Bown

[wang pu]

will attempt to be there in 2008.

starbulletin.com/2004/08/09/sports/story3.html

[roy]

A very curious statement by Shoji in that "Bown hits the ball with the most velocity of anyone in the history of the program." I would have thought that honor goes to Willoughby. I think I have to go home and watch some tape on Bown. I remember her hitting hard and heavy ball. She had some nice heat on it as well. But Willoughby was just brutal in her kills. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of either attack.

[brybry]

Ah Moh mentioning how Bown's success depends a lot on the first two contacts of the ball seems pretty accurate. Both Bown and Scott have had lower numbers of late. It'd be nice to see Bown get a 20 pt match. Hopefully she'll be in top form for the Olympics.
Shoji stating that Bown had no equal at her position of MB in 1999 is a stretch. I believe there was an AVCA POY in Lauren Cacciamani.

[IdahoBoy]

brybry said:

I believe there was an AVCA POY in Lauren Cacciamani.

Who is where now? Not good enough to make Olympic squad?

[afvbking10]

Lauren never tried for the Olympic team. Penn State won the title her senior year, and after that, she was done with competetive volleyball.

[brybry]

IdahoBoy® said:

Who is where now? Not good enough to make Olympic squad?

Cacciamani would have started. She wanted other things.

[MarsH]

so USA's passing lately has been suspect? in the grand prix, both sykora and tom were top 10 passers. but with oganna playing instead of keba who's usually a primary passer, has the reception shrunk into a 2-person serve receive? if they can't set the middles in the olympics, USA will have a lot of trouble...

so bown wants to stay on for 2008. sykora has said that she plans to play volleyball til she dies. scott said that she will play as long as the national team thinks she's good enough. does anyone know if oganna plans to pursue a role on the national team for sure? or after she finishes up at stanford, will she pursue a different career?

[PukaPants]

Oh gaaawwwd, people please, let's not turn this into a Bown vs. Cacciamani debate.

The article is about Bown and I for one am elated to see how much progress she's made since she left Hawaii.

Granted I wasn't a Hawaii fan, but I remember being in awe of Bown when UH was in town to play BYU in...can't remember....but Nina Puikkonen was a freshman and Korie Rogers was a Jr.

Anyhow, I followed up with her until she graduated and realized that Bown is still FRESH and Shoji will show her how to do some amazing things....looks like I was right.

I'm enjoying these articles, good job to the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

[Barefoot In Kailua]

roy said:

A very curious statement by Shoji in that "Bown hits the ball with the most velocity of anyone in the history of the program." I would have thought that honor goes to Willoughby. I think I have to go home and watch some tape on Bown. I remember her hitting hard and heavy ball. She had some nice heat on it as well. But Willoughby was just brutal in her kills. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of either attack.

Curious indeed but he knows better than we do. I always thought Kee Williams hit the heaviest ball.

[Noname]

I remember there was this one time when Shoji mentioned that when Bown was playing for UH and taking warm up hits, some of the opposing teams would have their players face the other way and not watch her, since they thought it would put fear into them because she hits a heavy ball. I thought that was funny.

[roy]

•¤Madonna¤• said:

I remember there was this one time when Shoji mentioned that when Bown was playing for UH and taking warm up hits, some of the opposing teams would have their players face the other way and not watch her, since they thought it would put fear into them because she hits a heavy ball. I thought that was funny.

I remember that quote. I think it was SJSU coach Choate who said it, but I can't be sure. Bown is very intimidating, but I think Willoughby has a slight edge on her in terms of hard hitting. Willoughby sort of commanded respect in her final years at UH. I remember being at the Minnesota match at the beginning of the season. Willoughby came in for a kill and blasted the ball right off of Gentil. Minnesota looked awamed but what was more telling was that UCLA was also watching the match and their players looked shocked.

But I think BiK has it right. Kee Williams also hit a really heavy ball. Teee Williams may also be up there, but its hard to compare the players now to the players back then.

[Noname]

roy said:

I remember that quote. I think it was SJSU coach Choate who said it, but I can't be sure.

Now that I really think back, you're right, it was SJSU's coach that mentioned that.

Thinking back at one time during a LBSU and UH match where Bown was playing across from Weaver, Bown made a nice hit which Weaver tried to block successfully, then right after that play, Weaver shook her hands and you can basically read her lips when she uttered "ouch".