Saturday checkin
Spirited practice today
You likely won’t see Castillo on Sunday. She’s had a bit of a leg issues that hasn’t gotten better.
Shoji said they’re still looking for their best lineup.
Mitchem said she likes playing both but likes to pass as well so that happens when she plays outside.
Greeley still about 70 percent. She said she was surprised she stayed in the front row in Set 4 but happy she got a kill and a team-high 10 digs. She’s at 492 for her career kills.
Anyway, probably be back later to update some scores.
COMMENTS
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1st or 2nd. Thanks for info on Casey.
Mitchem 18 swings (.444). Maglio 19 swings (.316) granato 34 swings (.147) What is wrong with this picture?
Wisconsin-Michigan going to five…
Just an observation, thought Anderson did a fairly good job last night. Tips should be a first thought? Trust your teammate?
Wisconsin wins it…too bad for Michigan, tied it at 13 but couldn’t close…
Just think we will have problems with tips no matter what unfortunately. Taylor and kahakai especially are just to slow to react ,no coaching can make them quicker.
MSU beat Minnesota in 5…
6. Agree,
The tip problem originated when the libero was not mobile enough to cover. So coach made the wings responsible. The wings are all bigger players who have to also hit the D and pipe sets.
Herein lies the heart of several issues. Serve-receive, tips, and back row coverage are impacted by the libero.
since the blog was acting up again (if not, then that means cindy prematurely closed it)
previous thread:
93. iosia and offensive output with her impressive 6 kills in 6 attacks – i like the way thats going at this.
99. lack of enthusiasm, energy, focus, reaction to ball etcetera – yes its like set 3 come on wahine its crunch time, dont fall asleep now. start of set 4 also appears that they are still asleep. granted irvine did beat sc but since na wahine have lost everytime in crunch time so far this season, i thought omg they better not blow away this 4th set. and shoji also must be asleep too, hesitated to challenge accosting iosia an ace and the team a sweep. what did he think he was being thrifty?
101. some good observations indeed cindy, what would be those borderline nuts in your opinion exactly?
are you sticking your reputation that wahine will make postseason? quite the confidence.
tv said annie fooled around her first year somewhere or had annie admit it if i recall, so that wasnt true eh?
what 6-2? so much for that didnt happen.
8. it seems to be that coach making kahakai middleback is more trouble than worth. although that advantage is more range of command on the court but that unfortunately didnt turn into more coverage on the court.
either way, as for coverage including of tips or passing, shoji did seem to invest in that by having a ‘second libero’ in smith, anderson, or baby g especially as #4 said anderson. i guess he did learn his lessons of having more ‘liberoism’ because of the beachs ridiculously fast libero. however, the team still needs to be reminded of, if not, prodded about dink shots/tips.
additionally, na wahine not only needs to practice defending against the tip (or even middle attack for that matter), but they need to practice the game at crunch time. set 3 was abysmal neverminding shoji didnt challenge it. think of that as that could of been easily the game at set 5 at irvine! all 5 losses this season had something to do with wahine not performing at crunch time (i will excuse the wisconsin game and arizona since that was supposed to be expected.) but seriously, dave needs to have his A team practice against his B team at 24-23 (24 for B team), 28-28 (with a ‘non-player’ advantage for the B team), 24-23 (24 and a said ‘special scout’ advantage for the B team), 26-26 (also with said ‘non-player’ advantage/tool for the B team), 14-13 (14 and also with said ‘non-player’ advantage/tool for the B team) and finally 13-13 (advantage B team, ultimate ‘crunch’ time.)
use a ball shooting cannon and/or ‘robotic libero’ for the advantage/tool mentioned. forget red zone, it is CRUNCH TIME.
6, 8 &10. Although Kahakai has had some amazing games fielding missiles directed her way that are within arm’s reach, and she does an excellent job with out of system sets, I agree that “quick feet” and range seems to be an issue. I wonder how much Dave’s decision to play her is impacted by the difficulty of replacing someone (a) when the other co-captain was also unseated by a freshman, and (b) whom he touted as a potential national team libero? I know team chemistry is always an issue, but I look back at that amazing 0-2 comeback win against Arizona to see how the right people playing fearlessly can create instant chemistry. Definitely not where most thought the Wahine would be this deep in the season, but the “true season” doesn’t start until December.
Read Cindy’s article today. I can’t believe that Dave believes that Granato is the number two left side because she brings her shot every time. Yeah. The shot either goes into a block or goes wide. We need somebody else. Her hitting percentages season long show this problem.
I was very disappointed in Dave being so adamant about going with Granato no matter what, per Cindy’s article in todays Star-Advertiser. Sibley far surpasses Granato in potential IMO. Dave has some blind spots.
Conner, I just read your blog, great minds think alike! I am really upset about this lack of judgment.
Stats tells a story. Granato hitting .206, Mitchem 50/50 middle/outside .293, Burns even at limited playing time .295. Granato was in the .220’s but the last few matches took a dive. I’d say Mitchem outside and Burns or Castillo at middle. Burns maybe not as impactful as Mitchem but she can hold her own and getting better each time out. Her footwork has improved a lot in closing the block. Mitchem is a terminator that will complement Taylor.
Seriously -the tip issue has been complained about for “decades”. This weakness has more to do with the wide perimeter defense that Dave elects to run – and is not unique to Kahakai or Nikki. The trade-off is that this defense allows the wahines to typically out-dig their opponents most of the time.
I agree with Dave about Granato – for now. And yeah, McKenna has her streaky moments but has shown hints that she can raise to the occasion in the moments that count. Sibley will be awesome but Kirsten needs a solid year of hitting the weights to develop the necessary physicality. In either case, we need production from the pin positions. Can someone please step up!
I’m surprised that people are amazed that Shoji sticks with MG since he stuck with TMO in previous years. His trust in TMO proved out in her senior year where she had a productive year. I think the idea is if you can get them to concentrate, they usually play well because they are giving it their all when they are inspired. Go Bows. Run the table.
I agree with playing Burns in the middle and Mitchem outside,they both have lots to learn but upside is there to pay off by December.
#15 Just watched the match again and it does appear that Burns footwork has improved – and maybe Natasha can hold the middle position as you suggested. If so, it does make Mitchem available to play OH – especially in certain situational match up. It also sounds like Cindy is reporting that Annie may be warming up to the idea of hitting in OH especially if she can receive more. And if Greeley can regain that other 30%, the team with Kalei and Annie at pin hitters would be a major game changer.
#19 Agree with you. Greeley and Annie of LS. Castillo/Burns with Maglio in the middle. Strongest potential going forward. Dave cannot miss this chance. it might be his last best opportunity. Sit Granato and let her develop slowly. dont forcefeed her into lineup. she is after all just a sophomore.
10. ‘think of that as that could of been easily the game at set 5 at irvine!’ – add thats god forbid *knock on wood*
i think it goes back to last year where its said shoji is partial to punahou and now add seems to intend to keep his ‘monopoly’ of buffanblu. he favorited tai last season (for the right reasons imo) and now he wants granato to be tais successor – the trade off; tai was slightly bigger, more explosive and forceful (forget finesse.) mckenna is slightly smaller but hits smarter besides hard and harder but needs to improve her block. (note neither of them did i mention about passing, which may be necessitary to ‘just simply dig the ball up high as possible vertical into the air’, forget passing, let the setter take care of that with a pass and set simultaneously.)
17. Granato may work out like TMO in the future, but we’re talking this moment, this season. Granato isn’t the terminator on the left that UH needs to complement Taylor and the middles. She’s not getting it done hitting .206. There will be no Taylor and Mitchem next season, so this may be the last legit chance for quite a while to make a run to the Final Four. I really believe Mitchem is the answer and if Greeley can play the 6 rotations, better yet.
21, are you really replying to yourself? Lol
Anyway lots of parity this season so wahine can still make noise if they get hot at the right time.
Watching Florida-TAMU right now…both teams are really good at picking up the tip shots…
Man,y’all are some informed fans! Reminds me of my Gator Nation! Do you call yourselves Rainbow Nation? So glad to see all the positive comments about Natasha, hope she sees them too, after having to sit all last year! Go Bows!!
“Sunshine” Burns. She’s developed a little fan section near where I sit. It’s fun to watch a player who improves the more she plays. Can also see how much she enjoys winning the point and she brings a little at’ude out there. Maybe she gets it from her love of hockey and basketball. Wonder if she’d enjoy it if she could cross the net and throw a body check once in a while. Love it; the Wahine need to keep looking for more recruits from O’ Canada, fer sure.
25. Great to hear she has her own rooting section. After watching her on the sidelines last year, there’s no way I thought by mid season she’d be clapping her hands and screaming to be set. And anyone know what the deal was against LBS when she appeared to by trying to stare down their setter?
2. what’s wrong with the picture. you are comparing numbers to the OH with numbers for the middles that can’t be set if the passing isn’t there
9. blog wasn’t acting up. and it wasn’t closed prematurely. it was open overnight until practice Saturday.
The issue with the tip is a conscious decision on how they set up the defense.
New thread up with complete scores from Saturday and Sunday
http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=39727