Tuesday checkin: Travel roster
They will travel 14.
Those that are NOT going are the two redshirts: Ma’afala and Okino
Guinasso, Ross and Smith.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
Likely it will change for the next road trip as they tend to alternate the non-scholarship DSs for the road trips.
Previous thread asked why Taylor didn’t play her senior year at Kaiser.
If I remember correctly part of it was due to injury.
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Do you mean “Those that are not going…”?
I would have thought Smith would go for sure, since she was first off the bench whenever the passing broke down. And, these matches are against the 2 strongest teams in the BW. I hope passing holds up on the road, since this has been a problem before.
No idea why ponce is going instead of smith.
1. thanks. forgot the NOT
2. as I said they rotate the DSs traveling. probably the players from the UCI-Beach Area will go the next trip.
Asked that about Smith. Shoji said she hasn’t earned her spot.
Shoji sees all the DS’s in practice every day, so I trust he knows what’s best for the team.
Any word on where Annie will play this weekend, left or middle? Has she been seeing anytime in the middle during practice?
Tough call with the travel roster limits.
I just find out hard to leave Emma out from the travel roster. She IMO is the person to bring in if we are struggling in the pass receive. Recent history shows she is 99% guaranteed to make passes resulting in a great transition for a possible point.
Coach actually said that Emma didn’t earn that spot…Wow she deserves a scholarship before we lose another good one..I cannot believe!!
Taylor was hurt during her junior year at Kaiser. Don’t know when it happened, but she did not play in the OIA tournament. I could have sworn that she played club volleyball for Imi Ike between her junior and senior high school years. I heard that the Kaiser coach wanted to use her as a middle, and she did not want that, but I don’t know if that’s the reason she didn’t play her senior year.
From the last thread…
Ok Ron, because you asked, I decided to run some numbers on the Mitchem left side vs. middle debate. One caveat is that the sample size is small. I only used the 8 matches starting with Missouri St. through Pepperdine to capture all of Nikki Taylor’s play, so that I can isolate Mitchem’s contribution. I compared the 2 matches with Mitchem versus the 6 without her. The other caveat is that the 6 matches include top teams UCLA and Washington, tougher competition than Pepperdine, which could deflate UH’s stats relative to the Pepperdine matches. I have two findings, neither of which is groundbreaking, but the data supports bloggers’ intuitions:
1. Moving Mitchem to the middle will likely reduce her productivity. Outsides (Taylor/Mitchem/Granato/Sibley) are responsible for 3.3x the attempts and 2.8x the kills per set than the middles (Maglio/Castillo/Burns). Outsides account for 25.5 att/set and 10.3 kills/set vs. 7.7 and 3.7 for the middles. It is extremely unreasonable to assume that the passing will improve so much that Mitchem will be able to maintain her 8 att/set average as a middle. She may hit for a higher average, but there would be a cost to the outside production.
2. Mitchem’s true value at left is relieving pressure off of Taylor. Without Mitchem, Taylor had 13.1 att and 6.0 kills/set. With Mitchem, both figures dropped significantly to 9.1 and 3.9. Mitchem averaged 8.0 and 3.0 for the two games she appeared in. Mitchem accounted for Sibley’s 5 att and 2 kills/set plus a bit more to take away from Taylor. Left side production (Outsides less Taylor) was 12.8 att and 4.5 kill/set without Mitchem, but 15.4 and 6.3 with her. Because Mitchem is a dependable left side (converting at .268 versus around .200 for each of Granato and Sibley), Mitchem is able to take more attempts and make more kills. The left is more productive and Taylor is not used as much. Defenses cannot focus solely on Taylor, which also opens up more opportunities along the front line.
IMO, it would be a mistake to move Mitchem to middle, send Castillo to the bench, and start Sibley on the left, at least in the near-term (or put Castillo on the left and Sibley on the bench–Shoji could have done that this past weekend). The data, albeit limited, show that Mitchem is a far more valuable offensive diversifier at left than Sibley. Plus, her contributions would likely decrease as a middle in terms of attempts and possibly kills. Interestingly, with Mitchem playing, the middles averaged about 0.5 more kills/set than without her playing. I would leave Mitchem at left and see how the team fares over the next couple of weeks. Then there will be more data to analyze before making longer-term decisions.
Thanks Maverick, that was an impressive analysis.
4. Mitchem is taking reps on left and middle. Shoji said she’ll likely play left this weekend.
5. yes, tough call with the travel limit. taking a walk-on fifth-year senior vs. walk-on true freshman.
6. yes, he said that. besides, they aren’t going to lose her. She came to play beach.
not sure who “lose another good one” refers to.
7. something like that. Don’t know the whole story and didn’t want to get into the drama with the coaching situation.
top 25 today
5) Texas def. West Virginia 24-26, 28-26, 25-18, 25-15
7) San Diego def. San Diego State 25-21, 25-19, 26-24
I definitely think Emma has earned her way onto a travel roster but I think Dave also like to reward loyalty and Katiana and Claire Marie have “paid their dues”.
I also think this trip is to Poly and UCSB so its not like UH is going into the hometown of the girls left behind. When the team go to Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine or Riverside, the SoCal girls will probably be added to the roster.
Shoji have done it like this in the past. He will travel players from the area they are from to allow parents to see their kids.
10. Thanks!
What kind of serving teams are UCSB and Poly? Our serve receive always seems to break down late in sets. Even Kahakai has had problems passing, at times.
no disrespect meant to Ponce at all but I think she and Anderson play the same role as situational serving subs while Smith is more of an emergency passing sub when Greeley and Granato’s passing goes south, not liking leaving Smith behind at all.
What’s the big deal? Both Ponce and Anderson are better passers than either Granato or Greeley. If the passing breaks down it’s probably because of either MG or KG in the back row. Just pull them out and put in Anderson or Ponce.
Misc. notes for UCSB:
– avg. home attendance 2015 season: 200
– number of acres on fire Tuesday morning in the Santa Barbara area (near Vandenberg AFB): ~12,000
– Wednesday and Thursday forecast for Santa Barbara: partly smokey (not kidding)
– Link to UCSB Athletics countdown counter to Friday match with Hawaii: http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/landing/index
– Clue that the whole UCSB Athletic Departement might suffer OCD re playing the Wahine: see above.
– The Santa Barbara Independent sports columnist John Zant declares the Hawaii volleyball match the “Game of the Week” for Santa Barbara in the Tuesday morning edition.
– Clue that the UCSB fan base might suffer OCD re playing the Wahine: see above
– The Coach of the UCSB Women’s Volleyball team decides to hold a “Meet the Team” event after the match with Hawaii. They’ll pose for pictures, and have a photo booth. This is not the first home match for the Guacho’s, that was back on Sept. 2, 3, and 4th when they hosted their own tournament.
– Clue that the Coach of the UCSB Women’s Volleyball team might be putting extra pressure on her players to play well against Hawaii: see above.
Thanks for everyone insight blogs.
I do agree with everyone’s opinions and it seems everyone is in sync on the blogs.
“GO BOWS !”
Misc. notes for SLO (Cal Poly):
– Smoke from fires prompt health alert this evening for residents of SLO. Residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity.
– Inmate in SLO jail used a razor to end all his activity this morning, permanently.
– The SLO CowParade was held on Sunday. Although the whimsical cows have now been dispersed around the county, if you are interested, you can buy your favorite at an auction to be held in May.
– The SLO county regional airport terminal is almost half-way complete (or almost half-way incomplete). Don’t expect it to complete any time soon. Maybe late 2017. Or not, since outside workers must now avoid strenuous activity.
– Cal Poly president marched with SLO Solidarity. SLO Solidarity expresses concern that SLO County and Cal Poly are too white and not solidly unified (they are too diverse) about diversity. White campus Republicans are accused of saying mean things.
– Cal Poly Volleyball plays their first home match of the season against Hawaii on Saturday. The Mustangs earned their 7-4 record on the road.
2 and 13. yes you said it wf. they better not have passing issues this weekend.
that said shoji should just tell whoever is not passing to just simply dig the ball high vertical in the air and let the setter set with a pass, noreen is especially capable of that.
5. agreed.
6. wonder what coachs criterion qualifies as ‘earn that spot.’ at least emma knows nothing but ‘liberoism’ as thats all she plays so its not like kahakai who though (paid) as a libero, had to convert from outside hitter in highschool to a defensive player. emma is a defensive player – by design.
14. and if all else fails??….
they still got claire, at least from punahou she is a libero ‘by design’ and her defense is generally reliable.
Perhaps Dave wants a seasoned travelling team on this first outing especially since both Gauchos and Mustangs are drumming up support from the natives to come out. It should be loud. Been to both schools to watch the wahines play. Santa Barbara can be occasionally disrespectful while Cal Poly is respectful.
We should do okay against all BW teams with any of our DS’s on this trip. I’m just worried that with our poor preseason record, all these BW matches are critical. We are just one injury away (especially if Nikki reinjures her elbow) from being upset on the road. Annie is still learning to play left, so she may be inconsistent game to game.
Bottom line It is the coaching staff decision as to who travels ‘earning’ a spot not based on just matches It is weighted heavily with practices Can remember people complain when Guinasso didn’t travel as a freshman So it is nothing new when walkon freshmen DSS don’t travel
Disagree with the comment on Anderson being situational She was the top serving sub last season Things have changed in the serving rotation with injuries
BTW Stanford over Cal in 4
Need to find roles for Higgins and Kendra. To valuable to be sitting. Not sure why coach is not bringing in Kendra to block more often and use Higgins to serve for Maglio. I know Higgins is not the best digger but her jump serve can change games.
Taylor didn’t play her senior year because of injury and the Ernie, the coach. Taylor’s dad didn’t care for him. She had committed as a frosh, and they didn’t want to chance it playing with a coach that would not use her right and possibly overuse her.
#22 agree with you that higgins should be used more as a designated server. however, would sub for granato and then put smith in back row for granato. leave her only in front row. granato is too inconsistent in passing and serving to be left in for all 6 rotations.
One more comment re mitchem at OH. Until UH passing does not send Iosia all over the floor to get, mitchem in the middle is wasted. she cannot set mitchem in the middle if she is running sideline to sideline.
For me, leaving Granato to receive is a necessary part of growing her. To be sure in critical moments if she is struggling, a DS can always sub in for her. So if not now, when does she get the necessary reps to improve her receiving, as well as her backcourt attack? In post season, these cultivated skills may pay big dividends especially if Dave runs out of subs.
Tongo: i understand your rationale, but last season plus 11 games into this season, she has not improved. let her work it out in practice and use someone else in games until she proves that she can handle the passing. We need the middle attack and that cannot happen with our present passing.
It’s not how you practice it’s how you perform in games, freshmen or not! No one has passed better than Smith in games.
With the start of conference play upon us, it is urgent that passing to the middles is ramped up. I’ll leave aside the discussion of who should be at that position along with Maglio and just observe that the position needs a lot more involvement. In much the way that having Mitchem in last weekend helped balance things, feeding more balls to the middle(s) will mean more scoring opportunities and will make it harder for our opponents to defend against any one position.
And Cindy, I especially enjoyed two of your stories this week, even though you gave me an earworm that is still playing (Oh, Nikki, you’re so fine…) and made me miss the Harry Potter series (first of the first and first of the last).
#12 Gauchos are near the top in BW with 70 aces. They have 3 very good servers. I believe wahines are at 67 aces. Mustangs are further down in the middle.
Check the stats: Lose to Wisconsin, UCLA, and Washington (3 top 10 teams) and Kansas State (a very good team). All 4 teams outblocked Hawaii. That’s the main difference, the intimidation factor, when going far in the NCAA. Getting Mitchem back should be big because her velocity, height, and power on her kills is excellent. Balls need to hit hard to get the ball down with an occasional dink as well as hitting smart. I’m looking for Maglio, Castillo, Burns, Mitchem, and Taylor to drastically improve the blocking as the season progresses. Continued improvement will end in more competitiveness by tournament time as Shoji wants to go out with a title. Why not this year!!!! Nothing is easy for sure.
28. not saying that the decision is based on practices. But it’s practices plus what they see on the court.
ultimately, they can’t take everyone and they are leaving 2 freshmen AND a junior at home.
23. as mentioned previously, didn’t want to get into the drama with the coach.
http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=39354
new thread up for Wednesday