|
Post by Garand on May 8, 2014 13:10:22 GMT -5
I'll start by offering my prediction for the season finish:
1. Hawaii - maybe a little off this season, but still a very good volleyball team. 2. Long Beach State - very close to Hawaii, could LBSU's year. 3. UCSB - can they repeat what they did last year, or was it a fluke: I'm betting on them. 4. Irvine - I think they have the horsepower (sorry girls) to surprise some teams in 2014. 5. Northridge - lost the conference's best setter, but still a solid team. 6. Davis - also some player losses, so a tougher season than last year. 7. Cal Poly - kind of a dark horse here, I think they could do much better than this. 8. Fullerton - some big talent losses, so a really tough season. 9. UC Riverside - sorry, but just don't see hope for any improvement over last year.
Sending three teams to the tourney was great last year, but I think that could be difficult to repeat in 2014. Overall, I think the Big West will finish a little lower as a conference than in 2013, and this will make for lower RPI's even among the top BW teams. On the other hand, who knows, maybe we'll see some pleasant surprises. No matter what, I wish the best for all the Big West teams in 2014!
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on May 8, 2014 14:16:31 GMT -5
okay remind me who's coming back for LBSU?
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on May 8, 2014 14:21:22 GMT -5
Underclassmen out for UH. Jade, Goodman, Kawamura. Reportedly Adolpho is playing just VB and not basketball. Olevao rumored to possibly contemplating a mission for LDS.
|
|
|
Post by Garand on May 8, 2014 14:53:25 GMT -5
okay remind me who's coming back for LBSU? I'm not particularly close to the Long Beach program so this may not be terribly accurate, but I believe they lose Aigner-Swesey, one of their big guns, and that's about it. They still have Reid, Okpala, and maybe Hampton, depending on her health. Also, I think sophomore Joy Miley will step up and be a force for them on the pins this year. Their setting situation has probably improved a fair bit with transfer Hudson. All in all, I think they will be better than last year and are positioned to give Hawaii a run for their money. Anyone with better information please jump in and correct me.
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on May 8, 2014 15:28:21 GMT -5
On paper, LBSU seems poised for the top of the Big West. UH will have tons of new talent, its going to come down to how Dave wants to utilize them if at all. UH return's Adolpho in the middle and Olevao and Taylor on the outside. Setter is Higgin's to run and the lib is up for grabs.
|
|
|
Post by WahineFan44 on May 8, 2014 15:32:51 GMT -5
okay remind me who's coming back for LBSU? I'm not particularly close to the Long Beach program so this may not be terribly accurate, but I believe they lose Aigner-Swesey, one of their big guns, and that's about it. They still have Reid, Okpala, and maybe Hampton, depending on her health. Also, I think sophomore Joy Miley will step up and be a force for them on the pins this year. Their setting situation has probably improved a fair bit with transfer Hudson. All in all, I think they will be better than last year and are positioned to give Hawaii a run for their money. Anyone with better information please jump in and correct me. I believe Hampton is also leaving.
|
|
|
Post by fetchin on May 8, 2014 16:30:36 GMT -5
On paper, LBSU seems poised for the top of the Big West. UH will have tons of new talent, its going to come down to how Dave wants to utilize them if at all. UH return's Adolpho in the middle and Olevao and Taylor on the outside. Setter is Higgin's to run and the lib is up for grabs. I don't think so, on paper Hawaii still should be the favorite, the have the best middle in Magill, best outside in Taylor and best recruit in Kalen Greeley, and replacing their setter shouldn't be too hard, she wasn't very good. Long beach will have a hard time getting back in the tourney.
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on May 8, 2014 16:37:02 GMT -5
Well, i'm not saying UH doesn't have or will have a very strong team, its just that i'm taking into account the cohesion factor of LBSU. Also, per Dave, Uiato is a very, very good setter. And he knows all about setting.
|
|
|
Post by Garand on May 8, 2014 17:37:51 GMT -5
On paper, LBSU seems poised for the top of the Big West. UH will have tons of new talent, its going to come down to how Dave wants to utilize them if at all. UH return's Adolpho in the middle and Olevao and Taylor on the outside. Setter is Higgin's to run and the lib is up for grabs. I don't think so, on paper Hawaii still should be the favorite, the have the best middle in Magill, best outside in Taylor and best recruit in Kalen Greeley, and replacing their setter shouldn't be too hard, she wasn't very good. Long beach will have a hard time getting back in the tourney. Replacing Uiato not too hard? She was a terrific setter. Higgins appears to have a lot of talent, but it will still be her first year in charge of the offense.
|
|
|
Post by network155 on May 8, 2014 20:18:42 GMT -5
Hawaii although they bring in the best recruiting class in the conference, they're very young with the exception of MaGill. It's nice to have players like Nikki Taylor back, Mendoza, and Adolpho. I'm actually excited about this season. Anxious to see the battle for starting libero, and the outsides.
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on May 8, 2014 23:55:18 GMT -5
Right Wiz. You know UH's system pretty well considering :-). It's not just that you have exceptional recruits, but that they can pick up UH's system quickly and then be aggressive enough to impact their positions. Some freshmen will be confident and ready others will be able to ease into their roles at their pace. And a slim few may not be able to take the next step into Div. 1. It happen's. In all, having upperclassmen start can be all the difference in winning. Being comfortable with each other will get you out of trouble during a match.
|
|
|
Post by VivaLaVolley on May 9, 2014 0:01:07 GMT -5
LBSU's incoming recruiting class is better than Hawaii's.
|
|
|
Post by HawaiiVB on May 9, 2014 1:47:44 GMT -5
how do you measure? stats are one thing... I guess it will come down to who is playing against whom come season time.
|
|
|
Post by VivaLaVolley on May 9, 2014 2:18:54 GMT -5
Long Beach State will have to fill the void of Aigner-Swesey
Sheridan Atkinson 6'7'' RS Hannah Hendrickson 6'4'' OH Sara Wantanabe 5'6' Lib Ashley Murray 6'2'' MB Missy Owens 6'2'' Setter (+ two foreign transfers, and transfer setter Janelle Hudson from Iowa State)
Hawaii possibly only has one freshman that will have an impact, Greeley and IMO is very overrated. Magill will help them however.
Megan Huff, 6-2 MB Clare Anderson, 5-5 DS Kalei Greeley, 6-2 OH Gianna Guinasso, 5-9 DS Savannah Kahakai, 5-8 L/OH
(+transfer Olivia Magill)
|
|
|
Post by VivaLaVolley on May 9, 2014 2:20:47 GMT -5
UCSB, UCI, UCR and Davis have all had changes in their coaching staff. Is there any word on who will replace Matt Ulmer at LBSU and who will fill the void at CSUF of losing both assistants?
|
|