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Post by Roofan on Feb 25, 2003 11:04:09 GMT -5
Stunner and Others
Just FYI, I am NOT a Pepp fan/alumni/booster. I do know a few guys on the Pepp squad, but I also know a few guys on many squads. (At least guys from the Midwest playin in college) I am cheering for them to win, because I think they are the best team...not because I am some Rah-Rah supporter.
Just wanted to clear the air for you and other who think I am personally a Pepp guy, because I am just a Volleyball Guy!
Roofan
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Post by WaveRider on Feb 25, 2003 16:46:46 GMT -5
WOW, I look at the board today and I am greeted with such an outstanding use of Volley Talk! I am going to side with Cruisin (big surprise huh?). Even though I am putting money on a split, I truely believe that Pepp is the better team here.
UH edges Pepp in setting experience... however, UH also has a lot more players that seem to be... um, how shall I put this... emotionally driven. While this can be a God-send... it can also be UH's demise. I feel that with two teams of this caliber CONSISTENCY will pay off... and with Keenan, Rooney and Winters, Pepp wins in the consistency category.
On a side note (which I feel is a long overdue thread in its own right), while I do believe that Costas is one of the best players out there right now... Winters is totally ignored. His power is unbelieveable and his know how only continues to improve. While I'm not 100% sure that I agree with Crusin's "EQUAL" status of Winters and Costas... their comparison is a lot closer to EQUAL than most people (namely UH fans) know/want to admit.
I cannot wait for the outcome of these games... those will be two matches that any volleyball fan should be lucky enough to watch.
GO PEP!
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Post by VBLOVER on Feb 25, 2003 20:25:40 GMT -5
How can you possibly think that Hawaii has an edge here? Can we take a look at each teams record and who they have lost to! Pepperdine is playing flawless, and Hawaii has lost to 4 or 5 teams that Pepperdine has KILLED! What are you thinking, the only thing that will be better on Hawaii's team than on Pepperdine's is their fans....and they arent even on the team. Pepperdine wins both, easily.
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Post by Wrong on Feb 25, 2003 21:59:25 GMT -5
Its impossible for Pepp to have beaten 4 or 5 of the teams that Hawaii has lost to, especially since Hawaii only has 4 losses. Both split with Irvine and Pepp hasn't even played BYU yet. So that leaves Northridge and Stanford (was Toppel even playing when they faced Pepp?). To use the record excuse here is lame. I'm not saying Hawaii is better than Pepp, but don't use the record as proof of the contrary.
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Post by VBLOVER on Feb 25, 2003 22:20:27 GMT -5
I said 4 or 5 losses because i wasnt sure how many they had...they are racking them up so fast I cant count. Who cares if Curt Toppel wasnt there...they still killed them in 3, also Irvine in 3 and Northridge in 3...what do you have to say about those teams? Oh i bet you will pull this one out ...well, pepperdine lost to irvine 3 straight at the beggining of the year...so what...thats why its called pre-season....IT DOESNT MATTER! I WOULD say that comparing schedules matters because they all play the same teams. And Hawai has lost to 3 of the teams that Pepperdine has beat...tell me how that doesnt make them the better team....so dont tell me im wrong, agree to disagree, jerk.
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Post by sweetieVBfan on Feb 26, 2003 0:13:54 GMT -5
whoa ... easy there buddy. you need to chill out. take it easy.
actually, vblover, guest-wrong made a very good point. there is no way that pepperdine has beat all the teams that hawaii has lost to. it's just not possible.
i'm sorry that you were proven wrong, but there is no need to have a hissy fit.
and hawaii has also beaten EVERY team they've lost to. and with the exception of stanford, they have lost the first match of every series, so i expect them to lose the first match, and come back strong with the fans behind them.
let's go hawaii!
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Post by kolohekeiki on Feb 26, 2003 0:39:35 GMT -5
How can you compare the records in men's volleyball. Yeah it gives you an idea how good a team is, but on any given night the worst team can beat the best so you shouldn't put so much on the record of both teams.
I wouldn't be surprised if Pepperdine sweeps UH either, because Pepperdine is on a hot streak and the Warriors are kind of in a slump, but it is a game by game basis in men's volleyball.
So in one way it is hard to predict games in men's volleyball because most matches can go either way.
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Post by VBCrusin on Feb 26, 2003 0:39:59 GMT -5
Hi fans, I love all your views. Discussion agreement or not, it makes for a very exciting & informative season. Everyone made good points and arguements for these two fantastic teams. Let me say a few more things... When I compared Costas with Winters and said they were very even, I meant it at the present time. I've watched Costas play several times this year, and found he was not as dominate as he was his previous years. Something was missing. Since winning the Championship last year, is he "cruising" through this season? He doesn't seem like he is "hungry" this year like he was last year. Does anyone else see him playing at a lesser level this year than his previous years, or is it my imagination? You all know that I never trash any team or player, because I respect them all. I too feel that Costas is an awesome player...his first three years no one could match him, let alone stop him. This year is a little different...maybe he's saving himself and relying on his teammates for added fire power (getting everyone else involved). It seems that he's not getting the number of sets in the games I saw. Your comments? Incidentally, this reminds me of last season with Pepperdine having a record winning year, and Hawaii hanging in the top 5. The season is great, but the MPSF Tournament is what it's all about. Then on to the Big Dance. Hawaii is working out the bugs and combinations now...better to do it now, then go into the tournament with untried things. I still say it'll be Hawaii & Pepperdine again for the Finals. However, no trolley ride for UH this year.  |
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Post by VBLOVER on Feb 26, 2003 1:52:11 GMT -5
I wasnt trying to be exact, get me on a techinicallity. Sorry I dont memorize Hawaii's exact shedule and how many games they lost in, I was simply trying to say, Hawaii loses to a team, and Pepperdine beats them. GET OVER IT! I guess I will just prove you all wrong tomorrow when Hawaii gets their butts kicked.
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Post by H2O on Feb 26, 2003 2:11:09 GMT -5
If Pepp can keep the errors down they will take both. They are tall and have three good hitters and a good setter. Hawaii has Costas. The rest are just good college players. A frank opinion which I'm sure will raise the hacles of Warrior fans, because it's easy to do.
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Post by kolohekeiki on Feb 26, 2003 2:28:19 GMT -5
I totally agree with you VBcrusin, Costas has had a down year so far compared to his first three years. I'm not sure why...it kind of looks like he is holding back, but I don't know why because it's his senior year and I think that he should be going all out. Maybe he is saving himself for the play-offs or maybe he is holding back to let his teammates earn some glory and can prove themselves instead of Costas having to do everything, who knows what his reasons are. But whatever it is I think Costas will turn it on when the time is right.
I'm looking forward to these matches against Pepperdine, because it will be the true test so far to see where the Warriors stand at this point.
GO WARRIORS!!!
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Post by HwnStunner01 on Feb 26, 2003 2:33:09 GMT -5
It's a given UH will get their butts kicked tomorrow? Hmm...OK, atleast UH fans won't have to put a foot in their mouth. ;D
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Post by youreadork on Feb 26, 2003 3:50:02 GMT -5
Maybe they wont, But you will!
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Post by WhatIthink on Feb 26, 2003 3:58:05 GMT -5
When I compared Costas with Winters and said they were very even, I meant it at the present time. I've watched Costas play several times this year, and found he was not as dominate as he was his previous years. Something was missing. Since winning the Championship last year, is he "cruising" through this season? He doesn't seem like he is "hungry" this year like he was last year. Does anyone else see him playing at a lesser level this year than his previous years, or is it my imagination? I have been noticing that too, but, I feel it maybe a combination of several things. 1) I remember reading that he has a nagging pain in his arm which is probably why he isn't playing as hard as he did in the past. 2) He may feel that winning the Nationals last year has made him more relaxed this year since that accomplishment has been made and doesn't feel the pressure of winning it again this year. 3) He is probably also feeling he shouldn't carry the burden of winning matches by himself and basically making the players around him carry the burden this time around. Perhaps to help develope the team for next year when he is gone. |
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Post by V on Feb 26, 2003 5:43:52 GMT -5
Waves building for UH rematch
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
To be sure, there is one mid-week, mid-season men's volleyball match that has more than middling importance.
A rivalry will be renewed when top-ranked Pepperdine plays No. 2 Hawai'i tonight in a rematch of last year's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament final and NCAA championship match.
Last season, Pepperdine earned the popular vote as the nation's best team, but did not prevail in the final election. After winning the MPSF regular-season title and league tournament, defeating UH three times in the process, the Waves lost in the match that mattered the most.
"It was real disappointing," Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy said of the four-game loss to UH in the NCAA title match. "Hawai'i played a good match. That's the way it goes."
Despite new starters at three positions, the Waves have won their first 10 MPSF matches this season.
"This is a new year," Dunphy said. "This team has a new identity."
UH, meanwhile, is struggling in its role as defending national champion. Of their first five two-match series, the Warriors won one and split four. They have used four different lineups this season, including three in the past two weeks.
"We always win one and lose one," outside hitter Tony Ching said. "Enough of that already. This is a big match for us. We need to beat them to have any shot at the at-large bid."
The tournament winners from the NCAA's three leagues earn automatic berths in the NCAA final four; the at-large team usually comes from the MPSF.
The NCAA selection committee members "look at the national rankings and they do a lot of comparative-score checking," said UH coach Mike Wilton. "I'm at a point where I feel we need to put back-to-back great efforts together. If we have a great effort, more times than not, it leads to a win."
As for tonight's match, Wilton said, "We're ready to roll."
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