Shoji on the radio, Call the coach tonight
Call the Coach 6 p.m. Tuesday, 1420-AM, espn1420am.com or go down to Rumors at the Ala Moana Hotel.
I have a conflict so I won’t be listening. Would appreciate help with his comments if you’re so inclined.
Shoji was on BC’s show this morning. Recapped the weekend
spoke a bit about Magill. Said Rubio had told him ‘you’ll like her, the kid is an athlete.’ Shoji added that she’s a joy to coach, has a lot of range, has to change things when people stack the block against her. Been a great addition to the team. so far low maintenance, adding a laugh, saying no visits to his office yet.
on higgins: said she has the potential to be among UH’s great setters. saw things that led him to believe she does last weekend. The keep will be able to make the difficult sets when you least expect it. Said she’s still young, great attitude and that tells him how much she wants it.
on playing against former players, such as Deitre Collins-Parker, said someone base to lose and he prefers that it not be his team. Said she’ll have a good team this year and wishes her well.
On Taylor: Confirming she won’t play this weekend. hoping to get her in the practice gym doing some reps.
This week: get back in the gym, work on technique, which you can’t do when you’ll playing three days in a row because you’re concentrating on preparing for a specific opponent. what they want is to take the technique from the pracice dim to the playing court. said he has a number of young people who revert back to what they were doing few months ago.
on this being his last year: tired of answering the question. take this season and see where we are in January. No decision any time soon. It’s not a distraction but tired of being asked.
Disagree about Higgins with Shoji, haven’t seen much growth from her from last year, hope she plays better this weekend.
agree w wf. want to see Kendra play more.
Why so down on Tayler Higgins? I seen both play and, in terms of setting, I really don’t see any evidence of Koelsch having a clear margin of superiority. Yes, Koelsch is taller and perhaps brings a better block to the table. However, blocking is only one of many skills that a good setter should possess. Blocking should probably be one of the least important factors in deciding who starts. By far the most important is setting the ball where each player has the best opportunity to hit effectively and score points. I think Shoji is the best judge of this based what he sees in practices, scrimmages, and actual games. Frankly, I am tired of the having the football syndrome—the ever present “quarterback controversy”—invade volleyball. You know the best quarterback is ALWAYS on the bench when a team loses or perform poorly. Moreover, volleyball is a team game. However, to take advantage of Koelsch being a tall setter with good blocking skills, I would not mind if Hawaii experiments with a modified 5-2 system with Koelsch setting in the front row and Higgins in the back.
3. Well, it’s the old “grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” mentality. It’s happened to every Wahine starting setter after Kanoe Kamanao. Guess you have to be a 4-time All-American to be immune to it.
#3. I didn’t mention blocking, but that must be on your mind. LOL. To be frank, Coach hasn’t given Kendra much playing time compared to Higgins. I believe he made his decision before practice began. I agree with WF, I do not see the greatness Shoji portends w Taylor. I have seen Robin, Kamanao, et al. all in their frosh years. However, this should be clear. Kendra is too big a talent to sit on the bench for 3-years….connect the dots. Tall setters are the new trend.
I would trust Dave being a former setter and his experience.
Where did my post go?
Again agree with 1 and 2. I know the Higgins ohana and know Tayler has worked hard, extremely competitive, one of our best servers to date, and very vocal on court. It is hard not to play Kendra. She is like Greeley, so poised and confident as a freshman. Kendra’s physical presence of 6″2″ as a setter can be intimidating to the opponents. Offensively she becomes a weapon too when she is not blocking or setting. This is going to be a debate all season and none of them deserve to be always in discussion. Great problem: We have two great setters for 4-5 years more. I am sure if Kendra continues to come off the bench later in the year and going into next year; we could lose a great setter to transfer. Both of our girls can start at a lot of Division programs right now. This is how you fix it: play a 2 setter offense especially when Higgins is in the back row cause she can dig well.Everybody happy; nobody leaves
I am personally a huge fan of Higgins since her Punahou days, however I just am not that impressed with her development so far. 6′ 1 setters who have some quickness and have smooth hands like Koelsch do not grow on trees.
And she doesn’t seem scared when she is on the floor either, she has insane potential.
I am looking at the bigger picture here, in 2-3 seasons when Greeley, Kahakai, and Maglio are upperclassmen Kendra could be a big time setter but she needs to play now.
Kendra was recruited for sand volleyball. Her receiving an indoor scholarship was BONUS. So long as she gets to play beach volleyball, I think she’s fine with her role on the indoor team, and will play whenever and wherever Dave needs her too.
Another point, this is a rebuilding year obviously, so it’s the perfect year to break in a setter like Koelsch. It will pay off , I just feel it.
#3. Koelsch hasn’t shown a clear margin of superiority……but neither has Higgins. And mind you, Higgins had a year of experience getting to know this system over Kendra. And when I say this, I say this not to bash Higgins. I have followed her during her Punahou playing days and am a fan of hers. I think she is a great player and a human being.
But I still think Kendra needs to be given a chance to prove herself and get more in game experience IMO.
But nevertheless, Go Bows!
3. That’s the thing, there is no difference in their setting even with Higgins year of experience over Koelsch BUT Koelsch is taller and won’t be a blocking liability against the big time outside hitters, and Koelsch outside sets are faster and look smoother! Theres just more potential there. It’s so clear to me.
I still like Higgins in a Steph Brandt role, I’m not completely outcasting her.
My two cents on the Koelsch heated discussion. She was recruited as a sand scholarship player and she had the intention of playing only sand. She at the last minute was offered an indoor scholie to play both, so why not, a bonus for her. Unless her thinking has changed, I don’t see her transferring because of her backup position. That’s for now of course……………..
Higgins and Koelsch are both good, young setters. Shoji has been at this for 40 years, and I think he can recognize the potential of both.
As a sub, Koelsch gives him a blocking option that Higgins does not. So, this gives him more flexibility while developing both.
Initially, Koelsch was a sand only player b/c she did not want to compete against Kyra Goodman who was a club friend. When she did not return, that opened up a spot.
If Mitchem wants to come, they will need to figure out the scholarships as all 12 are committed for next year with Castillo and Granato committed. Only Adolpho is a senior.
there’s very little evidence to show that there’s no difference in the setting between higgins and koelsch … just need to see koelsch play more, and in time, we will. until then, i don’t see how anyone can be completely convinced of anything. but then, if someone’s made up their mind that one is better than the other, then there’s really no point in engaging in debate… hmm…
1. Higgins had limited playing time last season, particularly in the front row, and never for an entire match. Don’t see how you can use last year as a comparison.
15. Mitchem wants to come. She was here last weekend. And, have been saying for quite some time, that this is where she will be in 2015
18. Good to hear. This would mean they will add 2 OHs and 1 MB (who is capable of playing 6 rotations).
Guess Scott Wong is working on 2016 class now. Focus is on two very highly-rated setters.
On Annie Mitchem, as Cindy says she will be here in Fall 2015. I would think Shoji and Wong would have the scholarship thing all figured out before they brought her over for the official visit.
Don’t think Scott is interested in a setter with Higgins and Koelsch on board., However if Norene Iosia is interested in UH, you have to find room for her on your roster.
I think UH’s number one and two targets should be Opposite Kathryn Plummer and outside hitter Joy Dennis, two dual indoor/beach stars who both seem interested in the UH beach program
a lineup in 2016 of
Koelsch 6′ 1
Plummer 6′ 5
Maglio 6′ 3
Mitchem 6′ 3
Taylor 6′ 3
Greeley 6′ 2
Would be UH’s tallest ever and best chance at a title before Shoji retires IMO.
WF you may want to consider Castillo somewhere on your 2016 lineup list, heard she is the real deal. Just saying….
wfan: in 2016, Higgins will be a senior, and Koelsch a junior.
If a premium setter is available, it makes sense to recruit one — the core MBs and OHs will be juniors or sophomores.
BTW, Plummer is an OPP, but is also a very highly rated setter and is actually listed as a S/RS; may be higher rated than Iosia. If they can get both, that would be great.
Kat Plummer a 6’5″ setter, she can play for Charlie’s team.
23. Plummer can set, but that doesn’t make her a setter, like Kelly Murphy and Ashley Engle before her, she will play opposite at the college she commits to IMO she is too good of a hitter.
22. If UH doesn’t get Plummer im sure Casey will be starting at opposite instead. But of course I am hopeful UH gets Plummer.
warriorfan (#21) — does hawaii legitimately have a shot at landing plummer/dennis? and are they really interested in hawaii?
or are you posting that more as ‘wishful thinking’?
Warriorfan (#25) — murphy did set at florida all 4 years, as part of a 6-2.