Thanks for being part of the blog this season
Going to take a few days off so behave. No anarchy, promise?
A couple of notes I didn’t get to earlier.
Mendoza set a UH record for digs in a 4 set match with 32. Previously held by Ka’aihue 31 in 2007.
Shoji said he hasn’t made a decision about retiring yet, not leaning one way or another.
In my story that will run Monday, teams coming in for 2015 include Florida, Oregon State and UCLA.
have a good night.
COMMENTS
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YES at florida, UCLA might be down with Lowe gone
hope more highly ranked teams are coming as well.
great job to na wahine.
great things to come next year.
you have three recruits who are going to push the current starters.
I’ve seen the new recruits play and this will be the first time I feel that I can’t predict a starting lineup. granato’s a much better all around player IMO then greeley when greeley was a senior so you could only imagine the progress she’ll make by august.
happy holidays everyone. see you next year!
Looking forward to your article on Monday. Hope to see your analysis of the season past and the one forthcoming.
In their last match of their collegiate career, both seniors played ‘lights out’ and truly represented the legacy of being a Rainbow Wahine! If only we had more seniors!
Cindy, hope you are going to keep us informed on the All-Region (Pacific North) and subsequently the AA selections. Hoping Hawai’i gets 2 on the squad but won’t be surprised if we get 1.
A very respectable season by a fairly young NaWahine team. Mahalo to Kalei, Sarah and Ginger for the dedication to NaWahine program. Next season should be a great one, with an additional year of maturity and the coming of Mitchem, IMHO a top 5 recruit. I think Coach Shoji stays another year because of the potential of next year’s team. I would be remiss to forget the keeper of this blog….Mahalo,Cindy!
Cindy, thanks for your journalistic efforts over the season. You not only covered the matches themselves with fair and accurate reporting, you provided us with biographies that really allowed us to get to know and care about these kids. This blog also let knowledgable people contribute information that enhanced my understanding of the game even though I have been involved in it for well over 50 years. Mahalo to you and to the rest of the bloggers.
When is the team banquet?? Or did I miss it?
From a Digging Na Wahine tweet. you can watch Annie play in the Championship match this afternoon 1:30 pm.
https://twitter.com/DiggingNaWahine/status/541672481463885824
Imo Greely not only played very well but may have been our most successful attacker against a team that has a chance to win the National Championship. Our two most productive outsides last night were a frosh and a soph. Hawaii will ride them till they graduate. She will be a starter. Granato at 5’10”- 11″ Greely at 6’3″. If you’ve seen Granato in person you know she isn’t 6′. Second Dave will coach one more year. The following year both of his sons should be in the Olympics. He and Mary will be there and deservedly so. And he will have a very good team next year and the next to leave with the incoming coach.
Shoji needs a terminator, ala Hartong. That was the missing link this past season. Manu-Olevao and Taylor are good, but not great. We didn’t have an All-American type player. Who’s going to play the middle next year to replace Adolpho?
9. Mitchem should come in and replace Adolpho in the middle. Hoping Dave considers running a 6-2 contingent on BOTH setters improving over spring and summer. Might as well make use of all the OH on the team (Manu-Olevao, Taylor, Greeley, Huff, Granato, & Castillo).
I’m bummed that they didn’t run a 6-2. IMHO Higgins is better off in the serving /digging position ….
Once again Cindy, thanks for your coverage of Wahine Volleyball.
7. Don’t think anything came out on the banquet. Have to check the booster club website or i’m sure Cindy will post as she always does. I think Greeley and Taylor will be tough next season. Like to see Magill and Miglio together although with Mitchem coming in its hard to say.Haven’t seen Miglio play much so not sure what she can do.Going to be real intresting
UH will be much improved next year…They should be able to handle UCLA without Lowe & OSU (losing four starters)…It may be too early to beat the Gators, though….Wahine should win the Big West too…
8. so what channel is that championship match annie is in?
anyone?
^nevermind i guess that was more of a joke. a bad one. i guess need to signup on coachesaid.com eh?
Cindy, you do for us more than you are paid to – salary and otherwise!
Big, BIG MAHALO to you!
8. I went on digging na wahine and he had the info how you can sign up for Mitchems match. It doesn’t start to 5:25 PT .
I would like to shout out a big “MAHALO!” to Cindy for allowing us to vent and give opinions on her blog. May you have a wonderful Holiday Season and come back for one super Men’s season. I hope that the New Year will bring a more toned down criticisms of both teams. I think when you cut people down you dis the team and instead of helping you hurt them. Be more positive in 2015!
Thanks to all of you for providing interesting updates. For me as an avid volleyball fan, this is my favorite blog column.
I agree with #9, Turfwar, that Shoji may stay just one more year and then retire at the end of next year. Hope it will be a much improved year.
I just don’t see Dave retiring before the 2016 season because that will be THE year to finally get back to the final four or even the elite 8, with Nikki, Annie and Higgins being seniors that year, Greeley, Maglio , Kahakai and Koelsch as juniors and with Iosia on board.
The Olympics are scheduled to end August 21st in 2016, so Maybe Wong will take over for pre season fall practice and the first week of the season cause I am sure Dave and Mary will be in Rio most of august of that year.
21. Maybe you are right, Warriorfan if Dave is up to coaching another year. Then he could retire at the age of 70. It would give Wong a good pre-training as succeeding head coach for indoor volleyball although I don’t see how he could coach both indoor and outdoor volleyball at the same time. What do any of you think?
By the way, I just heard that Redondo Union won the CIF State championship in California with Norene Iosia as setter. She had four aces in the last set. However, it won’t be until next year that we’ll know for sure if she’ll sign up for UH.
Watching Annie, wow. I am impressed but am torn if I want her at the pins or in the middle. There are pros at having her at both positions, She hits VERY WELL from the outside and with LOTS of pop and puts up a huge wall on the right side blocking. Tom Pestolesi has her hitting all over the court, from the left, right, backrow so there would be an advantage having her size and power at the pins, especially when passing goes bad.
But in the middle, her slide is fast and unstoppable, I could see it being better than Kalei Adolpho’s molokai slide, it’s the best slide since Prince IMO.
On the outside, she has all the shots, she has great volleyball IQ,
In the middle she closes the block really fast, she has great foot speed.
I do want Maglio on the court though.
yes mahalo and tanx to cindy. i think we bloggers have stressed her up enough right?
Annie’s passing a little off but she does make some great plays in the backrow digging and she just had a BOMB from the outside. IVC gets lots of points when shes in the front court.
26. Is Mitchem match already on. I went to the website and it says 5:25
Hope i’m not missing something.
alright annies team won and is thrilled. anything else?
Annie Mitchem definitely has a live arm. Will be interesting to see how she transitions to D1.
I gotta say this livestream by a junior college was miles better than the rest of the big west schools, shame on them.
Annie is a beast.
Annie named state tournament MVP, easy choice.
Congrats to Kaleo Baxter too.
30. A beast in small pond. I hope she remains a beast next year in a far larger ocean.
30 and 31. concur! aint that the truth?
Annie hit .488 and accounted for 40% of IVC’s total points.
After watching the CCCAA championship match, Annie Mitchem may be the terminator that UH was lacking. She can bring the heat from the pins. With Magill, Maglio and Castillo can handle the M2.
Cindy, thanks for running this blog and keeping everyone sane. Wishing you and your family a great and safe holiday season.
The last great JC player I remember was Kaczor who went to USC. Big arm and tall. Anyone else?
Hoping for a strong pre season schedule, Florida will be a HUGE rpi boost. And oregon state might be, might. Ucla will drop off though. I wish I could see penn state play here or some other b1g school like nebraska. Excited to see the rest of the schedule!
37. Did you forget Aneli?
Michigan had a good one a few years back too, a brazilian.
Not alot of top 20 ranked recruits go to Junior colleges though. Annie is a rare case. Probably would have been top 10 had she committed to a big time school out of high school.
Nebraska and Illinois will never come here during the fall.
I saw an interview with Illinois head Hambly, coach, he said they would only come to hawaii in the spring. something about the travel, taking them three days to get back to normal when they are back home from just a trip to Cali, and said can’t even imagine how much Hawaii would take out of them.. Lame.
Hoping the schedule is rounded out by smart rpi boosters, like Florida state, North Carolina, Creighton, Marquette, or Kansas, maybe get Ohio State to come back.
Cindy, mahalo for running this blog and have a safe and happy holiday season.
Just for your info on Annie Mitchem, she was 2012 #16 Senior Ace, and Olivia Magil #37.
Regarding Casey Castillo, is it true she would have been top 25 had she not had her injury in high school? Thought I read something about it but want to confirm.
Okay after thinking about it, I think the best position for Annie Mitchem at UH is on the right side. Do we really want her to get only 12-15 sets a match as a middle or do we want her to get 30+ sets? I think 30 plus sets is best, because she has a cannon arm. I’d like Olivia to get more sets too but Olivia doesn’t have the all around skills Annie has. Annie can set, dig, pass pretty well.
On the right Annie will get a lot more sets and can play backrow without having to pass much, and as a bonus, she can still hit the slide, the way Jenny Roberts used to do it as a right side hitter in the late 90’s. Especially in the rotation with Olivia up front, since Olivia doesn’t do the slide.
Nikki would have to move to the left and hopefully work on her passing and backrow defense, or better yet a 6- 2 offense, because Nikki and Annie blocking on the right would be opposing outside hitter’s nightmare.
And this Allows Emily Maglio to develop in the middle, If she improves she could be a very good middle by the time the post season comes next season. UH would have a huge blocking team.
44. Shoji will have lots of options next year with the talent coming in–a good problem to have. I hope many of the returning players put in time at the gym in the offseason/summer like Harting did–would make the team much better.
45. Yes need them all to improve strength and fitness, I think Nikki, Savanah and Kalei need to get 100 percent healthy too. Hope for an injury free season next year.
They all need to work on their serving too, develop tougher serves like Olevao did, especially Greeley, Nikki and Kahakai, who’s serves weren’t that difficult. Kahakai needs to bring back her jump serve she used in club and high school.
Because of her slow recovery from her knee injury she was placed at #61, otherwise she has top 10 potential. Per Prepvolley.com.
47. Thx
47. was a response to 43. question
46. kahakai did 1 jump serve vs new mexico in which she shot long. she immediately reverted to her float.
speaking of serving i think all wahine servers except jump/spin servers should only do a stand float (ie mendoza, adolpho, and ginger vs duke), its much more simple and accurate and certainly aint a piecemeal serve. it is definitely way better than the running jump float (because im a timid little girl and i hit net) serve such as ponce, greeley and what ginger did before vs duke. yes the big example was ginger that her serve improved seemingly 10-fold just by her switch from running jump float to just stand float and just in time for postseason.
for all wahine servers who are capable of jump/spin serving, they should do those without hesitation but be it a plus if they can switch to stand float if accuracy is the most paramount (ie poor tai at set and match point vs ucla). granato coming in from punahou is the perfect example of this; she did stand floats in her junior year and when she was a senior, she did jump/spin serves.
a jump/spin serve is always a waste if not utilized: previously precluding tais serve from jump/spin and only using passi to serve once (at davis match and that was a substitution for taylor up to serve when she had 3 service errors before, in which her serves were all jump floaters)
I agree that a 6-2 would be worth trying next season. That would allow Annie Mitchem to play an outside position and Maglio to assume the second middle behind Oliver Magill. Both Nikki Taylor and Kalei Greeley are both tall and are good in placing the ball but without great heat (they do hit hard though, but not at the elite level like a Emily Hartong). Both should spend some time in the weight room to try to improve their power. However, I’m not sure if this is possible; this may be related to genes. Cindy, what do you think?
LanaiBoy, I’m not Cindy but I agree that Nikki and Kalei could really help themselves in the weight room. Hartong got better and better each year partly because of her dedication to weight training. They both have the arm speed and that is half the battle. I also see Maglio being able to handle second middle.
How will olevao fit into all of this?
Thanks to volleyshots bloggers (especially Cindy) for keeping the Hawaii fans informed, up to date on the daily team progression. You have to love it when this many fans are able to give input with varying opinions and for the most part get along.
As for the season, it went according to the talent IMO, the best part is that talent has room for improvement and the new recruits will ensure a stronger team for the next few seasons. Shoji has a tough decision ahead of himself, as it will be difficult to walk away from a team that on paper is going to be a legit contender in the coming seasons. So a big thanks to his investment with the team over the years and looking forward to a couple of more.
thank you to everyone who contributed to this blog. it has been a controversial rebuilding year (imo emily hartong is too difficult to replace) and your comments have been interesting too. i’m looking forward to next year.
thanks, cindy, for your efforts this year, and really every year…
nice to see no wallowing on the blog … wahine bowed out of the ncaa tournament early (and we knew this was a team that would take its lumps this year), but the team acquitted itself well, finishing strong to end the season (sweeping a solid Duke team, and making UW nervous for a good chunk of their round 2 matchup).
nice to see the positive energy and posts already looking forward to the potential of next year’s team!
here’s hoping magill, at least, gets some recognition on the all-region team when it’s announced tomorrow!
Thanks for hosting your blog (sorry for the tautology; I don’t know how else to express this) this season.
Sigh. We have to see the Wahine win another National Championship under Shoji. C’mon, crown that career, Mr.
I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familar places . . .
Merry Christmas and happy new year e’rybody on this particular blog.
# # #
53 Olevao had the entire season to show her talents. From last season to this past season, she has shown no improvement in her hitting pct. from looming at .200. Hopefully Shoji if he’s coaching (or whoever for 2015) will seriously give the newcomers, especially Mitchem a good, long look to fit the role of a leftside terminator that UH was lacking. Maybe a healthy Nikki with 8 months to rehab could fill in as one of the two leftside terminators. But a .200% LOH for a top 25 ranking team isn’t cutting it, IMO. We’ll see come August what evolves.
Olevao did improve her serving. It’s become a weapon. If she gets beaten out for an OH position then possible serving sub/first off the bench?
Every time Dave says he’s going to look at every position, like he said in today’s article by Cindy. But he mostly ends up going with the usual starters again. Could he have tried Huff and Maglio more in the Washington game or he thought it wouldn’t have been worth it ? They each had a kill in very limited action .
But he had a good analysis: each player has to improve or they will be replaced; need better lefts, be more reliable on the right. He’ll take a look at the setter position which needs improvement. Looks like Mitchem will be playing somewhere but he doesn’t know which position yet. The two incoming freshmen will have to compete with the others for playing time. All the underclassmen are expected back.
He did say that Adolpho and Mendoza had their best match of their careers vs. Washington .
Like to also add my thanks to Cindy for your time and effort to make this blog work for all of us. In regards to a 6-2, I believe Dave in the early years had used it and won a national championship. It would be great to see a 6-2 at UH again – but setting and passing needs to greatly (SIGNICANTLY) improve. Thanks to the players and staff for working hard all year and peaking at the right time. It was a unlucky draw to get a likely “Final 4 Team” opponent so early in post season with the Huskies. Nevertheless, you fought hard and made everyone proud. Best wishes and continue success to Kalei, Sarah, Ginger, as well as to Keani Passi!
Many seem to keep calling for the team to run a 6-2, or experiment with it. But, it is not a panacea. If it were, you would see many more teams, including the BCS “johnny-come lately’s” using it. How many teams are running it in the top 30?
I think USC tried, and failed dismally. How did Pepperdine do? Tanner was a huge advocate, especially at his club. Did they run it this year?
And, you need the right personnel fit to run it. Trying it must means you will be taking time away from working on other critical needs.
You need to commit to it, and live with the results — good or bad. You cannot switch horses in mid-stream. With the two setters that they have, I don’t think it would work, and if I’m right, you will end up neutralizing the talent they have, and are bringing it, at OH and MB.
Regardless of using a 5-1 or a 6-2, the team needs to greatly improve the consistency of their pass receive. This may dictate who starts next year, as Shoji will have an array to select from. (Yes, I think he will be back).
In case anybody is interested, Redondo Union won the Division I CA State Title. Norene Iosia did an incredible job.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/20141207/redondo-girls-volleyball-brings-home-division-i-state-title
61 Totally agree. Just a year ago at UCLA with Megan Moenoa and Monica Stauber running the 6-2, Bruins had one of their worst years ever. Significant setting, passing, and ball handling improvement needs to occur before running the 6-2 at UH.
I was a proponent of running the 6 – 2, but after watching for the season on the limited time and the Washington game in particular, I don’t see it working for Hawaii. You need to have two very good defensive players as setters, Higgins may fit the bill, but Koelsch is an offensive minded setter, not a back row player. So with that in consideration, you could use Higgins in the back row, and Koelsch doing the front row. It may not be the way to go either as Higgins is great at jousting and I am not sure on Koelsch providing that kind of net presence.
63.The 6-2 didn’t work for UCLA last year because Stauber wasn’t very good last year and Moenoa was injured.
61. Oregon, Texas, Colorado, LMU, Utah, Washington, North Carolina, Florida State, all run the 6- 2 offense this year. Illinois does at times too.
There is a big advantage to having three hitters and blockers up in the front row at all times. But you do need good passing. and USC was very solid last season running the 6- 2 offense( did you forget about that?) with Shaw and Hagglund passing . San Diego was solid running the 6- 2 last year too. If you have the passsing and 4 great pin attackers why not take advantage of that?
Top teams that don’t run the 6- 2 usually have one great setter that they need on the floor at all times, like PSU and Wisconsin.
Vansant and Scambray just went up and over Higgin’s block.
A big Mahalo to Cindy for having this blog. I don’t get to see hardly any games (since I work lots of nights) so this is where I come for more insights on the sport.
To all the team members and coaching staff, another big Mahalo for the endless hours of hard work and dedication that goes into a program such as we enjoy.
To those leaving the program for whatever reasons (graduation, transfer, retirement, etc), may you cherish your time as a Wahine as you go on to successful careers and fulfilling lives.
To Dave Shoji, I would ask you to set your retirement date. I know that Legends often get to set the timing and manner of their departure, but I would suggest that uncertainty about your tenure does a dis-service to the program you have spent the past four decades nurturing. You yourself have said, recruits should come for the program and not for the coach, but I think uncertainty is a greater barrier to someone joining the program than knowing it will be in the hands of someone else after a particular time.
To the participants on the blog, always be civil to each other. The best way to kill a forum such as this is to make it a hostile acrimonious environment. We all have our own opinions and should be able to respectfully agree to disagree.
Till next season, Aloha
Yup. Conceptually, the main benefit of the 6-2 formation is that the offense is much strengthened by the existence of three front row hitters.
But, there is also a serious weakness. The 6-2 requires two players to be both excellent hitters and excellent setters, making the setter a highly specialized position. Those setters must also be good passers, and blockers when in front, or you don’t get the full benefit of running it.
To be effective, both setters also need to be good blockers as well.
You likely will need 3 setters on your roster, or you will need to be able to run both a 6-2 and a 5-1 effectively. Your recruiting for depth will change. Likely, 3 setters (both 5’10+)(2 starters), 4 MBs (2 starters), 4 OH (2 starters), and 1 libero.
The type of 6- 2 offense most teams teams in the NCAA run puts their setters in the backrow only, so they don’t need to be blockers at all.
That’s pretty good – 8 or 9 of the top 35. Wonder who Texas uses as their 2nd setter?
As you note, the main benefit of the 6-2 formation is that the offense is much strengthened by the existence of three front row hitters. At the same time, there is a potentially serious weakness to this formation as well, as the 6-2 requires two players to be both excellent hitters and excellent setters, which makes it a highly specialized position, & they need to be able to block well. When not in the setting position, those setters must act as hitters, pass, and block.
Your setters will likely need to be 5′ 10″ or taller, or have hops, and your roster makeup likely will change — carrying 3 setters instead of 2. Only two OHs will start, as the 3rd will be your setter.
I don’t think this is ideal with Higgins and Koelsch as your two setters. Maybe in a couple of years IF they can get Plummer to commit, but I am not certain how well Iosia can block.
With Ioaia setting we won’t need to block as much because she will platter it for the hitters ergo more kills and less returns. I am very excited about the next two years. P.S. She is a very good blocker, I think as good as Kaminaho who was the best for her size that I ever saw.
#68. Not a true 6-2. And, if you do that consistently, you will exhaust your subs.
Shoji does the same on a very limited basis.
It’s still considered a 6-2 because you have six hitters and two setters. You only run out of subs if the game goes something like 32-30.
70. Norene is legit 5′ 11 so she won’t be much of a blocking liability. I haven’t been this excited about a recruit since the rumors of FF or Jane. Hope this time it goes better for UH.
Ditto for me WF. Especially after I stood next to FF and she was as tall as me and a lot stronger looking.
AdmrVT warriorfan is correct. In a 6-2 offense that most of the D1 programs run the setters are back row players ONLY so they don’t block or hit. When one setter rotates to the front row they are subbed out for an opposite and vice versa…
I agree that Mitchem should be an OH rather than the Middle….I think it will benefit UH better having that Go To Outside terminator which was lacking this year. Having said that I am battling myself whether the LOH1 is best or the OPP position? Im thinking if we want her to use the step out as an option the OPP will be great as she can pose a imposing block. But then an injury free Nikki Taylor is a great option to remain at this position. The LOH1 will also work because if we want someone to have the most swings it will most likely come from this position and she could be the terminator Hawaii lacked since Hartong and Danielson left.. imho Shoji has several options if he wants Mitchem and Taylor as OH1 & OH2, which will then leave Olevau at the right and limits her passing in the backrow :). Or have Mitchem OH1, Taylor at OPP, and leave the OH2 to Olevau or Greeley….or have Mitchem at OPP and Taylor as OH1 (Even though i think she hits better on the right) , and Olevau or Greeley at OH2. Olivia Magill can handle the middle and we can develop Maglio at MB2. Yes there will be a lot of questions as where will Olevau and Greeley fit in? But in Hawaii’s best interest Mitchem and Taylor need to be the two outsides at either of the pins to make it all work.
64. koelsch may not be known providing that “kind” of net presence. but she is known for providing that ‘kine’ of net presence 😀 specifically she can provide bigger block, can kill overpasses and most importantly she can either save uhs overpasses or attack it down much more easily than higgins (ie at csun)
76. either nikkis elbow needs to be fully healed and/or she needs to hit the weight room including training her left hand to be a hitter. she is ambidextrous isnt she? wouldnt we say she be unstoppable if dual-handed that she can be unpredictable in a snap changing the trajectory to sunder or smash through the block.
Sarah Mendoza was amazing. Washington fans were really impressed with her.
reading on iPhone. could not recommend it I will get to most of the comments when I get home later Tuwday.
Appreciate all the kind words. It’s you folks that make the blog.
1. Floirda is in one of the Hawaii tournaments. They are not traveling before conference play, not sure who he can bring in mid-season.
Haven’t heard yet on the banquet info. Will let you know.
Never got to say it yet but thanks for all the posting Cindy, appreciate it!
Can’t wait to see Mary-Kate Marshall and Rhamat Alhassan come next season.
Olivia Magill named to the Pacific North Region Team. She can now be nominated as an All-American
With nearly 2.5 KPG, a .405 hitting percentage, & 1.3 BPG, Olivia should be a lock for All-American.
On a side note, someone gave me a book written by Ann Miller on the Rainbow Wahine. Great book about the Wahine volleyball program from the absolute beginning until the present. Stories about Donnis Thompson’s vision of women’s athletics & Title IX. Stories of Wahine Volleyball players, past and present, in regards to recruiting, the coaching staff, and the people of Hawai’i. Accounts of Wahine teams and their quest for National Championships. Great read!
cant believe that Kendra was sparsely utilized. Her height alone brings problems for opponents at the net. Agree w #12 that Higgins is better as a back row player. Shoji talked about reevaluating the setter position next season…hmmm.