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Post by koavball on Aug 28, 2021 2:36:41 GMT -5
I think Leo is more comfortable on the left so the right might take an adjustment.
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Post by babybacksets on Aug 28, 2021 3:02:50 GMT -5
Getting home late, can’t wait to watch this game from everything I’m reading!!!
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Post by 5100 on Aug 28, 2021 5:00:29 GMT -5
Wow. I did not expect to see that lineup. I did think Leoniak would start, but at OH. So all that hype about Lang and Hanawahine had me thinking they were sure starters. Pleasantly surprised with Byrd and Ikenaga.
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Post by hwnstunner on Aug 28, 2021 5:10:38 GMT -5
It was just so amazing to see the Wahine play again. - Ikenaga probably has the best backcourt game for a Wahine freshman libero/DS since Melissa Villaroman. She was a smooth and effortless in passing and defense all night. Libero's don't need to be flashy to be good - especially when they can read and just be in position. Hope she can keep it up all season! - Wagoner was another surprised in the lineup. Notice Ah Mow didn't have any of the surprise starters do interviews with media. Must have thrown off the scout pretty well by highlighting Kiraly, Hanawahine, Lang, and Westerberg. It'll be interesting to see how Wagoner can handle a starting spot on offense, but she did great and got better as the match went on. - Hawaii had a a very inconsistent passing core of Ross, Okino and Van Sickle. Tonight, Hawaii's serve receive, ball handling, and transition game was stellar. Even Leoniak and Byrd showed some defensive prowess. Leoniak's serve is gonna be a game-changer. She held her serve for many points. - I'm sure Leoniak's offense will come around. But she definitely brings a lot to the court. - Van Sickle and Igiede were bringing the hammer tonight. Many of Igiede's hits were in the the 3m line. Unreal... she'll be National Team and Olympic potential by the time she graduates. - Not fully sold on Byrd, lots of sloppy sets to the pins - you can tell she's not a quick tempo setter - but definitely lots of potential and loved the energy and offense she brought to the court. She is a a fun fun fun player to watch. We haven't had a tall setter start since Carey. Glad Hawaii did a 5-1 given all the new players Hawaii has. I wouldn't mind a 6-2 (which they did ending of set 3 with Westerberg and Lang), but Byrd's offense in the front row honestly intrigues me. - Williams connection with Byrd not the best, but she still had a great first match as well. - All in all, Hawaii CLEARLY has focused on serve receive, ball handling, serving (they kept hitting their targets over and over, which eliminated or limited Fairfield's best hitters) and transition game. Very polished, and with Van Sickle/Wagoner/Ikenaga, perhaps the potential to be the best passing core since Cubi-Otineru/Danielso/Kaaihue. Excited for tomorrow's match!
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Post by 5100 on Aug 28, 2021 7:15:26 GMT -5
It was just so amazing to see the Wahine play again. - Ikenaga probably has the best backcourt game for a Wahine freshman libero/DS since Melissa Villaroman. She was a smooth and effortless in passing and defense all night. Libero's don't need to be flashy to be good - especially when they can read and just be in position. Hope she can keep it up all season! I was just about to say this! Too early to say, but she did remind me of Villaroman - not flashy, but consistent, reliable and focused.
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Post by medusa on Aug 28, 2021 9:50:57 GMT -5
I think Leoniak the girl from Poland will be a Big asset to UH. Seems like she just had the Heebeejeebees last night.
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bg
Freshman
Posts: 93
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Post by bg on Aug 28, 2021 17:23:56 GMT -5
I was impressed with Leoniak's soft hands when passing the ball. Don't usually expect it from an Opposite. Also so delighted with the prospect of a starting setter who is offensive, can block, and presumably, can hit. Setting-wise, things weren't perfect, but this was the first game in 2 yrs with new folks involved. It'll get better.
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Post by kb808 on Aug 28, 2021 18:30:05 GMT -5
I hope I’m wrong but I just don’t see Riley’s front row play being good enough against better competition… she hasn’t shown much when it comes to blocking.. would like to see Tiff come in for her in front row… Or move Leo to the left and Tiff to the right..
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Post by wahinefan on Aug 28, 2021 21:46:30 GMT -5
I believe Robyn went with her Best Defensive players in last night's match against Fairfield. Thinking Robyn wanted to set a defensive tone in the match. Believe we may see more Offensive players in the match against Marquette. Players like Westerberg, and quite possibly Lang as the Setter, with maybe even Hanawahine as the Libero.
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Post by babybacksets on Aug 28, 2021 22:23:08 GMT -5
I believe Robyn went with her Best Defensive players in last night's match against Fairfield. Thinking Robyn wanted to set a defensive tone in the match. Believe we may see more Offensive players in the match against Marquette. Players like Westerberg, and quite possibly Lang as the Setter, with maybe even Hanawahine as the Libero. This also wouldn’t surprise me. I thought Wagoner did well finding the court and there has to be a reason why Leoniak is being put in as an OPP that she didn’t show offensively last night. Me thinks UH has a lot more firepower to show.
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Post by wahinefan on Aug 28, 2021 22:32:18 GMT -5
I believe Robyn went with her Best Defensive players in last night's match against Fairfield. Thinking Robyn wanted to set a defensive tone in the match. Believe we may see more Offensive players in the match against Marquette. Players like Westerberg, and quite possibly Lang as the Setter, with maybe even Hanawahine as the Libero. This also wouldn’t surprise me. I thought Wagoner did well finding the court and there has to be a reason why Leoniak is being put in as an OPP that she didn’t show offensively last night. Me thinks UH has a lot more firepower to show. I, too, believe the Wahine have a lot more firepower, that was on the sidelines, then they showed. The Wahine can win the BWC with the lineup they had against Fairfield. But to go deep into the NCAA Tournament, the Wahine better have more firepower in the girls that did not play against Fairfield.
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Post by ancksunamun on Aug 28, 2021 22:36:18 GMT -5
What Leoniak lacked in firepower she more than made up for in other areas. She dug some amazing balls that transitioned into kills, her serving kept the opponent on their toes, and she had some key blocks too. Her attacking will come along with more court time. Looking forward to that day.
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Post by babybacksets on Aug 28, 2021 23:35:18 GMT -5
What Leoniak lacked in firepower she more than made up for in other areas. She dug some amazing balls that transitioned into kills, her serving kept the opponent on their toes, and she had some key blocks too. Her attacking will come along with more court time. Looking forward to that day. Well thats the thing, if Leoniak is taking the majority of her swings on the left, then who knows how much more offensive she is. I’m really interested in what a lineup with Van Sickle, Leoniak(OH), and Westerberg(OPP) on the pins looks like. Wagoner seems like the best option as far as ball control goes as of right now but the season just started so who knows! And I’m just gonna come right out and say this because I still want to see what she’s capable of, especially with her vertical, but did anyone else thing Mia Johnson looked A LOT smaller than expected? Lol i know there were listings of her as tall as 6’0” but that’s definitely not the case. However, if you’re an undersized outside hitter, there’s no one better in the game to be learning from than Brooke Van Sickle.
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Post by brooselee on Aug 28, 2021 23:54:28 GMT -5
Mia Johnson will get her turn next season. She is probably going to be looked at as a BVS part 2. Robyn can’t take Wagoner out and I don’t think Leoniak will be replaced so Mia is going to have to wait her turn. For now, she can just train and hope for some spot/mop up duties during BW season.
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Post by babybacksets on Aug 29, 2021 0:15:09 GMT -5
I wonder if there’s any chance of Helvig returning. Not saying we need her but the team would be insane with her back and taking over for Brooke. I think USC men’s had a foreign player leave because of covid, play/practice with a club team and i believe he’s back now
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