No major changes for Wahine volleyball

[808]

No major changes for Wahine volleyball


By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

After some spirited days of practice, Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji yesterday said he would not overhaul his starting lineup that was undefeated but unsettled this week.

On Tuesday, Shoji promised to re-evaluate the starting lineup after the fourth-ranked Rainbow Wahine won two shaky Western Athletic Conference road matches last week.

Hawai'i defeated Fresno State in four games on Sept. 30, and rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Nevada in five games Saturday.

"In all probability, we're not going to make major changes," said Shoji, who planned to decide on a lineup today. "The team is going well. But I just want everybody to understand everybody is up for evaluation every week. It's motivation. I told them no one can come out here complacent."

Tonight, the Rainbow Wahine (12-0, 2-0) put their 92-match WAC winning streak on the line against Boise State (14-3, 3-1) at the Stan Sheriff Center. On Sunday, Hawai'i hosts Texas-El Paso (6-8, 0-5) in a WAC match.


Alicia Arnott

"We definitely need to keep improving," said Hawai'i left-side hitter Alicia Arnott, who arrived to practice 45 minutes earlier yesterday with teammates Caroline Blood, Nickie Thomas and Victoria Prince. "We're just going to keep working hard."

Last week at Fresno State, Hawai'i hit .244 in a Game 2 loss before defeating the Bulldogs in four games. At Nevada, the Rainbow Wahine hit .236, were outblocked 16.5 to 15, and could not contain freshman Teal Ericson who had a match-high 20 kills and hit .385.

"I wouldn't say it was subpar, it just wasn't as artistic as it should have been," Shoji said of the road wins.

Yesterday, Shoji said the libero position is up for evaluation as well as the left-side hitter and middle positions.

The current starters are left-side hitters Arnott and Susie Boogaard, setter Kanoe Kamana'o, middles Prince and Juliana Sanders, right-side hitter Tara Hittle and libero Ashley Watanabe.

Prince started the season as right-side hitter, and Shoji said that remains an option if the team gets more production out of Hittle on a possible move to left-side hitter. Hittle is the reigning national and WAC Player of the Week.

The left-side hitter in the Rainbow Wahine offense is usually the most reliable hitter and often gets the most hitting opportunities.

"That's certainly something we can go to," Shoji said of the Prince-Hittle moves. "I don't know if we're going to go to that this early, but we'll certainly work on it."

Shoji also said a "shakeup in the middle" is something the coaches might try. Shoji has Melody Eckmier, Kari Gregory, Prince and Sanders at middle.

In two matches last week, Prince played well, hitting .452 with 31 kills and 19 blocks. At Nevada, Prince broke the school rally-scoring record, putting up 13 blocks.

"We've been working on blocking so hard in practice," Prince said. "Kanoe, Susie and Alicia were posting the blocks so well for me to close. It was a real good blocking night."

Tonight, Hawai'i faces a Boise State team that is enjoying its best conference season since joining the WAC in 2001. The Broncos' three WAC wins have already eclipsed their three-year total of WAC wins from 2001-2003.

The Broncos are led by sophomore middle blocker Cameron Flunder, who averages 3.95 kills per game, 0.98 blocks per game and hits .351.

"Boise has been playing very well," Shoji said. "They have a great record. We'll treat them with respect and expect a tough game."

On Sunday, Hawai'i will meet UTEP. The Miners were swept at San Jose State in a WAC match last night.

Junior outside hitter Kari Stacy led UTEP with 4.43 kills per game and 2.81 digs per game entering last night's match.

"UTEP is struggling, so I'm not sure what to expect from them," Shoji said. "But teams seem to play their best against us at the Stanley so we expect no different."

Rainbow Wahine volleyball
• Who: No. 4 Hawai'i (12-0 overall, 2-0 Western Athletic Conference) vs. Boise State (14-3, 3-1) and Texas-El Paso (6-8, 0-5)

• Where: Stan Sheriff Center

• When: Hawai'i vs. Boise State, 7 tonight Hawai'i vs. Texas-El Paso, 4 p.m. Sunday.

• TV/Radio: Live on KFVE (5)/KKEA (1420 AM)

• Tickets: $14 lower level; $11 upper level (adults), $8 (seniors 65-older), $6 (students) and $3 (UH students).

• Parking: $3

Reach Brandon Masuoka at [e-mail] or 535-2458.

the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/08/sp/sp01p.html

[5100]

I knew it!

I wonder what would happen if Prince moved back to her right-side position and Prince moved to the left. The middle position would be shared by Eckmier, Sanders and Gregory.

[Barefoot In Kailua]

Prince said:

I knew it!

I wonder what would happen if Prince moved back to her right-side position and Prince moved to the left. The middle position would be shared by Eckmier, Sanders and Gregory.

There are 2 Princes'?

[sonofbarcelonabob]

[quote author=BiK link=board=general&thread=1097251732&start=2#0 date=1097253181]

There are 2 Princes'? [/quote]

Daaamn, I loved that Spin Doctors song!

;D

[Mumsie]

SonofBarcelonaBob said:

Daaamn, I loved that Spin Doctors song!

;D

Yes, there's "The Artist Formally Known as Prince" and "Victoria".
Actually three: Prince William! He's so cute.

[808]

Mumsie said:

Yes, there's "The Artist Formally Known as Prince" and "Victoria".
Actually three: Prince William! He's so cute.

You can have William, Mumsie. I prefer our Victoria.

[5100]

[quote author=BiK link=board=general&thread=1097251732&start=2#0 date=1097253181]

There are 2 Princes'? [/quote]

Hehe. I meant Hittle. What if Hittle played left-side and Victoria returned to the right.

[808]

Prince said:

Hehe. I meant Hittle. What if Hittle played left-side and Victoria returned to the right.

That's exactly what Shoji tried in Game 3 last night with the following starting lineup: OH: Susie and Tara; RS: Victoria; M: Juliana and Melody; S: Kanoe; L: Ashley. It worked out okay, but I think by that time, BSU had nothing left after losing the lead in game 2 and losing game 2 altogether.

[HawaiiVB]

its sad to say, but Melody is a backup middle. The starting line up should be. Boogard Hittle left side. Arnott Right side. Gregory/Sanders, Prince Middles, Tesa Fotu Libero, Kanoe setting.

[5100]

808 said:

That's exactly what Shoji tried in Game 3 last night with the following starting lineup: OH: Susie and Tara; RS: Victoria; M: Juliana and Melody; S: Kanoe; L: Ashley. It worked out okay, but I think by that time, BSU had nothing left after losing the lead in game 2 and losing game 2 altogether.

Do you think that lineup works better than the one used in most matches? Should Tara start over Alicia at the left? I hope Shoji gives Melody a chance to start and play an entire match. And Ashley should stay at libero.

[808]

Prince said:

Do you think that lineup works better than the one used in most matches? Should Tara start over Alicia at the left? I hope Shoji gives Melody a chance to start and play an entire match. And Ashley should stay at libero.

I'm not sure about that line-up. They might need to evaluate it more. I'm not sure that Alicia should be benched, but maybe the potential for change could be like a wake-up call for Alicia. Alicia has done a decent job on the left. Tara has done well at right. I didn't think Tara did any better on the left in that one game. But it was just one game. I also would like to see Melody get more of an opportunity, but unfortunately, there are so many people competing in the middle. Gregory deserves a shot too. Sanders shows signs of her potential. Melody might not get the chance to play an entire match to show what she can do. If she wants it, she may have to grab the position in practice.

Right now, I think Ashley's play at libero is, or rather, can be, better than Teisa's. In general, Ashley seems to move better than Teisa. Teisa's positioning and anticipation might be getting better. It's a tough call, but in my opinion, I'd play Ashley at that position unless Teisa clearly takes the spot away from her with her play.

[5100]

808 said:

I'm not sure about that line-up. They might need to evaluate it more. I'm not sure that Alicia should be benched, but maybe the potential for change could be like a wake-up call for Alicia. Alicia has done a decent job on the left. Tara has done well at right. I didn't think Tara did any better on the left in that one game. But it was just one game. I also would like to see Melody get more of an opportunity, but unfortunately, there are so many people competing in the middle. Gregory deserves a shot too. Sanders shows signs of her potential. Melody might not get the chance to play an entire match to show what she can do. If she wants it, she may have to grab the position in practice.

Right now, I think Ashley's play at libero is, or rather, can be, better than Teisa's. In general, Ashley seems to move better than Teisa. Teisa's positioning and anticipation might be getting better. It's a tough call, but in my opinion, I'd play Ashley at that position unless Teisa clearly takes the spot away from her with her play.

I really hope Melody wins that position and end her career with a bang. There must be something in Sanders that coaches like for her to get the starting nod over the others. But statistically, Gregory seems like an ideal blocker when it comes to defense.

I definitely agree with you that Ashley should hold the Libero position for now. Teisa could still provide passing at the right-side, like Hedder Ilustre's role in 2002. Besides, I think the team could use the offense and blocking that Teisa brings which she can't do if she plays libero. And I hope the little DS (Rae, Silva and Kelly) get their fair share of action too. They should be the ones challenging Ashley for the position.

[Cubicle No More ...]

I would say that it'd be really hard to evaluate the lineup change in that 3rd game against BSU. There were a lot of other substitutions goingon in addition, and the team as a whole looked ragged. They practically stumbled to the end. The win was never in doubt, but the team did not finish strong at all.

Tara did struggle hitting on the left in that 3rd game. She's had a lot of success in recent matches, but it's been from hitting on the right where Kamana'o has gotten her one-on-one looks. Tara will see less of that on the left. Hard to say from this one game whether Tara will do a better job (than Arnott or Boogard) against double blocks.

If Tara can continue to go off for 20 kills hitting .500+, then I say keep her on the right. Now is the time to really settle on a lineup and stick with it for the Wahine. Rather than continue to experiment. In the end it only disrupts the chemistry of the eventual starters.

[HwnStunner01]

Cubicle said:

I would say that it'd be really hard to evaluate the lineup change in that 3rd game against BSU. There were a lot of other substitutions goingon in addition, and the team as a whole looked ragged. They practically stumbled to the end. The win was never in doubt, but the team did not finish strong at all.

Tara did struggle hitting on the left in that 3rd game. She's had a lot of success in recent matches, but it's been from hitting on the right where Kamana'o has gotten her one-on-one looks. Tara will see less of that on the left. Hard to say from this one game whether Tara will do a better job (than Arnott or Boogard) against double blocks.

If Tara can continue to go off for 20 kills hitting .500+, then I say keep her on the right. Now is the time to really settle on a lineup and stick with it for the Wahine. Rather than continue to experiment. In the end it only disrupts the chemistry of the eventual starters.

Exactly.

The lineup needs to be set.

[IdahoBoy]

HwnStunner01 said:

Exactly.

The lineup needs to be set.

Why? I don't agree with setting a lineup in the case Hawaii has this year.

Everyone is improving drastically fighting for playing time, each player has their strengths and weaknesses that are being developed further and assessed vs. other teams. At some point this season, they might need player x's such n such more than player y's.

If they keep rotating lineups, and keep winning, what's wrong with giving so many players experience and playing time?

Stats don't matter on this team, they've been out killed and out dug the majority of the matches this season. They continue to play with heart and having fun out there, although a few positions are struggling a little mentally with the possibility of being pulled...as soon as one or two of the middles stops playing timidly, they'll earn back that starting spot, but they NEED to learn how to stop playing timid first!

You definitely cannot throw in timid middles against a USC or a Nebraska or a Washington in the NCAA's!

The one major cog to the success that UH has had this season is most definitely the charming and savvy Kamana'o. Everyone else has been up and down, but she has been spectacular throughout and finds ways for this team to win.