Saturday, the morning after
Good morning.
The reason the blog was closed last night despite some really good observations and discussions:
I was unable to monitor it while writing the story for the print edition and some took advantage of the moderator’s absence to attack players and coaches using inappropriate language.
Felt that was my only option overnight so sorry that many had to be penalized because of a few.
Will be gone for a couple of hours but will leave this thread open to continue the discussions from last night. Asking that civility reigns.
One discussion was over the number of digs certain players had or didn’t have, Kahakai being one. She had 6.
Hawaii libero-outs their middles. Last night, Kahakai was a direct sub for Magill and had a service turn.
When it was Maglio’s/Mitchem’s turn to serve, they went with Anderson at DS and there was no libero on the court until Anderson was done serving. Anderson served 12 times with number of those during the late scoring runs. Also means Kahakai wasn’t on the court for about a 1/6 of the match.
Someone mentioned that Taylor often was sprawled out on the court going after balls. In the case when Anderson was in at DS, the setter is in the fromt row. Taylor is technically left back but has moved to right back after the serve and they can use the D ball on the right. At that point, I believe Idaho (corrected from previous WSU) recognized that and at least one time that I remember their left-side attack was aimed towards were Taylor was. She ended up with 8 digs partly for that reason.
be back later.
Any national scores?
GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!
Cindy – great job on the volleyball supplement in the SA!
Not too happy with the placement – chop and make the article into a poster?
Glad to see that Hawaii has so many coaches on the sidelines – wonder if any of them are going to apply for the job when and if Dave retires? 🙂
Don’t understand the WSU reference, please explain. Thanks.
LOL Tom I was reading last nights blog and had the same thoughts. So easy to sit there and make all these ahh know it all recommendations. Let the coaches coach, let the young ladies play and enjoy their energy and take a chill pill.
Nice win. Anytime you can hold opponent to .205 while you hit .348 is a good thing. Open night jitters is normal – a little too tense, feeling overwhelmed at times, and unable to relax. It should be expected.
What is predictable is that Dave will get it fixed.
Not surprised by the over reaction by certain posters because the girls did not come out near perfect. Playing too much fantasy sport games will do that to you.
Did Castillo play ? The box score says she did.
Did not see Castillo play last night, but did see Granato and Mitchum. The D set can be played from any back-row position, although the set is best when the setter and hitter are nearest each other (right-back). 2-8 digs are normal for any player on the court, liberos and DS generally register more. Ultimately, the coaches are responsible for the player’s performances or non-performances.
I intentionally skipped reading the blog last night because I knew “certain” posters would be saying idiotic things. Looks like I was right.
To anyone that was upset at the way the team played last night: They WON. Not only did they win, they SWEPT. Not only did they sweep, they won two of the sets going away. If you’re going to be that upset when they sweep, what are you going to do when they lose? Literally explode?
Does that mean you can’t criticize the team? Of course you can. But to get so unreasonably angry and insulting, and to personally attack players is, well, crazy. I’d actually like to use a stronger word than crazy, but I’ll hold back.
There is no such thing as an easy win in women’s college volleyball anymore. With such great participation in girl’s high school and club volleyball as well as players from foreign countries and junior colleges, there are more skilled players than ever before. Every team, even unranked ones, have at least one or two good players that can get on a hot streak and score, or a good setter, or a libero than can dig and pass, or tall middles that can block, etc, etc.
Want proof? Look at the big upsets in women’s college volleyball. It seems like at least one highly ranked team gets upset every week. Wisconsin and Western Kentucky, anyone? The #5 ranked team in the country vs an unranked team?
I’m gonna copy this post and save it for later use – I think I’m going to be able to use it again and again. Just have to change the names of the teams.
Not only are there arm chair coaches around but so are there annoying and omnipresent PC apologists. Just read all the sugar coats on Tsai’s blog. They keep ignoring the obvious. Year after year. Coach after Coach. AD after AD. Chancellor after Chancellor. Hello! The horses are out of the burning barn.
Shoji doesnt listen anyway, further aggravating his critics. And, there are many and growing.
Look, this is a passionate blog. Cindy does a great job in coverage. Her Volleyball Preview was spectacular and creative. Loved her effort. She says to keep it clean. That doesnt mean to stifle individual opinion. Fans love their team and want the best. Coach Shoji and pundits alike– regularly boast that Hawaii fans are among the most knowledgeable in the nation. Opinion is good. Notwithstanding going against the coach or team performance. Coaches need to know fans are not stupid. Its all part of the game. So, chill out and let it flow. I read many who tendered helpful criticism. Cindy’s comments merely explain Shoji’s system, but she does not address an athlete’s natural ability or lack thereof unless it is positive. She does not do that and will not go there. Understood. One might defend players but you can not hide a player’s skills or lack thereof. They are in plain view in bright HD.
Fans are not blind. Kahakai had a bad night. Shoji said it himself, in so many words, in the post game interview. He also said others had open night jitters. Whatever. If you are good it will shine like the sun. Trust your eyes.
Agree with our blog host–Keep it civil and avoid foul language. That goes BOTH ways! ALoha to all and go Bows!
1. sorry put a few up last night but don’t really have time to be thorough.
Suggest you go to RickKern.com for his free scores
His is more updated than the AVCA’s and you can sort by conference and Top 25.
Biggest upsets from what I saw No. 3 Wisconsin losing to Western Kentucky 3-1
No. 8 North Carolina losing to No. 22 USC 3-1
No. 14 Michigan State losing to No. 24 Kentucky 3-2
No. 16 Ohio Stat losing to Wyoming 3 -1
No. 19 Colorado losing to San Diego 3-1
2. meant Idaho. was running late this morning and already had WSU on the mind.
@ #8. “idiotic” is an ad hominem (personal) attack. Do not discourage sincere opinion. Keep it civil.
mahalo for the scores. If wahine sweep the weekend Hawaii should move up a couple of notches in the ratings. #14 and #16 both lost.
#9 You make a great case for defending your definition of “chilling”. Am thankful it is just your opinion.
#9. Respectfully disagree. But keep it up, and you will get your wish. Dave will soon retire, and recruiting will go downhill, as will the program. Then the critics can have even more fun. Hawaii no longer has the best, and most knowledgeable fans. Sad.
Does Dave still think there are no weaknesses on the team, which he stated earlier before last night ? Like Max Wittek looks like an All- American in practice. Maybe he will after the first game too.
6. Castillo did not. Neither did Ponce who showed up on game tracker with an ace 30 minutes before the match started.
9. I welcome critiques and criticism, even when directed at me. Sometimes Shoji will say things on postgame TV that he doesn’t say when he does is interview with the rest of us. So i’d be interested to hear what he said ‘in so many words.’
So he did not single out Kahakai when speaking with us. There were comments about passing needing to be better but they have a three-person formation so it’s not all on Kahakai to pass every ball. or dig every ball. When the DS is serving, the DS moves into the passing formation because they don’t have the libero out there. At least that is how they ran it last night.
What he did say that didn’t make my story was that Idaho did expose some weakness and I could see where Taylor playing right back when the DS is serving as one of them.
No one said the fans were stupid or blind. They are overall the most knowledgeable fanbase in the country. But doesn’t mean their ‘helpful criticism’ is always valid. They are not in the gym every day with these players.
I do take issue with the comment that I only explain Shoji’s system while not addressing players abilities or lack thereof. I try to provide an understanding of why the coaches used who they did based on what I’ve seen a practice and what the coaches also say.
Have also written that Huff had a great camp but is backing up Taylor on the right and that Shoji has a lot of options for the offense.
Also have written that the newcomers have said they’re still getting used to the DI level, the speed of the game, etc.
And that Koelsch said she was getting more comfortable setting the offense in front of her. She prefers to backset and she does have that down for the most part.
The one very obvious advantage that Koelsch has is height. When the set is too tight to the net her best option is the dump and she can get away with it while Higgins can’t.
You’re welcome to give examples of opinions being stifled. Sometimes where there are critiques I agree with, that is all that is said. as in
8. Agree.
It’s one game. The lineup is not set. There will be changes during the season and playing time for those some think should be playing. Mitchem was just cleared to play at 4 p.m. so up until then she couldn’t even be penciled in as a possibility.
They are still staying who can do what. As mentioned earlier this week they had Huff and Castillo with the MHs during a couple of drills.
The problem is having only 6 on the court at one time and 16 on the roster. I’d again have to say it’s the most deep and talented in a while.
Dave was saying on a TV clip last week, that this team could possibly get to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th round of the NCAA’s. Maybe they will .
17. maybe. As always it will depend on the bracket. There’s been years that it was clearly stacked against the west teams. As Mick Haley said that one time on national TV: Occupy NCAA. Notice he has not been asked to return for the bracketolgy show.
Top 25 courtesy of Rich Kern
Hawaii’s score not recorded. RichKern based on CT and that puts Hawaii’s match as a Saturday match, not Friday.
CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll Matches
(listings below 25 not officially recognized)
1) Penn State def. Buffalo 25-18, 25-12, 25-16
2) Stanford def. Texas A&M 25-19, 25-19, 25-15
3) Texas def. Rice 25-12, 25-23, 25-14
5) Nebraska def. Tulsa 25-22, 25-14, 25-16
5) Wisconsin lost to Western Kentucky 25-13, 23-25, 19-25, 19-25
7) North Carolina lost to USC 20-25, 25-23, 18-25, 11-25
8) Illinois def. Louisville 27-25, 25-23, 26-24
9) Florida State def. Oklahoma 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18
10) Washington def. Gonzaga 25-19, 25-23, 25-15
11) BYU def. Chicago State 25-13, 25-17, 25-22
12) Colorado State def. Baylor 26-24, 25-18, 25-20
13) Oregon def. Temple 25-15, 25-21, 25-16
14) Ohio State lost to Wyoming 23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 23-25
15) Kentucky def. Michigan State 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-12
16) Arizona State def. Northeastern 25-16, 25-14, 25-17
17) Arizona def. SMU 25-23, 22-25, 27-25, 25-20
19) Michigan State lost to Kentucky 27-29, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23, 12-15
21) Iowa State def. Dayton 20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-21
22) USC def. North Carolina 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-11
23) Utah def. Idaho State 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 25-21
24) Colorado lost to San Diego 20-25, 21-25, 25-23, 18-25
25) Duke def. Saint Marys 25-14, 25-13, 25-23
25) Duke def. Cal State Fullerton 25-13, 25-15, 25-17
26) Long Beach State def. Alabama 26-28, 25-22, 25-19, 25-17
27) Purdue def. VCU 25-21, 25-18, 25-21
28) Oklahoma lost to Florida State 21-25, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25
29) Oregon State lost to Wichita State 23-25, 24-26, 19-25
30) Texas A&M lost to Stanford 19-25, 19-25, 15-25
32) Kansas def. Army 25-14, 25-14, 25-20
33) Arkansas-Little Rock lost to IUPUI 27-29, 25-18, 20-25, 24-26
34) Alabama lost to Long Beach State 28-26, 22-25, 19-25, 17-25
35) Western Kentucky def. Wisconsin 13-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19
36) Creighton def. Miami-OH 25-20, 25-27, 20-25, 25-13, 15-12
37) Michigan def. George Washington 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22
38) San Diego def. Colorado 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18
39) Wichita State def. Oregon State 25-23, 26-24, 25-19
40) LSU lost to UC Irvine 22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 14-25
41) Miami-FL def. Illinois State 25-23, 25-19, 25-17
42) American def. Howard 25-13, 25-11, 25-20
IMO, the most pressing issue is for Kahakai to takes control of the backcourt like she did in the Texas Exhibition Game where she was ridiculously good. Opening night jitters set aside, she appeared to me that she was a playing as if she was a role player – and not the quarterback in charge of the backcourt. We need the aggressive and confident Kahakai to reappear. You can do it!
I agree. I really like this team. So much talent. Good to have a strong bench.
I though that Tayler’s block was one of the best of the night. Really pumped me up.
16. so criticism, even when directed at cindy. does that include chastising or scolding?
so mitchem was cleared to play at 4pm. we will consider that because shoji chewed them out for taking their sweet time.
#15 I took it to say that there was no weakness where the team didn’t have options (available players) to fix it. Every opponent will seek to create or find chinks in our armor. This year we have plenty of skill, physical, capable, and (did I say) tall options to patch the breach. It is going to a fun year whether they make it to 2nd, 3rd or 4th round.
other topics:
kendra of course is a big setter that kills!
savannah had a rough night, yeah she did seemed zoned out at times. other times in set 3, the rest of na wahine seem zoned out/turned to chillin. only olivia and nikki still had ‘business’ written on their face.
savannah struggled in defense but served steadily, i say if she struggles more being libero, then make claire the libero (after all, she was starting libero in high school wasnt she?) savannah then can be the serving specialist/ds/attacking specialist (she was a prolific outside hitter for the farrington governors, go governor! right? and she ‘shoved it’ against san diego state last year.)
lets see what else…
any more complaints about tai? maybe slow start or still has her off, but remember tais furiousness carried her with a vengeance last year, especially versus irvine and that near death sweep at irvine on halloween.
22. oh yeah thats right. na wahine this year are loaded in guns and armor with the supermajority of them being over 6′.
Is the game tonight online anywhere? Mahalo!
#25 Go to Big West TV. It is free. The Big West TV streaming site links you over to the local OC Sports TV broadcast.
I prefer to go with OC Sport TV Streaming because Big West TV tends to cut off their feed immediately after the game so that you don’t get the post game show.
To get OC sport TV streaming, just register on their OC TV site and it is free. I live in So. CA so I don’t know if it is free streaming if you live in the islands.
25. Here: http://ocsports.tv. Sign up for free
Or
http://www.bigwest.org/tv/
how bout some drama to get these armchair coaches excited?
* shoji is partial to punahou. make your guesses here. though its rather obvious.
include much to your chagrin that 2 of them are co-captains and starters, consider how else?
shoji does not do 6-2 much to your chagrin that he has his average around being 6′ 2″ but then again idaho did a 6-2 last night and were soundly defeated!
shoji likes tai to ‘sunder the block’ even should she hit against it. he also likes nikki to be opposite as her official position is now opposite as well as megan. (note all middle blockers have been officially converted to middle hitters)
lets see what else to complain about? ah yes, wahine didnt dominate despite have such many tanks. 4 kines of ace shoji is hidding in his hand? he only showed pocket aces, and were at times beat with small straight hands in the rallies last night. savannah smirking and saying ‘brah you dont know’? tayler higgins was trying to suppress her beaming hiding her grin, that she knows she has tanks including 4 new tiger fighters and laughs at the misery of YOU because you wanted them to dominate/smoke em/own them all!
Don’t know if it is the same critical posters here using a different “name,” but the “critiques” of players continues on the VT site. A real good way to impress prospective recruits that Hawaii is the place to come, as your “fans” like to pick on and point out your deficiencies to help you get better. Right? They really know their VB in Hawaii. With social media the in thing today, you can be sure recruits know, and the “tone” of Hawaii fans have definitely changed over the years. Not the same anymore.
#28 Too funny!!! Are you related to Frank, Mel, Andy, or even Wayne before he moved to Vegas.
Wahine coming back in the second set was huge. I have seen them doing it in the past. And it is nice to know that they can do it now. They have grit.
Amazing how we all are quick to criticize after just one match. I thought the idea of being a “fan” was to support the team through thick and thin. Even the best fall down; it’s how fast they can get up that counts. And they did that last night. It may not have been pretty, but they kept trying and that’s the important thing. Go Bows!
Start of the season VB rankings are not reliable. (Lots of transfers, injuries, coaching changes, position changes, etc. )
How about some positives….
Higgin’s sets to the middle appear to have improved.
Taylor’s jump serve….consistent and a great variety.
Greeley’s power. Last year she was the finesse player, but last night showed lots of heat.
The set 2 and 3 comebacks. What a great showing of staying patient and grittiness.
APPLAUD YOUR POSITION ON OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.
15. mentioned in in the initial post. Shoji said Idaho exposed some weakness.
21. AGAIN, Shoji didn’t chew anyone out. This is not done at the coaching level, it is done at the admin/compliance level As mentioned previously, it was complicated because of various institutions and credits taken at several places. All were doing their due diligence. the last thing you wanted was for one to rush and end up costing Mitchem a year of eligibility.
No one took their ‘sweet’ time. Mitchem was finishing classes up until Aug. 17, two days after she arrived.
32. the root of the word fan is fanatic.
30. no im not. dunno who those guys are or supposed to be.
34. oh yeah nikkis jump serve. especially that cannon at the beginning of set 2 right? she fired her 14 inch caliber main gun on that one!
I hope they play better tonight against Wichita State.
#8 Munson Mahalo nui loa!!! I hate when people trash the Coach and team. We do NOT need to do this in such a hurtful way. Show some RESPECT! The Coach, his staff and the Wahine need our support. Constructive criticism is fine, but hateful words can’t be taken back. Also, THANKS, Cindy, for monitoring and allowing this blog to be. Most of the time I enjoy reading it. It is only when some start saying nasty things that I hate seeing on this blog.
Oregon State completely dismantling Idaho in the first set, oh oh.
http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=32844
new thread up on scores and OSU-Idaho match
OSU up 2-0 25-10, 25-19