Hawaii sweeps Loyola

[VBCrusin]

The Bows are back and building momentum...shades of last year.

Hawaii dominated the match...Congrats to UH.

[neato]

score: 3-0; 30-25, 30-25, 30-22.

I watched the match on tv, and both teams seemed a little slow (sort of low energy), but Hawaii played good enough to win. Thomas finally busted out of his funk and dominated the game. Ching had a bad night offensively (I think he hit negative) but came up with something like 13 digs. I'll leave the rest of the analysis to the experts on this board, perhaps to someone who was there in person. I'm just glad Hawaii didn't let down like many of their other matches.

[Barefoot In Kailua]

I didn't watch the whole match, but I did catch that Foot save by Zimet, That play was sweet.

Tuyay with Corn Rows ? Goodbye Willie Nelson, Hello Snoop Dog.

Get them Rings ready! Iron that Shirt Crusin, I'm going to wear it to Dukes after the celebration .

[I Agree]

That foot save was nice, and not to mention Tuyay's quick turn around to dig that ball and send it from the end of the carpet area to mid court of the opponent.

I thought it was funny to see quite a few people wearing those plastic wraps around their foreheads to match Brian's style.

[VBCrusin]

Hey Barefoot...don't count your coconuts before they fall.


I always iron my shirts, but I'm not worried about losing one to you. I'm really looking forward to your T-leaf skirt, since I never had one before. Will Hula lessons go with it?

You stated that you were going to celebrate at Duke's? Is that the same Duke's here in Huntington Beach? I'll be there celebrating myself, after the Final at the Pyramid. ;D

Will you be at the Final? I definitely want to sit in the middle of the Hawaiian Fans (with Bookum) and cheer for Pepperdine.

[V]

Warrior volleyball team rolls through Ramblers

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Showing its quick-change artistry, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team crafted a 30-25, 30-25, 30-22 victory over Loyola-Chicago last night.

A crowd of 3,065 in the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Warriors, who were using a system they implemented two days earlier, improve to 12-5. The Ramblers are 10-4.

"We did a good job of adjusting considering how early (the system) was introduced," UH middle blocker Brian Nordberg said.

Imagine UH's lineup as a six-slice pie. In the old system, Eyal Zimet's slice, or position, was opposite from setter Kimo Tuyay's. Last night, in a system known as "Reverse 5-1," Costas Theocharidis played opposite and Zimet moved to outside hitter.

The simple change had a broad impact. Tony Ching, the other outside hitter, took three rotation turns on the left side, where he is most comfortable. Theocharidis was freed to swing away from all six spots. Zimet was available for more sets, and Nordberg, who followed Theocharidis in the rotation, was able to attack from the right to the left. "Personally, I like running my route that way," Nordberg said.

The change was made after UH coaches noticed there was a weak rotation turn in the previous system. "Now," Zimet said, "we've got our offense covered at all rotations."

That was evident in the final statistics. The Warriors had 24 more swings and 21 more kills than the Ramblers.

"They were getting swings on every play," Loyola coach Tim O'Brien said.

Before implementing the new system, UH coach Mike Wilton discussed the change with Theocharidis, the Warriors' best player. Theocharidis gave his blessing.

"As long as it works for the team, it's fine by me," Theocharidis said. "As long as I put the balls away and the team wins, that's all that matters."

Wilton conceded the Warriors struggled. "I have to admit a lot of times we didn't look very fluid, because it was like, 'Oh, where am I supposed to go next?' " Wilton said. "We'll get better at it. This was devised just because it lends itself well to some strengths that we have."

Theocharidis said he does not expect a prolonged transition period.

"Because we're all good athletes, it's easy to adjust to any system," said Theocharidis, who hammered a match-high 18 kills. "We're a short team, but we're the most athletic team in the country. We're midgets, but we can jump over the trees."

That agility was evident in Game 2, when Zimet raced toward the end-zone stands to make a kick-save pass. Tuyay dived and lofted the ball over the net, and soon after, Ching finished the play by winning a joust at the net. Theocharidis raced over and bear-hugged Zimet.

"I guess it helped that I played a little soccer in high school," Zimet said. "You can't dive at it, because it's too close to the wall, and I was kind of late. (Kicking it) was the only way I could get it back to the court."

Meanwhile, the Warriors used well-placed serves — they had seven aces and committed only six service errors in the first two games — to reduce the Ramblers' offense to a predictable choreography of quick sets to the middle or Justin Schnor's attacks from the left side.

"They were in system and we weren't," O'Brien said. "It's almost elementary."

Earlier, Wilton announced that freshman Pedro Azenha, who quit the team last week, was reinstated. He will rejoin the team on Monday.

Box score
the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2003/Mar/06/volleybox.gif

[sweetieVBfan]

yes! azenha's back. i think leahey said that zimet had spoken with him about his future playing time. good job eyal!

[sweetieVBfan]

oh and did anyone notice haas on loyola? that kid can block like no other. i just checked the box score and he his 1.000 - with 11 kills. i remember leahey saying that haas' season percentage is something like .477 or .517 or something like that. this kid does NOT get blocked often.

anyone from the midwest know anything about him?

[Barefoot In Kailua]

VBCrusin said:

Hey Barefoot...don't count your coconuts before they fall.


I always iron my shirts, but I'm not worried about losing one to you. I'm really looking forward to your T-leaf skirt, since I never had one before. Will Hula lessons go with it?

You stated that you were going to celebrate at Duke's? Is that the same Duke's here in Huntington Beach? I'll be there celebrating myself, after the Final at the Pyramid. ;D

Will you be at the Final? I definitely want to sit in the middle of the Hawaiian Fans (with Bookum) and cheer for Pepperdine.

I don't have Hula hips, I just like wacthing them. I'd follow Hula girls around when I was a kid, there's just something about swaying hula hips, gee and after all these years, nothing has changed . I'm sure I can find someone who will be able to show how how do work that Skirt ( Tahitian stlye ), in the rare case that you win it .

I was talking about Dukes in Waikiki, but the Huntington beach Dukes is the same Dukes, just different location. Don't run your Dukes bar tab up too high, Trying to drown your disappointment might not work. Gee.... what goes well with a nice Red Aloha Shirt ? Something festive hmm..... I'll have to go shopping .

I won't be going to the Pyramid, but being that you'll be in the Hawai'i section, make a little noise for the Warriors. I can see it now, you and Bookum high fiving each other celebrating the Warrior victory .

[VBCrusin]

Hey Barefoot,

I probably will be sitting in the middle of the Hawaii fans handing out crying towels to them. As far as Bookum is concerned, he'll have my shoulder to cry on when UH loses against Pepperdine. Do I have compassion, or what?

[Psychopotamus]

Hey it's easy to be happy when your team is in the lead, but it's fun when there is an upset. Hawaii isn't even close to playing their best yet. We saw flashes of what they can do early in the season, but they are really coming together now. If Hawaii runs up against Pepperdine again I think we might see a repeat of last year.

[VBCrusin]

Hey Not Richee,

I was happy at the start of the season when UCI was #1...AND I'm happier now since all 3 of my favorite teams are #1, #2, & #3 (Pepperdine, BYU, and Hawaii in THAT order). How can I lose?

I agree with you when Hawaii meets Pepperdine again for the MPSF (and NCAA Final ). It'll be the match of the season and will go the close 5. As far as Hawaii repeating? I feel it's Pepperdine's year... BYU might surprise Hawaii as well. Better watch out all you Pineapple eaters. It won't be a trolley ride this year!

[Barefoot In Kailua]

VBCrusin said:

Hey Barefoot,

I probably will be sitting in the middle of the Hawaii fans handing out crying towels to them. As far as Bookum is concerned, he'll have my shoulder to cry on when UH loses against Pepperdine. Do I have compassion, or what?

lol.... You're the Best Crusin'

I agree with Not Richie, They've showed signs of greatness, but the Warriors have yet to play their best match. Pepperdine is really good too as is BYU. If I do have to send you that Hula Skirt Crusin' , the next time you're in Hawai'i, you've got to show us your moves, we might need a little laugh .

[sweetieVBfan]

About Haas...
I found him and Davis, the setter, as sophmores at a tournament in Chicago during a recruiting trip. He was 6'7" then, and Davis was playing outside. Started talking to Dan's dad, who was coaching the team. Went out to Dubuque, IA to do a camp for them that summer. Haas was goofy footed back then, but he picked things up pretty fast. He is very coachable. Camp was alot of fun...the IA kids didn't mind getting beat on for 3 days. I quit coaching at the school I was at for a year. For some reason, they weren't recruited there, despite my recommendations. So, they end up at Loyola. Would've been nice to work with those 2. I am happy to see they have been so successful.

[noone]

sweetievbfan,
Didn't mean to put your name on my post about Haas. Sorry