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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Nov 30, 2022 13:37:53 GMT -5
Ugh can’t wait until all of these covid seniors leave and everyone is back to normal “4 year” schollies. Yes. Especially for those players who didn't miss a season. Our players and their counterparts in the Big West actually missed a season because of Covid.
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Post by raian13 on Nov 30, 2022 13:43:31 GMT -5
Senior academically, so likely getting a degree and moving on after four years at UCI. Fits the 'grad transfer' mode; Onye and Kelly Negron (S). Both good players, but not sure how much they'll move the needle elsewhere; will depend on where they go and how quickly they can adapt and grow in new systems. W/o a two year committment, even 'good' players might be problematic. There are VERY few schools where onye doesn’t start and make an immediate impact. She’s that good Yes, she’s got hops and could play OOS. For a MH she’s that special.I’ve seen her hit at the pins and actually can terminate. Decent server too.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Nov 30, 2022 13:46:30 GMT -5
Edmonds gets first taste of NCAAs after 3 seasons at MSUBy Jason Kaneshiro JASON KANESHIRO / JKANESHIRO@STARADVERTISR.COM Wahine defensive specialist Talia Edmonds took a selfie on her way to the team bus as UH departed Tuesday to prepare for its NCAA Tournament match Friday against LSU at Stanford, Calif.
Before boarding a bus to begin the journey to her first NCAA Tournament, Talia Edmonds recalled a conversation with her new teammates prior to her University of Hawaii debut. “At the beginning of the season we had this team hangout and it was just us,” the junior defensive specialist said. “And I told them, ‘Guys, not be selfish or anything, but I’ve never been to the tournament, so it would be really cool if we could make it at the end of the year.’ “Now we’ve found ourselves in that position, so I’m super, super excited.” During her three seasons at Michigan State, Edmonds had watched other Big Ten programs advance deep into the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament. She joined the Rainbow Wahine last spring as a graduate transfer and will make her first appearance in the event on Friday when Big West champion UH (22-6) faces LSU (15-13) in a first-round match in Stanford, Calif. So, camera phone at the ready, Edmonds took in the sendoff for the team on Tuesday as the Rainbow Wahine embarked on the trip to Northern California for the program’s 29th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They emerged from the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center security gate just before noon to the UH band playing the fight song and athletic department staff and coaches and boosters cheering them on. Although UH has now qualified for 40 NCAA Tournaments, “being in it, I’ve learned that it’s not an easy thing to do,” Edmonds said. “And that it’s definitely attainable when everyone is so invested and the coaches really care a lot, about winning and about culture.” Edmonds was well versed in Hawaii’s volleyball culture — particularly the islands’ emphasis on defense — while growing up in Michigan. Her mother, Elizabeth “Peka” (Malae) Edmonds, was an All-American and NAIA and AIAW national champion at Hawaii Hilo, and Talia attended UH volleyball camps when she visited family in the islands. A former team-captain at Michigan State, Edmonds made 21 starts this season as part of UH’s T-and-T back-row combination with sophomore Tayli Ikenaga. The duo has helped defuse opposing attacks, with Ikenaga leading the team with 3.12 digs per set and Edmonds averaging 1.98 when she rotates into the lineup. Although Edmonds is one of the program’s postseason newcomers, UH’s nonconference schedule and 10 weekends of conference play served as preparation for the team’s upcoming opportunity in Palo Alto. A rigorous early-season slate gave the Rainbow Wahine experience against tournament-quality competition, such as San Diego and Pittsburgh, both No. 2 seeds in their regions. The Big West season provided the tension of knowing any stumble could put their title hopes in jeopardy. “Every point, every match is so important,” Edmonds said. “So I think that’s not really going to shift for us going into this weekend.” UH ended up going 19-1 to earn a third straight Big West title and carries a 12-match winning streak into the tournament. But now that UH again secured a spot in the 64-team bracket, postseason play means resetting the records entering the tournament’s opening weekend. The UH-LSU winner will face the survivor of Friday’s second match at Maples Pavilion between Pepperdine and host Stanford, the top seed in the region. “That’s the most exciting part of it, that there’s so much opportunity for great things to happen,” Edmonds said. “It really is taking it one game at a time. I’m really excited just to focus and embrace it all and play that one game on Friday and after that see what happens.”
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Post by skeleton on Nov 30, 2022 14:06:10 GMT -5
Was just reading the UCLA thread. They are calling for Sealy's head.
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Post by gr8lakes on Nov 30, 2022 14:25:43 GMT -5
A reminder to never take success for granted. It's very difficult even for a P5 team to make the NCAA tournament consistently.
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Post by wang pu on Nov 30, 2022 14:25:55 GMT -5
Ofoegbu is in the portal. I hope the coaches try to go after her. That's too bad. I thought UCI was on the rise this year, finishing strong with wins over Poly and the Beach. I don't think they have a single senior on the roster, and would have been a real force in the BW next year. I cannot imagine how it must be to play for Ashley Hein (?). She just looks like a misearble person. No knowledge of anything other than what I see at UH matches. Makes me love Robyn even more.
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Post by rainbowcard on Nov 30, 2022 14:30:55 GMT -5
That's too bad. I thought UCI was on the rise this year, finishing strong with wins over Poly and the Beach. I don't think they have a single senior on the roster, and would have been a real force in the BW next year. I cannot imagine how it must be to play for Ashley Hein (?). She just looks like a misearble person. No knowledge of anything other than what I see at UH matches. Makes me love Robyn even more. to me I don’t know who looks more miserable Ashley or Nicole
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Post by rainbowcard on Nov 30, 2022 14:32:43 GMT -5
I guess awards will be announced at noon (2pm PT)? Can’t wait!
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Post by noblesol on Nov 30, 2022 14:36:24 GMT -5
There are VERY few schools where onye doesn’t start and make an immediate impact. She’s that good Yes, she’s got hops and could play OOS. For a MH she’s that special.I’ve seen her hit at the pins and actually can terminate. Decent server too. Her arm swing on the pin is elbow out much of the time, leading to attack errors. It's not her natural position, don't think anyone will take her and try to make her into a pin hitter. She does have a good serve, but her backrow defense is typical MB average. In the middle, I don't recall her ever hitting slide, not part of her game. Good blocker, yes, but not super quick to close the block or turn around and pop up tips. Shot chart is she's predominately wrist away to the right. Make her go cross-body and her effeciency decreases. As for moving the needle, she wasn't enough to move UCI out of middle of the pack of a weak conference. So, yes, a good player, can start on a lot of teams, but depending on where she goes, benefit may vary.
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Post by toonscivb on Nov 30, 2022 15:01:46 GMT -5
I guess awards will be announced at noon (2pm PT)? Can’t wait! I’ve checked instagram multiple times to see it Big West or HawaiiWVB posted the announcements
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Post by brooselee on Nov 30, 2022 15:08:52 GMT -5
Ofoegbu is in the portal. I hope the coaches try to go after her. Very tough decision for the UH coaches. We already have a championship level team. Onye would make us even better BUT we will be flooded with 4 senior MBs in 2023 and will have 0 experienced one for 2024 and may lead to a rebuild instead of a reload. I think Ofoegu make sense if Tiff/Kennedi decide to move on and forgo their senior year but if everyone come back, we need a MB to have at least 2 years of eligibility so that MB can lead us into the 2024 year where we will have a big graduating class. Having Sylvester and Way start as freshmen will be asking much. Better option is to get an international 4 year one since most of the talented 2023 MB are off the board or get a transfer with 2 or preferably 3 years to play.
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Post by raian13 on Nov 30, 2022 15:14:47 GMT -5
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Post by 2left on Nov 30, 2022 15:31:48 GMT -5
I'm glad that Kate got her recognition. She's more John Stockton than Magic Johnson. She won't often wow you with tricky passing and doesn't have height, but she makes consistent, smart plays, always looking first to feed her "Mailman" Amber, and is a good leader with a great all around game.
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Post by Kangaroo on Nov 30, 2022 15:32:27 GMT -5
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Post by raian13 on Nov 30, 2022 15:35:32 GMT -5
I'm glad that Kate got her recognition. She's more John Stockton than Magic Johnson. She won't often wow you with tricky passing and doesn't have height, but she makes consistent, smart plays, always looking first to feed her "Mailman" Amber, and is a good leader with a great all around game. I’m just surprised the she and Riley got along really well despite of their history 😂.
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