U.S. men upset by Italy
www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2016/July/14/Little-Things-Mean-a-Lot-in-US-Loss-to-Italy
Not a good loss for the Americans. Have to beat Brazil Friday either 3-0 or 3-1 to remain alive in the tournament.
Setter Micah Christenson had 43 assists and libero Erik Shoji 16 digs but it was not enough as the U.S. men’s national volleyball team was upset by Italy 3-1 in ab FIVB World League final round pool-play match on Thursday in Krakow, Poland.
Christensen (Kamehameha) added four kills and an ace and was in on three blocks for the U.S. in the 25-22, 27-25, 26-28, 25-21 loss in Tauron Arena. The Italians, swept by the U.S. last month in Rome, won the block battle 11-9 and the dig war 70-45.
Shoji (Punahou) shared match-high dig honors with Italy’s Filippo Lanzo. Shoji’s older brother Kawika (‘Iolani), the reserve setter, did not play.
Both national teams lack “Ace” servers. Karch would benefit from having Misha Hancock’s serve. (She is not the tallest nor the most athletic setter; but that serve…, can disrupt the other teams offense.)
2016 Wahine roster updated
Faith Ma’afala (S/DS) also joining the team as a junior transfer from Southern Utah.
http://hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?roster=592&path=wvball
thanks Roxy. Wow so many DS’s we could start a 5-8″ and under league. Hope Norene is really 5-11″ and not 5-8 and three fourths.
With the wahine passing issues of the post kanani/aneli years i welcome all the defensive specialists, we will need them.
I think Hawaii will have way better passing with options like Smith, Anderson, and Maafala on deck to come in when needed.
I can easily see Smith taking over Libero once Kahakai graduates.
WAS THINKING/HOPING TAYLOR WOULD BE ON THE OLYMPIC TEAM, AND COME BACK FOR HER FINAL YEAR IN2017.
– Mahalo Roxy. Appears that there is no backup for Taylor at opposite. No problem, a double middle set-up requires no opposite. It’s also a faster system.
– Kahakai has great hands but lacks quickness/mobility. Being lighter would help (but neither the coaches nor SK feel the need.) Regardless, if the others do not get an equal opportunity odds are he will lose several of them.
Iosia had been listed at 5’9″ previously. If she does not red-shirt Shoji may consider a 6-2. (with Koelsch up front) Otherwise 1 may leave.
Granato is the new Olevao but shorter. (Trading defense for offense.)
Not surprised at all with Maafala back to Hawaii and at UH. Her feet were always halfway out the door with her previous team.
Excited about the new coaching staff and the new hires! Seems like this could be Dave’s last year with the staff they are bringing in.
Some people in the past were worried about the loss of Magill. She was great and a dominating blocker for sure, but was not that pure of a hitter. She was not efficient at attacking overpasses. Can’t recall at the moment which game her inability in terminating an overpass nearly cost us advancing in the tournament.
Mitchem will be fun to watch. She may not be as athletic, but she has a higher VB IQ and a better armswing.
The real question will be if we have left side hitters that can terminate. Nikki Taylor can only do so much from the Opp & if she is swinging from the left and anywhere in the passing rotation…not a good sign.
I agree with you WaWa. Nikki will do her thing at opposite but to contend for a championship the team needs one of the left side hitters to emerge as a second terminator. Granato is talented but not tall enough IMHO, and Sibley will be too green. That leaves either Greeley or Castillo to be the player with the length, strength and smarts to consistently beat a double block. All of the other pieces are in place.
7. blunite – I believe that Castillo practiced some at Opp last year so in an emergency she could be put there…..
9. Agreed. I think Greeley will be fine. She has all the shots and can hit with authority when she needs to. I hope Granato or Castillo can step up their game. We should be fine though…
1. Karch may use Misha Hancock in the 2020 Olympics, but he may ot allow her to use a high-risik, high-reward serve. He bans jump serves in his team. Also note that Misha’s serves did not help the USA Pam Am team beat Puerto Rico in the semifinals.
9. Greeley still has to rehab from her shoulder surgery. It will take times for her to get up to speed.
By the way, the USA men lost to Brazil in five sets and we eliminated. They had their chances to win the third set at match point but flubbed it. So now they are sent home earlier than expected. And here they played Brazil on neutral ground. Just imagine how much harder it will be to play in Rio, the Brazilian home court.
Hopefully both the men’s and the woman’s VB coaches employ new strategies to succeed. Too many coaches put the onus on the team to play better. If the other team has better athletes then a change in strategy would be more pragmatic. If you can’t win straight up then trick them into single coverage.
6. Taylor was never in consideration for the Olympic team.
agree a lot of DS in the mix. Don’t think it’s official on Ma’afala yet.
Castillo backed up Taylor last season. We’ll see what happens.
Greeley should be fine
new thread up
http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=38192