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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 13, 2015 15:44:39 GMT -5
Thought I should Start this thread.
We lose two seniors, an OH who sturggled at times but had the heart of a lion and an ALL AMERICAN Middle, who will be hard to replace.
In OH we have, Granato, Castillo, Greeley, Taylor, Sibley.
Middles we have Maglio, Mitchem and Burns with Castillo as backup for injury
Opp we have taylor and Castillo
Liberos we have emma smith, Kahakai, Anderson, Ponce and Guinasso.
setters we have Iosia, Higgins, Koelsch.
IMO, the lineup SHOULD be OH1. Greeley Oh2. Granato MH; Mitchem and Maglio Opp. Taylor Setter- Iosia Libero- Kahakai
But we all know higgins will set, but I think we are in a great season next year. According to cindy, Big name schools are coming, and 2 more pac 12 schools besides UCLA are. Hoping one of them is part of the stanford, Washington, USC trio. More so with Stanford so I can see their freshman play in person
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 13, 2015 15:47:25 GMT -5
Anyones who seen Sibley play, Can they say how good she is? Ive only seen clips, looks like she hits hard though
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Post by aznsun90 on Dec 13, 2015 16:01:56 GMT -5
Sibley appears to have the fast arm swing, the height, and the athleticism, that Shoji and company can mold into a potential elite volleyball player. I just love the way Shoji gets the most out of his athletes.
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Post by aznsun90 on Dec 13, 2015 16:02:06 GMT -5
Sibley appears to have the fast arm swing, the height, and the athleticism, that Shoji and company can mold into a potential elite volleyball player. I just love the way Shoji gets the most out of his athletes.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 13, 2015 16:20:12 GMT -5
it's gonna be hard letting go of the hawaii 2015 thread ... like saying good-bye to a friend when i gave up my old galaxy phone when the S6 edge came out ... my old galaxy was an S3 too ... so that kinda tells you how long i had that one ... (also, i'm just so lazy about upgrading my phone when the time comes) ... lol
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 13, 2015 16:34:26 GMT -5
The Hawaii 2015 team was one of the best and most diversified Hawaii team I've seen in a long time. I wonder if it's better than the 2009 team. That 2009 team wasn't physical (except for Brittany Hewitt), but it had Kanani Danielson, Dani Mafua, Liz Ka'aihue, and off-the-charts vb smart Aneli Cubi-Otineru.
Now, on to 2016.
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Post by bill on Dec 13, 2015 16:34:55 GMT -5
Some huge shoes to fill but UH will be very good next season.....regarding your conference MVP, was it just my imagination but is that knee worse than it looks.....she was struggling playing two nights in a row, am I right?
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 13, 2015 16:37:08 GMT -5
The Hawaii 2015 team was one of the best and most diversified Hawaii team I've seen in a long time. I wonder if it's better than the 2009 team. That 2009 team wasn't physical (except for Brittany Hewitt), but it had Kanani Danielson, Dani Mafua, Liz Ka'aihue, and off-the-charts vb smart Aneli Cubi-Otineru. Now, on to 2016. 2015 hawaii needed 2009's passing ... and kanani terminating at her .300 clip at one of the OH positions. 2009 needed 2015's height and serving ...
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Post by soljah808 on Dec 13, 2015 17:23:37 GMT -5
This would be my preferred line up:
OH1: Sibley OH2: Greeley OPP: Taylor Lib: Kahakai Set: Iosia MH1: Mitchem MH2: Maglio
I know Sibley or Iosia in the starting lineup to begin the season is not happening. Shoji will start his upperclassmen...he almost always has....and I don't see him changing anytime soon.
I'd have Koelsch take reps at Opp to back up Taylor while also training at setter to come in as a blocking sub for the setter be it Iosia or Higgins. Following year, I'd revert Koelsch back to training at setter full time as she will be Iosia's only back up.
Continue to train up Castillo in all three positions....Middle,Left, and Opp.
I'd like to throw Sibley in the fire just like they did Taylor. Get her acclimated with the D1 game because I think she has the tools to be good out there.
Unless Granato plays head over heels better than her competition next year, I'd still use her for situations that will involve her passing. Her height or lackthereof could be a weakness. Nor does she jump out of the gym. But if she can step it up next year, I wouldn't mind at all seeing her start.
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Post by calitripleblock on Dec 13, 2015 17:50:22 GMT -5
Hawaii fans - how injured was Nikki Taylor? The regionals was the first time I got to see her play. That knee brace and wrap looked intense and seemed like her entire right arm was taped up. Also looked awkward whenever she had to go down to the floor
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 13, 2015 18:18:32 GMT -5
I'm very excited for this 2016 Hawai'i team. Our middles will be taller with 6'5 burns/6'3 Maglio/6'3 Mitchem. Our outsides will be pretty big as well with 6'2 Greeley/6'2 Sibley/6'3 Castillo/5'11 Granato...We still have our Libero and DS in Kahakai & Anderson coming back. Our setters will be back with the additional 5'11 highly touted Iosia coming in. Then we have 6'4 Taylor our for sure first teamer this season back. Next year's team should be very very good!
The way Granato was playing and hitting the ball on the outside vs Minnesota, I honestly am not worried about her next season. GO BOWS!
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 13, 2015 18:33:52 GMT -5
i think we can only probably safely assume that, barring injury, taylor and maglio will be starting come fall.
probably also kahakai is a near lock at libero. but maybe anderson pushes her some more (if anything, anderson has that 1st ds off the bench role nailed down). kahakai has just improved so much over this past season, and it was a joy watching her in the ncaa tourney. smith ... i know nothing about her ability, so i'm looking forward to seeing her get some pt.
higgins made great strides this year, and stepped it up in the postseason. but who knows how close (or how much closer) koelsch will be to her after another offseason ... or how iosia will adapt (quickly?) to the college game.
mitchem will be 100% by then as the second MB. i'd just like to see her get full matches under her belt. arriving late to fall camp, the inconsistent playing time, and then the injury ... all just conspired against her development. spring training will help her get settled. burns too.
greeley is of course another near lock. but off season surgery can always be so tricky. even if she's completely healed, it could be a different story confidence/strength-wise. hoping it all goes well and we see her stronger in the fall.
hard to choose or know between granato and castillo ... granato stepped in valiantly in the regional final. i'd like to see more of that from her. but i like castillo's size, and she looks like she can step in and be a sturdy passer too. if greeley is ready to start in the fall (she and kahakai will anchor the passing) ... so then i'd almost want to see who between granato and castillo can provide a little more punch on offense (assuming that either can both be serviceable 3rd passer). looking forward to seeing sibley in the mix.
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Post by volleyballfan99 on Dec 13, 2015 18:36:28 GMT -5
People need to remember, there is still ONE BIG QUESTION still out there, will Dave Shoji return, or will he retire? The Summer Olympics will be held next August, and his 2 sons will be playing volleyball in the Olympics. It will occur directly during the heart of fall practice time. Dave Shoji's return, or non-return, will have a direct bearing on how good the team will be next year, also.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Dec 13, 2015 18:44:28 GMT -5
i'd like to think shoji will return. i hope he does. this is just too good of a core of players to leave now. a core that was on the doorstep of the final four. i almost feel like shoji's competitive nature will compel him to comeback ... just to see what this group can do next year.
seeing his sons in the olympics might just be a matter of scheduling and timing. it can certainly be accommodated.
and with a veteran group of wahine players returning, it might not be too much of an issue if shoji misses part of the fall camp.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 13, 2015 18:52:22 GMT -5
He will return. NO WAY he leaves with the talent he will have next year. Summer olympics end before the season starts anyway, so he will just have hall and ah mow run practice
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