8:38:00 PM Excerpt: "HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team successfully opened the 2016 season with an easy straight set victory over King (Tenn.) University, Thursday night, on day one of the 22nd Outrigger Resorts Invitational at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-14, 25-14, 25-14. In the teams' first-ever meeting, the Rainbow Warriors (1-0) needed only 81 minutes to dispatch of the Tornado of Conference Carolinas. UH hit .459 as a team and freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg was nearly perfect with 14 kills, with no errors, on 15 swings, hitting .933 in his debut with the Warriors." Full UH release: hawaiiathletics.com/news/2016/1/8/MVB_0108164059.aspx?path=mvball VIDEO: Match Highlights:
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 8, 2016 15:10:24 GMT -5
looks like the firepower was on display.
but kanetake had 18 digs. the video above is a nice highlight reel for him as well.
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Post by soljah808 on Jan 9, 2016 1:29:00 GMT -5
Stijn Van Tilburg is playing like a veteran out there! He is a complete STUD at OPP!! Still early in the season and his career but he will do some magical things for us when all is said and done! MY GAWD this braddah can BALL!
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Post by soljah808 on Jan 9, 2016 1:36:42 GMT -5
Good to hear Stijn's parents both made the long trip from the Netherlands to come watch him play as well as McKellar's mom make the trip all the way from England to watch her son this weekend. Both shelled out big bucks I'm sure.
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Post by volleyballbro (guru) on Jan 9, 2016 5:30:59 GMT -5
we will see against lewis on sunday.
king was not much of a test but was great to see the team flex its power against an underrated harvard squad.
great all around play from all 7 guys. ball control is the key to this season and so far van tillburg fits the bill.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 9, 2016 14:29:18 GMT -5
Franciskovic sets up Hawaii’s sweepBy Stephen Tsai, Star-Advertiser January 9, 2016 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Jennings Franciskovic (10) bumps the ball into play during a men’s college volleyball game in the 2016 Outrigger Invitational tournament between the Harvard University Crimson and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Friday, January 8, 2016 at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.With setter Jennings Franciskovic at the controls, the University of Hawaii volleyball team navigated its way to a 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 victory over Harvard on Friday night. A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 2,137 saw the Rainbow Warriors win their first two matches in the Outrigger Resorts Invitational. The Warriors will play Lewis, also 2-0 following Friday’s sweep of King, for the tournament’s title on Sunday afternoon. Franciskovic narrowly missed being selected as one of the Warriors’ four co-captains. But UH coach Charlie Wade entrusted the offense to the junior. “I’d say it’s a good partnership at this point,” Wade said. Franciskovic said: “I’ve always felt this was my team. These are great guys to set. I can do a lot with them. I’m really confident in this team. We’re all great volleyball players.” In Thursday’s opening match against King, Franciskovic rationed the sets to freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg, who had slammed 14 kills in 15 swings in his debut. “I did hold back (in that match) to save his shoulder,” Franciskovic said. “Harvard is a really good team, and I wanted to get (van Tilburg) more involved. I was going to set him the ball.” On Friday, Van Tilburg pounded a match-high 18 kills on 35 swings and hit .400. He had eight kills in the first set. “Jennings gave me a lot of sets — and a lot of confidence,” van Tilburg said. Franciskovic also distributed the offense, with left-side hitters Siki Zarkovic and Kupono Fey sharing 43 sets. Zarkovic had 12 kills, and Fey contributed eight kills, six digs and 22 receptions without an error. In the third set, Franciskovic made a sprawling one-handed set that Zarkovic crushed for a 19-16 lead. “I’ve got to give a little bit of a show every so often,” Franciskovic said, smiling. “I told Siki I was glad he was there already or else I would have shot the (set) straight out of bounds.” Zarkovic said: “I was expecting that back set. He’s one of the few setters who can do that set. I was confident he was going to set that way.” Van Tilburg marveled that Franciskovic “has a lot of guts to do what other setters won’t do. He has eyes in the back of his head.” Wade ribbed Franciskovic for managing only one block against King. Franciskovic, who is 6 feet 5, can touch 12 feet off a three-step approach. Wade challenged Franciskovic, who can block the pin or middle, to get his fingerprints on more spikes. “I held up my bargain,” said Franciskovic, who contributed to four of the Warriors’ six blocks. Hendrik Mol, a middle who is Franciskovic’s blocking partner in two front-row rotations, said he has to “jump max” to create a level wall. Franciskovic also scored on an ace and three no-look dumps. “He gets a lot of kills on his own,” Mol said. “It’s probably because he jumps so high.” With inexperience in the middle — this is the first collegiate season Mol and Iain McKellar are playing there — the Warriors have relied heavily on the pin attacks. Against Harvard, the Warriors added a third dimension, with Zarkovic hitting bics on pipe sets and van Tilburg feasting on D sets to the back right. “Our offense is still a work in progress,” Wade said. “I’d say it’s far from complete. We’re relatively productive and relatively efficient early on, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.” =================================== Men’s Volleyball Rolls Over Harvard In Straight Sets1/8/2016 9:18:00 PM Sinisa Zarkovic and Kolby Kanetake scramble for an errant pass Excerpt: "HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team pulled away late in each of the three sets in a sweep of Harvard, Friday, on the second day of the 22nd Outrigger Resorts Invitational at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-22, 25-21, 25-22. In the first-ever meeting between the schools, the Rainbow Warriors (2-0) were tested early by the Crimson of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, but in the end proved to be too much. The victory sets up Sunday's tournament championship against Lewis, winners over King (Tenn.) University earlier in the day. Freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg once again led the UH attack with a match-high 18 kills, including seven in the decisive third set. The Netherlands native hit .400 and tied for team-high honors with six digs. In his first two career collegiate matches, van Tilburg has 32 kills (5.33 avg.), hitting .560. Senior outside hitter Sinisa Zarkovic added 12 kills while Kupono Fey posted eight kills and six digs. Middle blocker Hendrik Mol had two of the team's four aces. As a team, UH hit .372 compared to .325 for Harvard." Full UH release: hawaiiathletics.com/news/2016/1/9/MVB_0109162133.aspx?path=mvball Photo Gallery: www.hawaiiathletics.com/galleries/?gallery=595
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Post by aaronic on Jan 10, 2016 23:11:46 GMT -5
Quick question, why wasn't PSU invited this year? That would've helped RPI more than Harvard. No offense to Harvard! Was it a scheduling reason? Hopefully Harvard wins the EIVA!
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Post by vballfreak808 on Jan 10, 2016 23:18:15 GMT -5
Quick question, why wasn't PSU invited this year? That would've helped RPI more than Harvard. No offense to Harvard! Was it a scheduling reason? Hopefully Harvard wins the EIVA! Because of the out of conference matches effecting post season implications, Penn State didn't want to come unless there were at least two MPSF teams. I believe the same was with Ohio State. Wade wanted to get teams from each conference to help boost their RPI.
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Post by StuffU on Jan 10, 2016 23:43:07 GMT -5
Quick question, why wasn't PSU invited this year? That would've helped RPI more than Harvard. No offense to Harvard! Was it a scheduling reason? Hopefully Harvard wins the EIVA! Another guess .... As host of the NCAA Championships this year, Penn State was able to set up a good home tournament featuring two MPSF teams. MPSF teams are interested in acclimating to the Final Four host court/gym.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 11, 2016 14:14:40 GMT -5
Quick question, why wasn't PSU invited this year? That would've helped RPI more than Harvard. No offense to Harvard! Was it a scheduling reason? Hopefully Harvard wins the EIVA! Another guess .... As host of the NCAA Championships this year, Penn State was able to set up a good home tournament featuring two MPSF teams. MPSF teams are interested in acclimating to the Final Four host court/gym. i remember wade saying last year that the psu coach said that psu may not come for the tournament if there weren't 2 mpsf teams in the tournament. this was always an opportunity for psu to play 2 mpsf teams, which helps their rpi. and wade has also mentioned that he's looking to change the tournament to include more of eiva, miva and conference carolinas teams ... to, of course, help hawaii's rpi.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Jan 11, 2016 14:16:41 GMT -5
Hawaii sweeps Lewis for Outrigger Resorts titleBy Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserJanuary 11, 2016 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Stijn van Tilburg put down a kill past Lewis’ Mitch Perinar. The Rainbow Warriors defeated the Flyers 3-0.JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM Hawaii’s Kupono Fey missed a dig against Lewis in Sunday’s match at the Outrigger Invitational tournament. He had two aces and finished with eight points.The University of Hawaii volleyball team’s powerball number is 2016. The seventh-ranked Rainbow Warriors overwhelmed No. 8 Lewis in three sets — 25-16, 25-23, 25-12 — to win the season-opening Outrigger Resorts Invitational in the Stan Sheriff Center. The Warriors did not lose a set in winning all three matches. UH coach Charlie Wade used only four of a possible 18 timeouts in the tournament. The Warriors won their first Outrigger title since 2010. “It’s been a long time coming,” UH setter Jennings Franciskovic said. “We played really great. The passing was spot-on all night. We were rarely out of system. We were able to do whatever we wanted. That’s why we played so well.” Lewis, which played in the NCAA title match last year, is built inside-out. Starting middles Bobby Walsh and Jacob Schmiegelt combined for 12 of the Flyers’ 30 kills. But the Warriors’ disruptive serves kept Lewis out of system, and while Walsh and Schmiegelt were effective, they were set only 22 times. “They wanted to go to the middle, but there weren’t enough opportunities for them,” Wade said. “Their middles hit for high numbers, but they didn’t get the ball enough times.” In most rotations, the servers’ power order usually is this: opposite, outside hitters and then middles. But UH’s starting middles — Iain McKellar and Hendrik Mol — are converted opposites. That translates to firepower at every serving turn. “When you can line up your six best servers, you’re going to put pressure on (the receiving team),” Wade said. “And when they get it rolling, you can take a really good (opponent) and neutralize what they’re doing.” The Warriors amassed eight aces, with McKellar and left-side hitter Siki Zarkovic hammering three apiece. The Warriors scored on eight of McKellar’s 14 serves. “It just tails with my natural swing,” McKellar said of his left-handed, quick-breaking serve. “I feel I’d be a good baseball pitcher. Maybe I should try out for the baseball team.” McKellar said he spent the winter break working on his serves. He said he served between 50 and 80 times each session in Gym I. Outside hitter Kupono Fey also served eight points, including two aces. He served six points in a surge that pushed the Warriors’ lead to 23-10 in the third set. “We kind of executed the game plan,” Fey said. Sunday’s plan, like the two previous schemes, revolved around freshman Stijn van Tilburg, who powered 15 kills, hit .444 and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In the opening set, Franciskovic tried to feed the middle. In the second set, Franciskovic expanded his distributions to the backcourt. Van Tilburg hammered five of his eight second-set kills from the back right known as the D area. Franciskovic and van Tilburg had difficulty with the D-set connection in fall training. But they clicked during this tournament. “I told Jennings, ‘If you keep giving me that set, I’ll keep hitting it,’” van Tilburg said. In the second set, Wade noted, van Tilburg was “hitting from the back row, and there are two, three blockers up, and they’re not touching it. I don’t know where it was going — by them, around them, through them — but it was impressive.” With Lewis shifting its block, that opened the middle and the left side. Spreading the offense, Wade said, “keeps everyone engaged. It’s easy to say, ‘Let’s watch Stijn.’ If you can keep everyone involved, it completes us.” Van Tilburg also managed three block assists after earning only one against Harvard on Friday night. Van Tilburg, who was raised in the Netherlands and speaks three languages, yelled an indecipherable phrase after his first block on Sunday night. “I think it was part pidgin, part Dutch,” Wade said, smiling. Van Tilburg said: “Coach got a little upset with me because I’m so tall and I should get more blocks. I was eager to get a block today, maybe a little too eager.”
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