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Post by pineapple on Nov 13, 2006 1:27:11 GMT -5
Kanoe was on the verge of crying but was able to contain herself
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Post by hwnstunner on Nov 13, 2006 1:27:29 GMT -5
Just got back from the game. Houston is definitely making progress in eliminating her errors on "off" plays. She did make some unforced errors but it's obvious that she is making an effort to just keep the ball in play instead of whacking the ball indiscriminately. Keep this up and she will definitely make All-America. Sarah Mason finally seems to be free of her lingering injuries, particularly her shoulder. Her spikes are a lots crisper. Jaime Lee is going to be hard to beat next year when Otineru and Kaaihue competes for the libero spot. Lee is getting more and more confident and assertive. She was very verbal in the third game when the Wahine passing sort of fell apart. By the way the hitters seem to love the moon balls that Lee puts up on the left and the backrow. Lee got quite a few sets and assists tonight in the "off" plays. Is Otineru REALLY coming back to UH next season, I've heard this all year long but I haven't read or heard anything official. Ka'aihue will definitely challenge, espcially since Shoji and company recruited her as a scholarship libero. Duggins, Woolford, Kitaguchi, Ong, and Recca are all returning next season so the Wahine ... uh have more than enough liberos for like the fifth year in a row. lol. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 13, 2006 1:28:09 GMT -5
So, did anyone else notice that Oguh in games 1&2 predominantly stayed in the middle, earning 1 kill & 1 block in 2-games. After the intermission, she pretty much hit slides only, a good adjustment, as she picked up around 8 or 9 to finish the match.
Borden did not have a good night. Many errors, either from the pressure of the fans or her self? I'm not sure, but I know she can be more effective. However, Hawaii had her sealed very well at the net. Excellent blocking by Hawaii tonight... in game 1,2, and 4.
Service errors?! Holy cow, NMSU, those took you out of it in game 2. Game 1, no chance for you to stay close, Hawaii was at their best all season in that game, but the errors really took it to NMSU. Hawaii fans, this Aggie team really played better than the score represents. Watch out for them in Reno, go cheer for them if you can!
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Nov 13, 2006 1:28:31 GMT -5
what i liked was the intensity that the Wahine brought to the court tonight. combine that with the fact that Shoji and Co. had NMSU scouted very well. now if they can only bring it every night. they have not played with that kind of fire all season....
NMSU is gonna see their service errors in their dreams tonight, the soundtrack to which will be a rain of boos and chants from the crowd. the real NMSU showed up in game 3, and it had a lot of us worried, i'm sure -- when NMSU is in system, their middles can do some serious damage. but otherwise, it was back to business in game 4 -- with the Bows serving and blocking them off the court.
i'll tip my hat to the seniors -- Thurlby, Mason, and Kamana`o -- but season's not over yet. and we all certainly hope to see them a few more times at the Stan Sherriff....
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Post by pineapple on Nov 13, 2006 1:32:13 GMT -5
Kanoe was on the verge of crying but was able to contain herself I should also add that Cayley Thurlby was emotional and a class act in her comments. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 13, 2006 1:34:27 GMT -5
I don't think you can place Coach Jordan's out-of-conference opponent choices completely on his shoulders. The opponents have to want to play you. As the WAC slogan states, "play up". Playing poor teams generates wins, but how much does it help you play better? As a team, you may actually have better competition playing against your non-starters, especially since the non-starters want to become starters. Look at it from the perspective of January 2006. It's the end of the season, and NMSU finishes 3rd in the WAC and is not invited to the NCAA. If you are a NCAA-tournament team, do you want to schedule a match with NMSU? Lastly, how much do a team's out-of-conference results affect their NCAA tournament invitation & seeding. I'm sure that there are several people on this board who can answer that question, but I don't have enough experience to do so. I like what Jordan did with this year's schedule. That loss to Nevada really is the only "pock" on it. A nice win over WCC champ, San Diego was huge, although, it was before USD hit their stride. Even with all of the wins, NMSU _has_ to finish better than 2nd in the WAC (or 3rd if Hawaii does not win) to be guaranteed an invitation. The NCAA Selection Committee historically limits the WAC invitations, historically dis-favors teams with as many "easy" wins as NMSU has scheduled, and historically punishes poor conference performances. I think that its a tricky situation scheduling for this team though, their best bet is if other teams in the conference step up to improve their strength of schedule. Not only will it be tough to play upper teams when you show you can beat them, but having them come to Las Cruces will be even MORE difficult, especially when you're averaging 2000+ fans per match! I think that this is a good formula for success, NMSU, keep scheduling wins, keep your fan base large, and keep winning. There may be a few early snubs, but it really is a good formula. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 13, 2006 1:36:36 GMT -5
Kanoe is a truly special setter. She has had excellent placement and made excellent decisions for 4-years at UH, but I have to say, the first 15-points of game 1 tonight were truly marvelous to watch. Anyone else notice how easy she made it look?
My hats off tonight also to Jayme Lee, amazing defender... she's really improved a lot over this season! Also, Elise Duggins, look at you with all of those amazing passes tonight! Excellent work!
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Post by aggiedog on Nov 13, 2006 1:41:20 GMT -5
Before the Hawaii fans start counting next year's chickens ... NMSU has Oguh, Simpson, Callis plus 2 freshmen hitters coming back, and all of their DS/liberos coming back. The question is who's going to be the setter. Guerre has been the reserve setter, but there's a red-shirt 6'2" freshman named Jesse Ericson who been watching from the sidelines all season. www.nmstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=9558&SPID=584&DB_OEM_ID=1900&ATCLID=543064&Q_SEASON=2006I've seen Callis set when required during games. Consider the option of having a primary setter/hitter and a secondary hitter/setter, both 6'2", in the lineup. I have no idea if Mike Jordan is considering this, but it looks interesting to me. |
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Nov 13, 2006 1:46:17 GMT -5
Before the Hawaii fans start counting next year's chickens ... NMSU has Oguh, Simpson, Callis plus 2 freshmen hitters coming back, and all of their DS/liberos coming back. The question is who's going to be the setter. Guerre has been the reserve setter, but there's a red-shirt 6'2" freshman named Jesse Ericson who been watching from the sidelines all season. www.nmstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=9558&SPID=584&DB_OEM_ID=1900&ATCLID=543064&Q_SEASON=2006I've seen Callis set when required during games. Consider the option of having a primary setter/hitter and a secondary hitter/setter, both 6'2", in the lineup. I have no idea if Mike Jordan is considering this, but it looks interesting to me. then both teams are in similar predicaments ... losing their quarterbacks, and possibly starting redshirt freshmen, but returning a lot of firepower.... will be some good matches next year b/w these two as well..... |
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Post by hwnstunner on Nov 13, 2006 1:47:57 GMT -5
... Regardless, I think the coaches wanted to ensure their NCAA ticket so they played a lot of crap teams which made their record unreal. Not taking anything away from them though, they ARE a Top 25 team, but I think it was pretty obvious on what they were doing. Let's be realistic, how much respect can you get sweeping Akron, Lamar, and South Dakota St. Infact, most of their top wins were in the WAC. Aside from Hawaii, they really haven't beaten anyone else. I would love to say that they are guarenteed in the NCAAs, but IF they are upset before the title game in the WAC, I would still be cringing come NCAA Selection show. Same thing happened to Wichita St. a couple years back. Anyway, NMSU better be in the NCAAs this year. I just wish they made their case stronger by playing stronger teams. I don't think you can place Coach Jordan's out-of-conference opponent choices completely on his shoulders. The opponents have to want to play you. As the WAC slogan states, "play up". Playing poor teams generates wins, but how much does it help you play better? As a team, you may actually have better competition playing against your non-starters, especially since the non-starters want to become starters. Look at it from the perspective of January 2006. It's the end of the season, and NMSU finishes 3rd in the WAC and is not invited to the NCAA. If you are a NCAA-tournament team, do you want to schedule a match with NMSU? Lastly, how much do a team's out-of-conference results affect their NCAA tournament invitation & seeding. I'm sure that there are several people on this board who can answer that question, but I don't have enough experience to do so. Well, the way I see it, if NMSU doesn't make it to the NCAAs the nation still knows they are a Top 25 team that was snubbed for the past two seasons. That's a no-brainer. And I am well-aware that the NMSU coaches don't have complete control of who they play, but if teams want to play opponents who are NCAA-quality, NMSU is one of them. Granted, not making the NCAAs COULD make teams not want to play you, but I think NMSU is not a team in the closet anymore. Their secret's out and they are a damn good team. I'm just saying that what MAY hurt them is their schedule. San Diego and Hawaii are quality wins. NMSU is ranked and are among the nation's leaders statistically, but with the NCAA Committee being a bunch of tards at times, a fourth or even third place finish in the WAC Tournament COULD keep them out of the NCAAs. Why? Because their strength of schedule is weak. How do I know this? The past couple season, teams like Wichita St and Eastern Washington WERE ranked, had very little losses, and a couple quality wins, but lost in the TITLE match of their conference tournament. No, they didnt come in FOURTH or THIRD. They came in SECOND and was snubbed. They just didn't have enough quality wins for the NCAA COMMITTEE. Sucks. Again, I don't know the NMSU coaching staff's decision to play the schedule they played. It may have very well been out of their hands, but my "opininon" is that they wanted to put up a strong, solid record that the NCAA could not deny, following their snub last season. I'm not doggin on NMSU or their coaches, but when dealing with the NCAA Selection Committee, you never know. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 13, 2006 1:47:58 GMT -5
If Guerre is anywhere as good as her sister (who played at Kansas State while they were a top Big 12 team), then she gets the nod and would be an excellent upper-class setter to learn from!!
I have no idea if she is as good, though.
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Post by aggiedog on Nov 13, 2006 1:49:11 GMT -5
Thanks IB for your insight. I agree that building the fan base is helping NMSU. It's also driving the club and HS level competition throughout NM and El Paso. (This is almost exactly what I've seen in women's rowing, my expertise.)
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Post by aggiedog on Nov 13, 2006 1:57:12 GMT -5
If Guerre is anywhere as good as her sister (who played at Kansas State while they were a top Big 12 team), then she gets the nod and would be an excellent upper-class setter to learn from!! I have no idea if she is as good, though. I've not been to any practices, so I'm only going on Ericson's bio. I was not aware of Guerre's sister, but her playing against LA Tech was less than inspiring. What I can say with certainty is that she better not rest on her experience during the off-season practice period. Bri Akrie was the starting libero 2 seasons ago, only to lose out to Jordan Bostic for last season. Then along come Krystal Torres this season. As in any sport, coasting only lets your competition catch up, and running as fast as they are only keeps your position. To advance, you must do more! |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Nov 13, 2006 2:02:46 GMT -5
I double-checked that I was right in my guess that Gabby Guerre was an HM All-American at KSU. I saw her play a handful of times, she was pretty solid.
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Post by texas22 on Nov 13, 2006 2:07:14 GMT -5
Ericson will start. Guerre is nothing compared to her sister, but is a good back up. I LOVED watching Gabby Guerre play, she was tall, strong, and had hands of gold!!!!
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