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Post by jagdpanther on Dec 10, 2011 13:25:11 GMT -5
Congrats to USC! My champion pick is still alive!
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Post by GoUCLA on Dec 10, 2011 13:38:02 GMT -5
I am really surprised USC won but as a HUGE fan of Southern CalI caution that a very good Pepperdine club awaits. I just love that 3 schools, all within 30 miles of each other, are in the Final 8!
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Post by hammer on Dec 10, 2011 14:24:18 GMT -5
The crowd was amazing ... and never let up. And gave a deserving standing ovation to both teams. I was proud to be in the stands in a sellout crowd! I love that Hawaii (and Nebraska) are unique in the support their fans give the sport. It's a badge their fans can wear proudly ... But I really wish volleyball had a following like this everywhere! Then it'd be a ratings-grabber and revenue generator. And then the NCAA wouldn't give the sport step-child treatment... And we wouldn't be arguing over how ridiculous directives to the committee have resulted in another mishandled/unbalanced bracket! And matchups like this then wouldn't happen in the 3rd round, but in later rounds or in the Final Four, like they should be. Tonight though -- win or lose -- was just a great night to be a fan! +1. Amen to that. This is where the NCAA and ESPN F'd up -- put this match on TV and promote the sport and help future TV ratings.
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Post by C on Dec 10, 2011 14:26:34 GMT -5
Mita set a fantastic game!! I was very impressed with her both setters are amazing, very different styles but still set very hittable balls from everywhere on the court!
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Post by hammer on Dec 10, 2011 14:29:06 GMT -5
A classic match to watch! Not much separated these teams, Kananis comments about how playing in the WAC didn't prepare them for critical match-on-the-line situations were insightful. MVPs for Hawaii- Uiato (great job of isolating her hitters), Croson, Hewitt and the SSC crowd. Problems for Hawaii- too many passes forcing out of system swings, small pin blockers, serves didn't rattle USC. MVPs for USC- Jupiter (comes back from a slow start to hit .270), Hagglund (25 digs), and Fuller (kills at key moments). Problems for USC- slow back row players (other than Hagglund), limited offensive strategy, easy serves. Since the Trojans were forcing the ball to Jupiter whenever possible, the match pretty much turned on her performance. After a slow start, when she hit every ball cross court (usually right into Hewitt) she finally started hitting line and taking advantage of the shorter Hawaii blockers. USC seemed to have other offensive weapons (Fuller, Olgard, etc) but seldom used them. It was the ultimate match up of two totally different offensive styles, and you had to love the way Hawaii utilized all of their offensive weapons with a wide variety sets. Congrats to Hawaii, it was by far the best match they played all year at the most important time. Haven't read through every post, but I was going to make a comment similar to Kanani's about no panic from USC because of the schedule they play.
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 10, 2011 14:33:34 GMT -5
This was a heartbreaker for Hawaii. I was rooting for them but they made a lot of dumb mistakes that came back to haunt them. Standing up on defense, getting caught out of position on defense, service errors up the wazzo, communication errors..
Hawaii looked like a much better team to me but USC played a much cleaner game. Shoji must have been really upset.
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Post by roy on Dec 10, 2011 14:54:48 GMT -5
A classic match to watch! Not much separated these teams, Kananis comments about how playing in the WAC didn't prepare them for critical match-on-the-line situations were insightful. MVPs for Hawaii- Uiato (great job of isolating her hitters), Croson, Hewitt and the SSC crowd. Problems for Hawaii- too many passes forcing out of system swings, small pin blockers, serves didn't rattle USC. MVPs for USC- Jupiter (comes back from a slow start to hit .270), Hagglund (25 digs), and Fuller (kills at key moments). Problems for USC- slow back row players (other than Hagglund), limited offensive strategy, easy serves. Since the Trojans were forcing the ball to Jupiter whenever possible, the match pretty much turned on her performance. After a slow start, when she hit every ball cross court (usually right into Hewitt) she finally started hitting line and taking advantage of the shorter Hawaii blockers. USC seemed to have other offensive weapons (Fuller, Olgard, etc) but seldom used them. It was the ultimate match up of two totally different offensive styles, and you had to love the way Hawaii utilized all of their offensive weapons with a wide variety sets. Congrats to Hawaii, it was by far the best match they played all year at the most important time. Agree with a lot of this. This was just a great game to watch. Even though Hawaii lost, I felt pretty good about all of the match. Jupiter was amazing. She really showed why she was the Pac 12 POY. She started slow but really stepped up her offense and serving when her team needed her. When the fifth set started, I knew they were going to ride her arm and I think she did a great job for her team. For Hawaii, it really was the culmination of everything Shoji had worked on and it almost took out the top ranked team in the AVCA poll. Hewitt’s blocking showed up and caused problems for Jupiter and the middles early. Hartong, Satele and Croson took offensive pressure off Danielson. Uiato set a really nice offense. And the liberos, while not prefect, did a pretty nice job with their passing. It was a really great all around performance by Hawaii playing together at the right time. It’s cliché but I do agree that it was sad to see someone lose. While I’m disappointed that Hawaii lost a very winnable match, it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the second round loses in years past or a few matches where Hawaii was just overwhelmed by the other team. It was just great volleyball to watch and unfortunately, someone had to lose.
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Post by newbee on Dec 10, 2011 15:05:59 GMT -5
It's great to see real ( classy) Hawaii fans posting on here, instead of the trash-talking, name- calling ones. Hawaii will have a great team next year.
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Post by OverAndUnder on Dec 10, 2011 15:07:50 GMT -5
WAIT WHAT??? OKAY I AM PISSED!!! I fell asleep on page 40 of this thread, right when it looked like Hawai'i was going to close out the match. And now I wake up and find out they LOST?!??!!? I slept through one of the most intense comebacks in NCAA history. What the hell man?!!
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Post by hammer on Dec 10, 2011 15:41:26 GMT -5
Well, let me summarize what happened: JUPITER IS THE LARGEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM!!!!!
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Post by bigfan on Dec 10, 2011 15:58:37 GMT -5
Anyone see Falyn at the match? The Wahine are going to GREAT NEXT SEASON. ;D
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Post by haw2991 on Dec 10, 2011 16:05:25 GMT -5
Well, let me summarize what happened: JUPITER IS THE LARGEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM!!!!!lol
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Post by bigfan on Dec 10, 2011 16:07:06 GMT -5
;D Thanks...........................so many threads and so little time to scan them all!
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 10, 2011 16:17:03 GMT -5
Wow, what a great match! I am grateful to have been able to exprience that match in person. It was one of the best matches I have seen in my 22 years of being a volleyball fan. I am sad for the Bows, they really played their hearts out. Few people outside of the faithful Wahine fans thought Hawai'i actually had a chance in this match but Hawai'i outplayed USC and had USC on the ropes, unfortunately they just couldn't finish the deal. I am so proud of this team. Can't believe that Kanani has played her last match as a Wahine but the girl left everything on the court last night. What more can be said of her that has not been already said? she's phenomenal and the Wahine are definitely going to miss her presence on the court next season. Jane, wow! what a performance, just no fear in her at all. Brittany was a wall last night, and Chanteal really stepped up big time (so happy for her.) Mita set a really good match. She'll be very good next season as she continues to grow under Robyn's tutelage.
Congrats to USC. They came though under tremendous pressure. Jupiter and Hagglund were fantastic. They need to focus on Pepperdine but I like their chances if they get to SA.
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Post by LanaiBoy on Dec 10, 2011 16:41:43 GMT -5
I thought that one of the most interesting comments from the post-match press conference was made by Jupiter. She said she was successful all year in hitting "controlled and hard" until she faced Hawaii. She was getting blocked and her hits were being picked up by Hawaii by the back row early in the match. Then Coach Haley told her she had to change her style of hitting and try to vary the placement the ball and with less pace. Jupiter said it was difficult to break old habits of hitting hard but she followed Haley advice with great success in the latter part of the match. She felt uncomfortable but it worked.
Satele had the same problem last year and against UCLA. She hit the ball two ways—hard and harder. It is difficult to change because that strategy is really successful against weaker WAC teams and one looks great in slamming the ball. Kudos for Jupiter for being able to adjust her game mid-match. Sports is about muscle memory, repetition, and developing ingrained habits that one does unconsciously. Often when you change in mid-stream one tends to over-think. Obviously, this did not happen as Jupiter had a career match.
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