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Post by rainbowcard on Apr 6, 2023 15:27:16 GMT -5
Riley can be the go to OH i’m pretty sure Tali could do the same maybe even more! Riley will DS first before Tali! I feel like this could be the case only because of all the seniors TECHNICALLY being in their 5th year and a lot of coaches have wanted to honor their incoming class commitments. Although seeing as how a year was stolen by the Big West, the Coaching staff might not see it the same way. This is what I am thinking too, if someone new coming in can compete and be just as effective as one of the 5th years then they should be starting (obviously I am not taking about Amber).
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Post by brooselee on Apr 6, 2023 16:15:21 GMT -5
I kind of agree with rainbowcard. She is not going to be a DS. I am assuming she agreed to come here to compete as as OH.....just like Riley Wagoner. If she doesn't crack the starting lineup, she will probably be a backup OH and come in when a starter struggles. Being a DS will take away her chance to be a high level D1 OH. There seems to be rush to move undersized OHs to libero. There was talk of moving Wags there but it never materialized. Got enough DS on the team. Agree with everything you said except the "Got enough DS on the team" comment. We only have Talia & Tayli. We could use a couple of more littles... What about Kendra? She will probably be back as a mostly backrow player when the season starts. She played OH in the spring due to lack of bodies. Riley and Chandler were playing beach, Brae graduated and Tali and Stella not here yet. Mandi leaving threw a monkey wrench into the situation but I think the coaches are definitely searching for candidates.
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Post by hapaguy on Apr 6, 2023 18:46:33 GMT -5
Agree with everything you said except the "Got enough DS on the team" comment. We only have Talia & Tayli. We could use a couple of more littles... What about Kendra? She will probably be back as a mostly backrow player when the season starts. She played OH in the spring due to lack of bodies. Riley and Chandler were playing beach, Brae graduated and Tali and Stella not here yet. Mandi leaving threw a monkey wrench into the situation but I think the coaches are definitely searching for candidates. Completely forgot about Kendra! I actually like her a lot as a back row specialist and she's an offensive option in the back row so that's a plus. We could still use another ds on the team though IMHO I wonder why Morioka changed her mind. It was so quick the turnaround from committing to quitting...
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Post by wahinefan on Apr 6, 2023 19:44:19 GMT -5
There are 4 players that will definitely be in the Starting Lineup, Amber Igiede, Riley Wagoner, Kate Lang, and Tayli Ikenaga. All the other positions, MB2, Opposite, OH1, and DS are up for grabs. Caylen Alexander will have to battle Stella Adeyemi to keep her starting spot. The MB2 position is Kennedi Evan's position to lose. If she cannot regain her form, we could see Tiffany Westerberg back in the Middle position. Kendra Ham will have to hold off Tali Hakas for that DS spot. Whichever player can receive, play defense, serve, and most of all, attack from the back row will get that spot. For Hawaii to advance further in the NCAA tournament they will need to add, attacks from the back row, to their offensive weaponry.
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Post by babybacksets on Apr 6, 2023 22:49:17 GMT -5
Agree with everything you said except the "Got enough DS on the team" comment. We only have Talia & Tayli. We could use a couple of more littles... What about Kendra? She will probably be back as a mostly backrow player when the season starts. She played OH in the spring due to lack of bodies. Riley and Chandler were playing beach, Brae graduated and Tali and Stella not here yet. Mandi leaving threw a monkey wrench into the situation but I think the coaches are definitely searching for candidates. Idk with the numbers Kendra put up during the off season scrimmage, I feel like she may be elevating herself on the depth chart over Chandler. Would say maybe Chandler gets the DS nod now but man was I surprised she was so shaky in receive and defensively.
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Post by babybacksets on Apr 6, 2023 22:55:01 GMT -5
There are 4 players that will definitely be in the Starting Lineup, Amber Igiede, Riley Wagoner, Kate Lang, and Tayli Ikenaga. All the other positions, MB2, Opposite, OH1, and DS are up for grabs. Caylen Alexander will have to battle Stella Adeyemi to keep her starting spot. The MB2 position is Kennedi Evan's position to lose. If she cannot regain her form, we could see Tiffany Westerberg back in the Middle position. Kendra Ham will have to hold off Tali Hakas for that DS spot. Whichever player can receive, play defense, serve, and most of all, attack from the back row will get that spot. For Hawaii to advance further in the NCAA tournament they will need to add, attacks from the back row, to their offensive weaponry. If Evans can put in the same off season work athletically that Amber and Tiff did in prior seasons then I would agree with it being her spot to lose. I’m sure the staff has seen something in Tiff that has them convinced that being on the pin is the best route for her and I’m all for it. I don’t think Hakas or Ham will be competing for a “DS” role, I think they will both be trying to fight for a 6 rotation pin spot and if either of their passing is a necessity then they will be a “Backrow Pin” but not necessarily a “DS”
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Post by 5100 on Apr 7, 2023 0:27:07 GMT -5
What about Kendra? She will probably be back as a mostly backrow player when the season starts. She played OH in the spring due to lack of bodies. Riley and Chandler were playing beach, Brae graduated and Tali and Stella not here yet. Mandi leaving threw a monkey wrench into the situation but I think the coaches are definitely searching for candidates. Idk with the numbers Kendra put up during the off season scrimmage, I feel like she may be elevating herself on the depth chart over Chandler. Would say maybe Chandler gets the DS nod now but man was I surprised she was so shaky in receive and defensively. Yeah I think Ham was ahead of Cowell in both front row and back row duties even last year. In addition to playing DS, she was summoned to play both right front and left front (such as the match-ending kill vs UCSB) ahead of Cowell. For someone who was a former starter for a Div I team, Cowell has not really shown she deserves to be playing over anyone who's currently ahead of her.
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Post by bucky415 on Apr 7, 2023 5:11:50 GMT -5
I kind of agree with rainbowcard. She is not going to be a DS. I am assuming she agreed to come here to compete as as OH.....just like Riley Wagoner. If she doesn't crack the starting lineup, she will probably be a backup OH and come in when a starter struggles. Being a DS will take away her chance to be a high level D1 OH. There seems to be rush to move undersized OHs to libero. There was talk of moving Wags there but it never materialized. Got enough DS on the team. Agree with everything you said except the "Got enough DS on the team" comment. We only have Talia & Tayli. We could use a couple of more littles... Yeah, I agree with you that more back row depth would help, but Ham is a bonus because she played a key role in the back row last year but can also play 6 rotations if need be, but it may not be with more depth.
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Post by bucky415 on Apr 7, 2023 5:30:12 GMT -5
Okay, I am lazy and don't feel like looking through a ton of pages here, but I have to think a 6-2 is a possibility for the Wahine this fall, for the same reason Wisconsin will be running one again if healthy, in my opinion: a lot of talented hitters. Matias was highly regarded as a recruit and has been in the program for a year, so the setter part of it should work. Igiede can run the slide, but she is really good hitting in front of the setter, and it is not like they couldn't run crossing plays anyway with good ball control. Wagoner is one of the 6 rotation outsides you would need for it to work, and Alexander has had some experience as a 6 rotation left side, although her back row play was a work in progress. If memory serves, is Hakas, from what Wahine fans know, the more advanced newcomer as a back row player? Evans or Westerberg at M2, Westerberg as a right side option if Evans is M2 and DeGoede a right side option as well. Hakas, Alexander, Stella, Ham, Cowell as options at either pin. Edmonds for one right side in the back row. Yeah, a lot of moving parts and a lot of work to do with a lot of new faces in limited time before non conference play, because you don't want to have to win the league to go to the NCAA Tournament again. It would be a risk, doing something new, and it would look not good at times early, but, if you want to talk about how Hawai'i can advance further in the NCAA Tournament, I think this is the high ceiling option. My reference point is Wisconsin 2021. After they got wiped out at Minnesota to be 7-3, 1-1, I was strangely still more optimistic than most others about the upside. My, I could see it. They won the next 21 matches, got outplayed by Pitt in the Final 8, and still lost 15-13 in the fifth in that match after a Bramschrieber service run took them from 6-11 to 12-11 and was only ended by a great out of system swing. Nothing in all this should indicate any shade on my part to Lang and her setting or blocking, I hope.
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Post by skeleton on Apr 7, 2023 12:09:41 GMT -5
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Post by babybacksets on Apr 7, 2023 15:04:11 GMT -5
Okay, I am lazy and don't feel like looking through a ton of pages here, but I have to think a 6-2 is a possibility for the Wahine this fall, for the same reason Wisconsin will be running one again if healthy, in my opinion: a lot of talented hitters. Matias was highly regarded as a recruit and has been in the program for a year, so the setter part of it should work. Igiede can run the slide, but she is really good hitting in front of the setter, and it is not like they couldn't run crossing plays anyway with good ball control. Wagoner is one of the 6 rotation outsides you would need for it to work, and Alexander has had some experience as a 6 rotation left side, although her back row play was a work in progress. If memory serves, is Hakas, from what Wahine fans know, the more advanced newcomer as a back row player? Evans or Westerberg at M2, Westerberg as a right side option if Evans is M2 and DeGoede a right side option as well. Hakas, Alexander, Stella, Ham, Cowell as options at either pin. Edmonds for one right side in the back row. Yeah, a lot of moving parts and a lot of work to do with a lot of new faces in limited time before non conference play, because you don't want to have to win the league to go to the NCAA Tournament again. It would be a risk, doing something new, and it would look not good at times early, but, if you want to talk about how Hawai'i can advance further in the NCAA Tournament, I think this is the high ceiling option. My reference point is Wisconsin 2021. After they got wiped out at Minnesota to be 7-3, 1-1, I was strangely still more optimistic than most others about the upside. My, I could see it. They won the next 21 matches, got outplayed by Pitt in the Final 8, and still lost 15-13 in the fifth in that match after a Bramschrieber service run took them from 6-11 to 12-11 and was only ended by a great out of system swing. Nothing in all this should indicate any shade on my part to Lang and her setting or blocking, I hope. Yea with this level of depth, I see the 6-2 being very likely. Big question marks will be who that other OH will be and I think If Westerberg isn’t one of the opposites then she MIGHT be one of the middles ONLY if we don’t get enough from Bamis, Evans, etc but i don’t foresee both of them not being quality enough, with both being on campus and healthy. I’m hoping whoever that other “hammer” coming in is can fill the main opposite role if we go with Caylen on the left.
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Post by kaipono on Apr 7, 2023 16:25:43 GMT -5
With Anna Kiraly still on the Wahine Roster, it can only mean she has gained control over her health issue. She probably will not be match ready, but at least this could mean she would be able to help out in the practice gym. With this being said, the Wahine are at least 2 deep at every position, with some players being able to play multiple positions. Middle Blockers: Amber Igiede and Kennedi Evans, with Jacyn Bamis and Anna Kiraly the reserves. Outside Hitter 1: Caylen Alexander, with Stella Adeyemi the reserve. Outside Hitter 2: Riley Wagoner, with Tali Hakas the reserve. Opposite Hitter: Tiffany Westerberg, with Annika De Goede the reserve. Setter: Kate Lang, with Jackie Matias the reserve. Libero: Tayli Ikenaga, with Talia Edmonds the reserve. Defensive Specialist: Kendra Ham, with Talia Edmonds the reserve. There could be changes if a transfer player is added to the team before fall practice begins. Or, if Robyn decides to move some players around. For instance, moving Caylen Alexander to Opposite, or even moving Tiffany Westerberg back to Middle. What could also occur is if Tali Hakas beats out Kendra Ham for the Defensive Specialist position, The one thing I can see though, is that this coming season's Wahine Team will be much better then last season's team. Mainly due to the depth they will have at every position, something they did not really have last season. Unfortunately, I don't think that Kiraly will be a reserve in the middle. She just posted on her IG story about her ongoing battle with MS and her heartbreaking decision in regards to her retirement from volleyball: www.instagram.com/stories/my.talking.anchi/3075927681384910642/I wish her nothing but the best, and I know that she'll still find a way to contribute and be a part of this team.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Apr 7, 2023 16:40:32 GMT -5
With Anna Kiraly still on the Wahine Roster, it can only mean she has gained control over her health issue. She probably will not be match ready, but at least this could mean she would be able to help out in the practice gym. With this being said, the Wahine are at least 2 deep at every position, with some players being able to play multiple positions. Middle Blockers: Amber Igiede and Kennedi Evans, with Jacyn Bamis and Anna Kiraly the reserves. Outside Hitter 1: Caylen Alexander, with Stella Adeyemi the reserve. Outside Hitter 2: Riley Wagoner, with Tali Hakas the reserve. Opposite Hitter: Tiffany Westerberg, with Annika De Goede the reserve. Setter: Kate Lang, with Jackie Matias the reserve. Libero: Tayli Ikenaga, with Talia Edmonds the reserve. Defensive Specialist: Kendra Ham, with Talia Edmonds the reserve. There could be changes if a transfer player is added to the team before fall practice begins. Or, if Robyn decides to move some players around. For instance, moving Caylen Alexander to Opposite, or even moving Tiffany Westerberg back to Middle. What could also occur is if Tali Hakas beats out Kendra Ham for the Defensive Specialist position, The one thing I can see though, is that this coming season's Wahine Team will be much better then last season's team. Mainly due to the depth they will have at every position, something they did not really have last season. Unfortunately, I don't think that Kiraly will be a reserve in the middle. She just posted on her IG story about her ongoing battle with MS and her heartbreaking decision in regards to her retirement from volleyball: www.instagram.com/stories/my.talking.anchi/3075927681384910642/I wish her nothing but the best, and I know that she'll still find a way to contribute and be a part of this team. i can't imagine having to process this at such a young age. she's been through and overcome a lot. stay strong, anna
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Post by wahinefan on Apr 7, 2023 21:11:21 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that. Wishing her well. She is quite a battler, never giving up. Hoping Robyn can find her a spot, so she can stay connected to the team.
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Post by babybacksets on Apr 8, 2023 0:04:14 GMT -5
Heart goes out to Kiraly. That is such an extreme amount to deal with as a young person let alone an athlete that has dedicated so much of their life to being able to move and exert oneself.
I’m glad to hear she had a good support system in the staff, teammates, etc while in Hawaii and wish her the best with her recovery.
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