Nebraska vs. Texas Saturday
In case you missed Thursday scores
Rank is AVCA poll, seed in parenthesis
3) Texas (3) def. 4) Minnesota (2), 26-24, 27-25, 23-25, 25-21
5) Nebraska (4) def. 9) Kansas (9) 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 25-16
National POY announced later today
I’m thinking Nebraska’s Rolfzen
the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award went to
UW’s Cassie Strickland
COMMENTS
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Doug.. ..prior thread, Texas setter at 5-7, had 1 block assist and 1 block error vs. Minnesota, but they made it to the Finals. They also have a 6′ 2″ setter, Dalton, who had 12 digs, 3 assists and 1 SA.
Bricio named POY. at least they got something right!
Cindy, what is the address for Olivia Magill’s blog?
POY is Bricio
dnt follow many of the poy candidates but i did follow bricio. well deserved. she started out poorly against kansas in the elite 8 and heated up after intermission. bricio is a multi talented rotation player and has a rubber arm and a laser serve.
If I was starting up a team I would pick Carleni first, Nikki second and Bricio third. The setter is so important but I like Nikki’s over-all skill set over Bricio’s. I love to watch Bricio play because she is so smart but I think Nikki and the Wahine in general were totally under estimated and over looked and I want revenge!
Just saw ET’s post (#2 on previous blog) with the link to a poll posted in Volleyball mag and all I can say is what a kick in the teeth. Thank you to ET for posting the link. I think it was maybe in moderation when people were commenting yesterday?
But anyway, it is necessary reading. And sloppy survey-taking if this really was the methodology. Here is a snip from the article:
1. Since the rally-scoring era (i.e. since 2001), AVCA has followed the unwritten rule that the POY must carry her team to the Final Four — except for the year in which they came up with Co-POY (one took her team to the Final Four and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, the other almost but didn’t get her team through the quarterfinals).
2. So much for that unwritten rule (which is a very good rule IMHO). Samy Bricio faltered in the quarterfinals. But she was the overwhelming fav to take POY. Still think AVCA should have named her a Co-POY along with Daly Santana of Minnesota, who at least came up big against Hawai’i in the Elite Eight.
3. Next year from the get-go the UH media machine needs to relentlessly promote Nikki Taylor as a National POY candidate .
GO BOWS!
Doug, (from the prior thread) no one would disagree with the notion that hitters clearly would prefer to hit over shorter blockers, but it is not the key factor in the selection of a starting setter. You mentioned counting 10 attacks over Higgins as having some significance. However, isn’t it also true that the much taller Olivia, Emily, Nikki, Tai, and Kalei also had at least tens attacks that were hit over, through, around, and off them in the course of the 4 set match? If so, what is the point other than the fact that the gophers hit at least 10 attacks “over” each of our front court players?
As mentioned by others, Texas starting setter for the championship match is 5′ 7″Chloe Collins – and our past great UH setters include 5′ 8 ” Robin Ah Mow (2X AA) and 5′ 8″ Kanoe Kamana`o (4X AA). They all refute the notion that height is the key issue for a setter.
Feels like Strickland has been at Washington FOREVER!
#8 Agree that we need to socialize “Nikki Taylor”. Shoji once said that the primary reason for the success of the program, was winning. You win – people come and pay attention. You don’t win – no one pays you any attention. We need to win! IMO, we have a top 10 team coming back but not a final four team. We need a OH terminator. Mr. Mau, can you ask your daughter to come home for her final year?
Congrats also to COY-winner Hugh McCutcheon of Minnesota. In the Preseason Coaches Poll, the Golden Gophers was not even listed among the Top 25 — it was ranked 31st in this first poll of 2015.
And in the Big Ten Coaches Preseason Conference Favorites for 2015, the defending national champ PSU was the clear favorite, followed by Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and in 5th Minnesota.
And speaking of Daly Santana, the Puerto Rico-native was not even chosen by the Big Ten coaches to be on their Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Moreoever, it was not Hannah Tapp (who won AVCA National POW honors later in the season) but her sister Paige who was expected to lead the Gophers this year. Lol.
12. I guess that means Minnesota really underachieved last year, I mean Hugh is the 3rd highest paid coach in NCAA.
Winning gets attention? Hawaii has the second best win-lost record this season, after Texas. Nikki won both the NPOW and ESPNW. If these don’t get the attention of the NCAA and AVCA I’m taking up knitting. The magic word is Power5.
Thank you to our 2015 Hawaii Elite 8 Women’s Volleyball Na Wahine! It was a wonderful ride and look even further to our 2016. With the parity of so many great volleyball colleges , I really feel next year will be even more exciting. It is a remarkable feat to finish 16-0 in Conference and 28-2 overall with wins over Florida, SEC Champion Texas A and M, and National Champions of 2014, Penn St. Having a slow start but coming alive in set 3 and 4 against BIG Ten Champions Minnesota Gophers but just falling short in set 4. I really didn’t think we would advance as far as we did especially when it came to Texas A and M and Penn St… From that point the Volleyball World as well as myself saw what 2016 has in store….I cannot wait!!!
A couple of us knew this year’so team was going to be a very good one, but before this season had started we all talked about 2016. We surely got a taste of what promise 2016 beholds. Here is a pre
Pre-season analysis of a team IMHO will be right back into the Elite 8 and even the Final 4..
SETTERS: Tayler Higgins 5’8″, Kendra Koelsch 6’1″, and High School Sensation, Norene Ionia 5’11” Here we have 2 girls with much experience and both possessing different gifts. Bringing in Ionia with her beautiful soft hands and court leadership will just add to the depth and competition. We have never had 3 quality setters that could start at many D1 programs.
R/S and L/S OUTSIDE HITTERS: We have 6’3″ 2nd Team AA Nikki Tayler back, 6’2″ Miss Steady” Kalei Greeley, 6’3″ Casey Castillo, 5’11” McKenna Granato, and incoming 6’2″ Kristin Sibley. Depending on Kalei’s shoulder /ankle injury heals
then Castillo, Granato, and Sibley would have to contribute heavily to balance out Nikki
MIDDLE BLOCKERS: 6’2″ Emily Maglio will be even bettet. 6’3″ Annie Mitchem has acclimated to the speed of D1 play and I think she will be a beast. Maglio and Mitchem (MandM) will be a 1-2 Punch. Also 6’5″ Natasha Burns will show what she can do after redshirt ingredients due to her unfortunate preseason injury. 6’3″ Casey Castillo also could be added to the mix if needed. She had switched at times in latter part of the season to help out at that area.
LIBERO AND D/S: 5’8″ Savannah Kahakai has proven she can dig any ball hit directly to her. It was evident in the NCAA Tourney against some prolific hitters.. Clare Anderson has shown she can be a great backup Libero and Clare made an impact down the vital stretch of the season at D/S… I think beforethe NCAA Clare has only 2 service errors out 244 attempts. Gianna Guianasso IMO could also play Libero. She looks like a natural Libero the way she moves around on the court. Ana Ponce served well too and does a good job digging as a D/S. Coach did a great job rotating Anderdon, Guianasso, and Ponce at D/S which will make them even more confident than this past year. Newcomer, Emma Smith will only add to our very good Libero and D/S position.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The key to reaching the pinnacle is to come back healthy and stay as healthy throughout season. We all know that Nikki and Kalei has battled ongoing nagging injuries. At some point they both have to deal with it and recover through therapy (R.I.C.E.)
If the girls come back in top shape meaning the girls reporr back with more strength, better fit and tone, and well conditioned we will be scary good. I think next year is the year where our depth will be shown even more. We will miss OMG and TMO but we still will be AWESOME!!!
Can’t wait….
3. Li ….Here’s the web address to Olivia’s blog of 4 entries:
http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2015/12/8/WVB_1208151042.aspx?path=wvball
By the way photos are up at the mens volleyball roster.
I have high hopes for this season, Bummed about Gasman but really excited to see Stijn Van Tilburg play.
Hawaii lost to Minnesota, in part, due to a breakdown in passing. Serve receive is still an up and down area. To reach the finals Hawaii needs a consistent, accurate passer (possibly Emma Smith). To win it all, a consistent good connection with the middles is paramount (possibly Norene Iosia). Barring injuries, transfers, and academic issues, Hawaii may be poised for a deep run into the 2016 tourney. Regarding the 2015 final, noticed that Elliot has a 6’4″ opposite (in place of 5’10” Pillar Victoria in 2014). Good move, and he is using her to good effect (15 kills vs Minnesota), balancing over-use of Amy Neal (60 attempts). Texas has more talent but Nebraska has the better coach. Toss-up.
19. In the Under Armour All-American volleyball match, Granato had a better match than 6’4″ Bedart-Ghani in all stats and skills. They played on the same winning team. B-G is of course more physically imposing, but McKenna has a higher IQ.
Last word on the UH-Minnesota match. I read that it had great TV ratings. I found out that it was not only ESPNU’s top-rated volleyball match last week, but also the channel’s top rated program for last week. Most viewers and second most in the 18-49 demographic. True, it was in prime time, but still great for UH. Here is the link to the ratings: http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/espn-ratings-buzz-december-7-13.html
http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=34988
thanks for all the comments above.
new link up for Saturday’s match.