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Post by 808 on Oct 3, 2005 17:55:14 GMT -5
*Beware posters who register for the purpose of criticising a team* A rare instance of wisdom from Ruffda. To stay on topic, last I knew, they don't give style points in volleyball. If the ball hits the floor on the other teams side of the net, it's a point. It doesn't matter if it occurs by fancy misdirection or by Oganna Nnamani pounding a high 4 set through the block, it's good. I'm not thinking about style points but of the Hawaii team's inability to just get points--period--off of teams like Nebraska, Penn State and Washington. I would have liked to have seen Hawaii compete better with those teams.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Oct 3, 2005 17:59:53 GMT -5
Vanilla is NOT plain.
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Post by StuffU on Oct 3, 2005 20:13:24 GMT -5
I think one of the issues is with Dave's conservative philosophy. It's hard to argue with it as he has consistently been among the top teams year in and year out.
One thing I really would like to see Dave do is put some big time importance to the right side attacker. For as long as I can remember, the right side was always just a training ground for those players being groomed to play on the left. The offense rarely comes from the right side player. A legitimate right side attack would really help out the left side as it would spread the opponent's block from pin to pin. As it is, if you just watch out for the slide, you've pretty much covered Hawaii's right side attack. Can anyone remember the last time a true opposite was recruited? Yes, Willoughby played on the right, but she wasn't recruited for the position. Wilton was a good attacker but also, not a true opposite. I think the last real opposite we've had was Diana Jesse (damn, she would pound that ball).
In any case, I think there are a ton of issues with this team and it's difficult to point to any single area. They aren't passing well. The set locations are not reliable. We don't have players that can put the ball away out of system. We have a serving strategy that usually means serve the middle of the court (to the opposing team's libero). And, although blocking is improving, it is not a weapon. The hardest thing to understand is that we have the athletes to be a very effective team .. but "team" is not what they are yet. We are at the halfway point of the season and we don't have a starting lineup yet.
Hmmmmm .. maybe for once, we won't peak too early ... I just hope we don't peak too late.
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Post by Wolfgang on Oct 3, 2005 20:51:18 GMT -5
One of my favorite Kim Willoughby matches of all time is Hawaii vs. Utah, 2000 NCAA 2nd round. I believe Maja Gustin was hurt so Hawaii moved Willoughby to MB and had her hit all kinds of attacks -- mostly slides and x plays and quick one's. She only had 15 kills, I believe, but they really moved her around and it was fun just tracking her. Lauren Duggins came to life in that match, too, hitting on the right.
Ahh...those were the days.
That was fun. It's like watching Michael Jordan in the Bulls dynasty days. He didn't have to score 40-50 points every night. Sometimes, he'd play guard; other times, forward.
Yes....
It's really difficult to watch Wahine volleyball lately without being overwhelmed by feelings of utter boredom.
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Post by StuffU on Oct 3, 2005 21:24:12 GMT -5
One of my favorite Kim Willoughby matches of all time is Hawaii vs. Utah, 2000 NCAA 2nd round. I believe Maja Gustin was hurt so Hawaii moved Willoughby to MB and had her hit all kinds of attacks -- mostly slides and x plays and quick one's. She only had 15 kills, I believe, but they really moved her around and it was fun just tracking her. Lauren Duggins came to life in that match, too, hitting on the right. Ahh...those were the days. That was fun. It's like watching Michael Jordan in the Bulls dynasty days. He didn't have to score 40-50 points every night. Sometimes, he'd play guard; other times, forward. Yes.... It's really difficult to watch Wahine volleyball lately without being overwhelmed by feelings of utter boredom. I clearly remember that match. It was insane watching her DEMOLISH the quick set against one blocker .. made you almost wish she was hitting there all season.
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Post by Rus Socoli on Oct 3, 2005 23:48:43 GMT -5
You registered only a month ago. How could it have been many months since you last posted given that? Regardless, if you're being objective on the rankings you can't just look at Hawaii's win / loss record withouth looking at the teams they've lost to and how close the scores were in most of those matches even when they were swept. All of the Wahine losses other than the recent one to LMU have been to top 5 ranked teams and they had the largest drop in points / votes of any team in the poll that came out after their loss to LMU. Thanks gorfie. The post is more credible when it came from a non-wahine fan.
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Post by ACE on Oct 3, 2005 23:51:25 GMT -5
One of my favorite Kim Willoughby matches of all time is Hawaii vs. Utah, 2000 NCAA 2nd round. I believe Maja Gustin was hurt so Hawaii moved Willoughby to MB and had her hit all kinds of attacks -- mostly slides and x plays and quick one's. She only had 15 kills, I believe, but they really moved her around and it was fun just tracking her. Lauren Duggins came to life in that match, too, hitting on the right. Ahh...those were the days. That was fun. It's like watching Michael Jordan in the Bulls dynasty days. He didn't have to score 40-50 points every night. Sometimes, he'd play guard; other times, forward. Yes.... It's really difficult to watch Wahine volleyball lately without being overwhelmed by feelings of utter boredom. I clearly remember that match. It was insane watching her DEMOLISH the quick set against one blocker .. made you almost wish she was hitting there all season. They should've made Willoughby hit all kinds of sets.
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Post by ancksunamun on Oct 4, 2005 0:13:11 GMT -5
Why is it that Dave & Company don't diversify their offense. They use to run alot of X plays, 2 sets, back row attacks. Now, their offense is so predictable. Always outside or middle. And that;s if there is a good pass. Otherwise everyone knows it's going to the outside. Any particular reason anyone?
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Post by aaronic on Oct 4, 2005 3:51:10 GMT -5
I remember thinking that at the end of Spring this year, UH had an awesome chance to make the final four. Despite losing to NU in a disappointing, yet promising loss, I thought that with Prince in the middle; Susie, Tara, Mason, and Arnott on the outsides, they were going to be dayum good- because they had CHEMISTRY! I thought that with Kanoe setting that "quick" offense, we'd be very hard to stop. But since injuries have plagued the wahine(i.e: Mason, Hittle), it has held them down for a while. I knew it was going to take some time for UH to get back on track. However, for some weird reason, they have not. . CertainlyIf they don't rekindle the "magic" or "chemistry" they once had, UH can say good'bye to making anything close to the Final Four. In conclusion, I think that the reason why the Wahine aren't doing that good right now is because of their mental/emotional state, I don't really think that it is totally about their horrific and inconsistent passing. What they need, is a passion and drive to want to get every point. I remember hearing Scott Robbs on the broadcast against NMSU where he said that Hawaii was starting to play with passion(during the 4th game). That is exactly how they need to play. They need to really want it, and by wanting it, maybe someone will "naturally" step up to take over a game.(I think that UH has the talent; Mason, Prince, Sanders, Boogaard, Hittle, all have potential to do so.). Bottom line: omfg does UH have the potential to turn into something really really great, but if they don't have the desire, hunger, etc., boy oh boy would it be a disappointing year. Maybe then we can go join the Arizona posters.
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Post by pineapple on Oct 4, 2005 12:34:16 GMT -5
Very good point- Esprit de corps. The lack of it. To me, this is what's plaguing the Wahine. The depth they have appears to be working against them. The competition for spots on the team, for playing time, etc., is resulting in a some kind of dog-eat-dog situation. Last year the players were set, everyone knew who the first stringers were and so they could work as one well oiled team. This year the it's quite different. Remember the three tenors? Three great opera stars. Each sang great during his solos. But they sounded like squeeling pigs in the slaughter house when they sang together. They were trying to outdo each other, trying not to be put down. Often trying too hard makes you trip on your own feet; it can kill the morale of the team as a whole. Last year the players were more relaxed and had confidence in each other. It doesn't appear they are the same way now. To a lesser degree, the Wahine is suffering from the three-tenor syndrome. Instead of complementing the next person's skills, they are trying not to be overshadowed by them.
Also, to jell as a well-oiled team, I think the team must be either quick hitting or high hitting. So far it has shown that it cannot be both. On the one hand, there is Mason, who has the caliber of Lily and Houston who is like a young Kim. OTOH, there is Prince, Arnott and Hittle who rely on quickness, all of whom were key to the perfect season last year. Kanoe has to quarterback these two different styles of play. It makes it even harder for her when passing breaks down. Shoji must make a decision- to be a quick hitting team or a high hitting one. I have faith in him to be able to captitalize on the merits of both.
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