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Post by Wolfgang on Oct 3, 2005 12:24:31 GMT -5
Boy do I miss Nalani Yama%*$#a. Ditto. Nalani is the best defensive specialist I've ever seen in the women's collegiate game. However, she also dived on ocassion, but only a few inches here or there, not like other players who were either out of position or anticipated so poorly that they dived from across the gym! |
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Post by 808 on Oct 3, 2005 12:45:59 GMT -5
However, Mason is the best of Hawaii outside hitters in hitting from the back row. I repeat, there are trade offs and keeping Mason in the back row makes sense when one considers her offensive prowess there. I'd agree with that statement if setting Mason in the back row was a first or second option but it seems to be only a third option (after setting the left or the middle); fourth option if you consider setting the middle in the middle or on the slide as two separate options. I feel that if she's going to stay in the game in the back row, she ought to be passing fairly well that night and be considered as a second hitting option. If she's not passing well, setting the back row won't even be an option and then the coaches have to make a decision to either stick with her and hope she works it out or bring in a DS who might have a chance of having a better night. Hawaii's problem this year, IMHO, is that they have a lot of good players, but no players that have so far played at a high level (high enough to carry a team to a national championship) every night. There's a lack of consistency. |
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Post by StuffU on Oct 3, 2005 20:34:35 GMT -5
However, Mason is the best of Hawaii outside hitters in hitting from the back row. I repeat, there are trade offs and keeping Mason in the back row makes sense when one considers her offensive prowess there. If she's not passing well, setting the back row won't even be an option and then the coaches have to make a decision to either stick with her and hope she works it out or bring in a DS who might have a chance of having a better night. If she's not passing well (or any other passer for that matter), that is EXACTLY what makes her valuable in the back row .... she is the best back row (or out of system) attacker that Hawaii has ... exactly what they need in the backrow if the passing is kaput. |
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Post by bowman on Oct 3, 2005 20:49:21 GMT -5
[quote author=808 board=general thread=1128135834 post=1128324665] Hawaii's problem this year, IMHO, is that they have a lot of good players, but no players that have so far played at a high level (high enough to carry a team to a national championship) every night. There's a lack of consistency.[/quote] Yup... agree... I think the your last statement on consistency or lack of is what everyone, including myself, seems to think they have the right answer to.  |
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Post by YellowC on Oct 3, 2005 21:14:14 GMT -5
Boy do I miss Nalani Yama%*$#a. Yama%*$#a had BIG blockers that took a lot of court away for her to dig around. Goods, Ljunquist, Ah Mow. This years Wahine have a very small middle block..... and setter. Kamanao is not Ah Mow... That is a huge problem. It gives other teams confidence in their swings. |
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Post by StuffU on Oct 3, 2005 21:22:14 GMT -5
Boy do I miss Nalani Yama%*$#a. Yama%*$#a had BIG blockers that took a lot of court away for her to dig around. Goods, Ljunquist, Ah Mow. This years Wahine have a very small middle block..... and setter. Kamanao is not Ah Mow... That is a huge problem. It gives other teams confidence in their swings. Goods was 6'1" (but admittedly a very good blocker) not BIG ... Ah Mow was an inch taller than Kamanao and they are BOTH effective blockers, the difference is that Ah Mow had Ljungquist closing the seam instead of Sanders. Watanabe is a good digger ... but far from the talent that Yama%*$#a was ..in both positioning and especially control. |
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Post by IdahoBoy on Oct 3, 2005 22:22:12 GMT -5
Lots of thoughts on this thread about Hawaii and it's prognosis for this season. In just about every case, I can actually see some merit to the points being brought about. I wish I had seen this game in person (or actually... maybe I'm glad I missed it).
Is anyone else concerned about the quick turn-around (Friday/Saturday) for Nevada/Fresno State? I seem to recall that UH has had a hard time with Nevada at home following a previous night's match in the past.
I think that the let-down from playing FSU might carry over to Nevada, and could cause some problems early for na Wahine.
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Post by 808 on Oct 3, 2005 22:44:04 GMT -5
Actually, I'm a little more concerned about Hawaii looking past Fresno to Nevada and not playing that well on Friday, thinking the Fresno match will be easy, what with all their problems.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Oct 3, 2005 22:54:30 GMT -5
Fresno State lost to La Tech....
I don't see any problems steam rolling them. If FSU scores more than 15 or so a game... then Hawaii has issues to fix.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2005 23:11:37 GMT -5
Fresno State lost to La Tech.... I don't see any problems steam rolling them. If FSU scores more than 15 or so a game... then Hawaii has issues to fix. That may be asking a bit much, although I think Hawaii beats Fresno rather easily. Remember Fresno also took a game from Arizona and beat North Carolina, so they can't be that bad. As for Nevada, Hawaii should win (probably sweep) as long as they come ready to play. As we all know we've seen a few times this season when they've come out flat to start a game. I'm a lot more worried about the road match at Nevada. |
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Post by bowman on Oct 3, 2005 23:40:46 GMT -5
hmmmmm.... any comments on which team will show up?
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Post by 5100 on Oct 4, 2005 0:07:40 GMT -5
That's a nice explanation, LanaiBoy. Boogaard can never be as fast as Watanabe, and Mason can't match Woolford's quickness, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're lesser passers. I totally agree!!! It's exciting to see little people flying all over the floor. But what that usually means is that they were out of defensive position!  ... The greatest passer and defender Hawaii ever had, rarely dove for balls .. she didn't need to because she was always in perfect position. ... and she was a little person. Boy do I miss Nalani Yama%*$#a. A lot of times Watanabe is in the right defensive position. Her advantage over the bigger players is going or diving after a ball that has gone off her team's blockers or shanks by her team's other defenders. The bigger players look clumsy when going after those balls because they can hardly move from their position! Woolford, on the other hand, doesn't have the control that Watanabe has yet. She is quick to get a hand on errant balls, but a lot of times, they would end up on the other side of the net. It's a trade-off using bigger but more consistent passers/defenders and smaller defensive subs who still lack the skills to control the ball. Still, it's alot of fun watching little people dive all over the floor! |
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Post by fabulous on Oct 4, 2005 16:57:43 GMT -5
it was funny how nmsu thought they was going to win this one - then hawaii came back and said 'not today dudes!!' - i saw the score and i just chuckled
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... The greatest passer and defender Hawaii ever had, rarely dove for balls .. she didn't need to because she was always in perfect position. ... and she was a little person. Boy do I miss Nalani Yama%*$#a.