|
Post by koavball on Dec 4, 2017 19:57:09 GMT -5
Could be worse with 6 seniors. I don't think replacing Kahakai will be too difficult but Maglio is another story and why the transfers picked by RAMS this spring will be crucial. I am looking forward to Iosia becoming the team leader and improving. But I really mean it this year. I agree that next year will be tougher than most years with the loss of Maglio and Kahakai. The loss of Mitchem and Taylor was tough but at least we had Maglio and Kahakai in the cupboard (all-American and first team conference players). With a new coaching staff, quality transfers may be tentative to come as the program Might not be considered the same powerhouse as under Shoji. It's not impossible, but it might be tougher to recruit for the next couple of years. Things will eventually stabilize but the first couple of years could be tough.
|
|
|
Post by hapaguy on Dec 4, 2017 20:30:32 GMT -5
From today's newspaper article: "Ah Mow-Santos said she receives an estimated 150 emails a day from players interested in playing for the Wahine, including foreign nationals and transfers from the D-I and junior college ranks. Her two criteria are: buying into the system the UH staff is implementing and contributing right away." Sounds like RAMS is not going to have any problems finding impact players that can come in and contribute right away.... Well, what I'm wondering is: of the 150 emails/day, how many are 6'2" hitters who can bang at the DI level? For every Heather Bown, Victoria Prince, and Sarah Mason, there have been an equal number of transfer duds in Wahine history. My guess is that most of those emails are from back row specialist types or 5'10' hitters. Also, if these transfer-wannabes are like me, they would send out feelers to a lot of different schools, not just Hawaii. So, Hawaii might get 150 emails/day, but so are the Penn States, Texases, UCLAs, and Floridas -- and they may be the same set of players! For the same pool of candidates among the 150 emails/day, Hawaii is competing with all those other schools and there's no guarantee that these candidates will opt for Hawaii once Penn State or Texas or USC enters the picture. I remember Dave or Charlie Wade saying something similar to RAMS re. number of email inquiries, but Hawaii hasn't always had the impact transfers. That tells me they lost out to other schools. Geez dude....you should change your name to "Debbie Downer"....
|
|
|
Post by wang pu on Dec 4, 2017 21:29:02 GMT -5
Aside from relying on impact recruits, the returning players should do some self-reflection and just train hard in the off season. Watching the likes of Willoughby, Hartong, Hewitt, Kaufman, Danielson. Although many started out being good, the ended their career being great. Although, it might be difficult to have a mediocre year to an All-American year, it can be done. The greatest year-to-year improvement I've seen from a Wahine was Nikki Hubbert from 1997-1998. What about Lauren Duggins Sophomore to Junior year? Although her production decreased a little her Senior year.
|
|
|
Post by Courtside5 on Dec 4, 2017 21:32:57 GMT -5
I still think the best transfer we had at outside was probably Sarah Mason from Oregon. She was a huge impact player from the get go.
|
|
|
Post by holakula on Dec 4, 2017 21:38:30 GMT -5
My thoughts... Setter: I prefer Ma'afala over Iosia because she brings so much energy to the court and connects well with the middles. However, she can be predictable because she almost always goes to the middle when there's a good pass. I have never seen Faith play at the net but I assume that Norene puts up a better block plus she wins jousts 90% of the time. Both of their serves are tough, but I give Faith the edge because of her death stare.
Middle: Burns will be leading the middles, unless a transfer takes the spot but I dont see that happening.
To be continued.....
|
|
|
Post by wahinefan on Dec 4, 2017 22:09:40 GMT -5
I was thinking, since the Libero is like the 2nd setter on the floor, what do you people think about having Ma'afala playing that position? Also, I still feel we have not seen the real Casey Castillo, yet. I recall she was one of the best Outside Hitters on the West Coast, until she injured her knee in high school. Playing multiple position for the Wahine did not help her progression, but being able to play one position this year, I am expecting her to make great improvement next year. The great improvement Burns made this year, just proves what kind of coach Angelica is. Expecting Burns to continue her improvement, and will surprise a lot of people next year. She could actually become the Maglio on next year's squad, if she stays healthy, that is.
|
|
|
Post by wahinefan on Dec 4, 2017 22:22:39 GMT -5
I believe the culture that Robyn is determined to bring back to Wahine volleyball is that of tough, and long, practices. The kind of practices Dave Shoji held by in the 80', 90's, and early 2000. From reading Cindy's blogs, the last few years, Shoji practice may not have been that tough, and definitely not long at all. From what I can recall, Robyn made a comment when she was an assistant here, how surprised she was on how Dave ran his practices now, stating it was not as tough, or long, as when she played for him. It is that practice, and playing, philosophy that Dave instilled in the Wahine squads back then, is what she is determined to bring back to the Wahine squads from here on out.
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Dec 4, 2017 22:26:52 GMT -5
I believe the culture that Robyn is determined to bring back to Wahine volleyball is that of tough, and long, practices. The kind of practices Dave Shoji held by in the 80', 90's, and early 2000. From reading Cindy's blogs, the last few years, Shoji practice may not have been that tough, and definitely not long at all. From what I can recall, Robyn made a comment when she was an assistant here, how surprised she was on how Dave ran his practices now, stating it was not as tough, or long, as when she played for him. It is that practice, and playing, philosophy that Dave instilled in the Wahine squads back then, is what she is determined to bring back to the Wahine squads from here on out. I understand RAMS's point but Dave Shoji had very successful years from 2000-2016 despite having a different "culture" from what RAMS has in mind.
|
|
|
Post by dd2000 on Dec 4, 2017 22:30:08 GMT -5
I believe the culture that Robyn is determined to bring back to Wahine volleyball is that of tough, and long, practices. The kind of practices Dave Shoji held by in the 80', 90's, and early 2000. From reading Cindy's blogs, the last few years, Shoji practice may not have been that tough, and definitely not long at all. From what I can recall, Robyn made a comment when she was an assistant here, how surprised she was on how Dave ran his practices now, stating it was not as tough, or long, as when she played for him. It is that practice, and playing, philosophy that Dave instilled in the Wahine squads back then, is what she is determined to bring back to the Wahine squads from here on out. Good post and welcome. I'm just wondering how the name "wahinefan" has not been taken yet.
|
|
|
Post by dd2000 on Dec 4, 2017 22:32:10 GMT -5
I believe the culture that Robyn is determined to bring back to Wahine volleyball is that of tough, and long, practices. The kind of practices Dave Shoji held by in the 80', 90's, and early 2000. From reading Cindy's blogs, the last few years, Shoji practice may not have been that tough, and definitely not long at all. From what I can recall, Robyn made a comment when she was an assistant here, how surprised she was on how Dave ran his practices now, stating it was not as tough, or long, as when she played for him. It is that practice, and playing, philosophy that Dave instilled in the Wahine squads back then, is what she is determined to bring back to the Wahine squads from here on out. I understand RAMS's point but Dave Shoji had very successful years from 2000-2016 despite having a different "culture" from what RAMS has in mind. You guys are reading too much into that "culture" comment. Its not a big deal. RAMs is just simply stating her vision for the team.
|
|
|
Post by Boom! on Dec 4, 2017 22:39:56 GMT -5
I don't think it's a question of practing longer. There is an NCAA maximum hours any team can practice and I'm sure Hawai'i already practices the max allowable. Robyn is surely talking about attitude, effort and heart, but that is probably a generational thing. Millennials don't play that (unless you're Russ Rose and can deliver a National Championship). If Robyn sticks with that attitude, her recruiting pool is going to be very, very limited.
|
|
|
Post by wahinefan on Dec 4, 2017 22:43:52 GMT -5
My lineup going into 2018 is as follows:
OH1 - Casey Castillo OH2 - McKenna Grenato MB1 - Natasha Burns MB2 - Sophia Howling OPP - McKenna Ross, recruit, or transfer Setter - Norene Iosia Libero - Faith Ma'afala DS - Wide open
If Robyn is able to bring in another MB, then we could see Howling at OPP, and having either Williams, or the new player at the other MB position. Also, it would allow Ross to play DS and be able to hit out of the back row. Right now, I do not see anyone but Ma'afala playing Libero, due to her setting ability, knowing how often Kahakai had to set balls out of the Libero position.
|
|
|
Post by wahinefan on Dec 4, 2017 22:51:32 GMT -5
I don't think it's a question of practing longer. There is an NCAA maximum hours any team can practice and I'm sure Hawai'i already practices the max allowable. Robyn is surely talking about attitude, effort and heart, but that is probably a generational thing. Millennials don't play that (unless you're Russ Rose and can deliver a National Championship). If Robyn sticks with that attitude, her recruiting pool is going to be very, very limited. It was the attitude, effort and heart, in practices, and matches, that I was trying to get at. The way you practice normally translates into how you play in matches. It is that attitude, effort, and heart, that Wahine teams have been known for, especially when playing against a bigger, better team.
|
|
|
Post by wahinefan on Dec 4, 2017 22:53:06 GMT -5
I understand RAMS's point but Dave Shoji had very successful years from 2000-2016 despite having a different "culture" from what RAMS has in mind. You guys are reading too much into that "culture" comment. Its not a big deal. RAMs is just simply stating her vision for the team. Thank you, and I am just as surprised as you are.
|
|
|
Post by wahinefan on Dec 4, 2017 23:06:08 GMT -5
Still feel Casey Castillo, has more growth, upside, then McKenna Grenato does. But Casey needs to want it, by working extremely hard in the off season. First time she is going into the next season playing the same position she played the previous season, cannot only help. She has to work hard to make up for those lost seasons when she was moved around so much. Castillo could be the surprise player on next year's team, just like, to me, Burns was the surprise player on this year's team.
|
|