Post by VBCrusin on Feb 24, 2003 17:07:13 GMT -5
The way I see it…<br>
Middle Blockers:
6’8” Brad Keenan –6’ 7” Delano Thomas…The big advantage goes to the experienced Senior veteran over the ever-improving new kid. Keenan has a killer serve; a virtual one-man wall in his blocks; is tough to block his kills. Very consistent in play and is a “quiet” leader. He never gets rattled.
Sophomore Thomas has a good jump serve; great leaping (and hang time) ability to hit over most blocks; good quick-hitter and improving blocker; Delano’s only big opponent (besides Keenan), is himself. He has to remain focused in his performance and hang tough. At times, he lays back in his play. He needs to dominate at the net to give Hawaii a chance.
Edge to Pepperdine.
6’11” Andy Hein – 6’10” Joshua Stanhiser (or Shrimp 6’5” Brian Nordberg)…The battle of the giants are dead even. True Freshman Hein against Junior Stanhiser both are getting better in each match they play. Both hitting their quick sets well, and adequate blocking. If Stanhiser is benched and Senior Nordberg starts, even though Nordberg has more experience, his lack of height and dominate blocking/hitting, will give Pep the edge.
Otherwise, EQUAL in this position.
Outside Hitters:
6’3” Costas Theocharidis – 6’5” Fred Winters…Both are hard-hitters and dead even in their killer serves; Both are experienced and are tough competitors; Both are foreigners../Senior Costas from Greece and Junior Winters from Canada who are experienced on the international level; Costas is the “HEART” of Hawaii, and UH will go the way Costas goes. He has to rally everyone around him…he also has to get the majority of sets to win.
Winters is a “quiet assassin” leader who barely shows emotion, other than a brief smile. He is a very consistent who punishes the ball like George Romaine in his kills. He is the strongest (physical) Pep player who has a great vertical leap, passes well and puts up a good block.
EQUAL to both teams.
6’8” Sophomore Sean Rooney – 6’2” Eyal Zimet or 6’5” Freshman Pedro Azenha…2002 Freshman of the Year Rooney does it all; good serve, good blocking, smart place hitting in his kills, as well as being a very consistent passer (very flexible if you notice). Much like Winters, and Keenan, he is a “quiet” leader who forms one of the best 1-2-3 punches in the league.
Senior Zimet definitely is the “settling force” of the team. With so many fiery players, he is the mainstay center who can calm down his teammates. Experienced, good passer and hitter, but not in the same class as Rooney.
Pedro has a raw talent and experienced from Brazil; a thunderous kill (almost matching Costas); good court intuition, good leaper, powerful block and passes adequately. He sometimes makes Freshman mistakes, but they are few and far between. Age aside, he must step up to be dominant on the court to help Hawaii.
Edge to Pepperdine.
6’2” Senior Tony Ching – 6’7” Sophomore Mike Gledhill…Ching is his own worst enemy at times. He plays with a vengeance and intensity to be a winner, so he must remain “centered” in his attitude (machismo gets in the way at times). He is awesome in his attacks, but at times “blows up” when things aren’t going well.
Gledhill looks a little on the scrawny side, but looks can be deceiving. The lanky left-hander hits the good angles on his kills and is fast improving as a blocker. He gets better with each match.
Edge to Hawaii.
Setters:
6’2” John Mayer – 6’2” Kimo Tuyay or 6’2” Daniel Rasay…Very equal in this position, but I have to give Hawaii an edge on this one since they have a backup setter who is also equal in abilities.
Edge to Hawaii.
Libero:
6’2” Dhiraj Coats – 6’4” Matt Motter or 6’0” Jake Muise…again, there is no advantage to either team since each player is very consistent.
EQUAL to both teams.
Hawaii Fans: Big Edge to Hawaii (boy, that was a close call!)
Expect two GREAT matches with intense play. My mind says that it will be a split, but I have a feeling that Pepperdine will win both matches. In any event, I wish I could attend the matches, because it will be a war of things to come tournament time.
I did predict weeks ago that Hawaii and Pepperdine would face each other in the NCAA Finals again. This will be a preview of things to come.
What are your thoughts, vb fans?
Middle Blockers:
6’8” Brad Keenan –6’ 7” Delano Thomas…The big advantage goes to the experienced Senior veteran over the ever-improving new kid. Keenan has a killer serve; a virtual one-man wall in his blocks; is tough to block his kills. Very consistent in play and is a “quiet” leader. He never gets rattled.
Sophomore Thomas has a good jump serve; great leaping (and hang time) ability to hit over most blocks; good quick-hitter and improving blocker; Delano’s only big opponent (besides Keenan), is himself. He has to remain focused in his performance and hang tough. At times, he lays back in his play. He needs to dominate at the net to give Hawaii a chance.
Edge to Pepperdine.
6’11” Andy Hein – 6’10” Joshua Stanhiser (or Shrimp 6’5” Brian Nordberg)…The battle of the giants are dead even. True Freshman Hein against Junior Stanhiser both are getting better in each match they play. Both hitting their quick sets well, and adequate blocking. If Stanhiser is benched and Senior Nordberg starts, even though Nordberg has more experience, his lack of height and dominate blocking/hitting, will give Pep the edge.
Otherwise, EQUAL in this position.
Outside Hitters:
6’3” Costas Theocharidis – 6’5” Fred Winters…Both are hard-hitters and dead even in their killer serves; Both are experienced and are tough competitors; Both are foreigners../Senior Costas from Greece and Junior Winters from Canada who are experienced on the international level; Costas is the “HEART” of Hawaii, and UH will go the way Costas goes. He has to rally everyone around him…he also has to get the majority of sets to win.
Winters is a “quiet assassin” leader who barely shows emotion, other than a brief smile. He is a very consistent who punishes the ball like George Romaine in his kills. He is the strongest (physical) Pep player who has a great vertical leap, passes well and puts up a good block.
EQUAL to both teams.
6’8” Sophomore Sean Rooney – 6’2” Eyal Zimet or 6’5” Freshman Pedro Azenha…2002 Freshman of the Year Rooney does it all; good serve, good blocking, smart place hitting in his kills, as well as being a very consistent passer (very flexible if you notice). Much like Winters, and Keenan, he is a “quiet” leader who forms one of the best 1-2-3 punches in the league.
Senior Zimet definitely is the “settling force” of the team. With so many fiery players, he is the mainstay center who can calm down his teammates. Experienced, good passer and hitter, but not in the same class as Rooney.
Pedro has a raw talent and experienced from Brazil; a thunderous kill (almost matching Costas); good court intuition, good leaper, powerful block and passes adequately. He sometimes makes Freshman mistakes, but they are few and far between. Age aside, he must step up to be dominant on the court to help Hawaii.
Edge to Pepperdine.
6’2” Senior Tony Ching – 6’7” Sophomore Mike Gledhill…Ching is his own worst enemy at times. He plays with a vengeance and intensity to be a winner, so he must remain “centered” in his attitude (machismo gets in the way at times). He is awesome in his attacks, but at times “blows up” when things aren’t going well.
Gledhill looks a little on the scrawny side, but looks can be deceiving. The lanky left-hander hits the good angles on his kills and is fast improving as a blocker. He gets better with each match.
Edge to Hawaii.
Setters:
6’2” John Mayer – 6’2” Kimo Tuyay or 6’2” Daniel Rasay…Very equal in this position, but I have to give Hawaii an edge on this one since they have a backup setter who is also equal in abilities.
Edge to Hawaii.
Libero:
6’2” Dhiraj Coats – 6’4” Matt Motter or 6’0” Jake Muise…again, there is no advantage to either team since each player is very consistent.
EQUAL to both teams.
Hawaii Fans: Big Edge to Hawaii (boy, that was a close call!)
Expect two GREAT matches with intense play. My mind says that it will be a split, but I have a feeling that Pepperdine will win both matches. In any event, I wish I could attend the matches, because it will be a war of things to come tournament time.
I did predict weeks ago that Hawaii and Pepperdine would face each other in the NCAA Finals again. This will be a preview of things to come.
What are your thoughts, vb fans?
. Should be two great matches!!!