Wednesday check in: Dig Pink Nov. 5

Well Wisconsin’s run as number 1 looks like it might be short lived. In a big hole against Minny.

Looks like Huskers regain #1 with Minnesota second and Wisconsin third…

Feel like Texas is a bit overrated…

Think I’ve given up on title hopes now and in the near future. UH was lucky in the 80’s when volleyball and women’s sports in general were no where near the widespread participation, development, and collegiate support level as today. Still, take away just 2 phenomenal players, Dietre Collins (82-83) and Tee Williams (87), and I say zero NCAA titles. I feel even if UH had the “”senior year” Kanani Danielson and Emily Hartong that the team wouldn’t necessarily win it all. Maybe with the “current pro” Kanani and Emily 🙂 Still thinking the BW title is a good accomplishment and no shoe in. Hoping for the best and for payback for LBSU.

If this team starts playing up to their potential, they can reach the final four. But not so sure if they really believe it themselves. The loss to LBS was the best thing to happen to this team.

10. How about Willoughby and Kahumoku on the left with Taylor on the right? Kanoe Kamana`o setting.

Here I am, late to the game and possibly repeating things that have already been said and discussed. Either way, here are my thoughts after going to the Walter Pyramid and watching the game firsthand.

It only confirmed what I said earlier about wasting two DSs for one Outside Hitter. In the first couple of sets, Anderson was used to serve for Sibley and then Greeley would come in to replace Anderson to pass and play defense. Smith was used to serve for Mitchem. Granato went into the tank passing and there was no available DS to use until the start of the 4th set I believe. Either way, is Sibley’s serve (and defense) so atrocious that she cannot just serve and have Greeley replace her after? Annie Mitchem has already proved that she has a tough jump topspin serve, so using Smith to serve for her was a waste of both girls’ skill sets. On the road, we do not have the luxury of having the plethora of DSs. We may get away with that subbing pattern back home, but not when our traveling roster spots are limited.

I was at the game and I will tell you that the first two sets were PAINFUL to watch. There was absolutely no chemistry, no energy, nothing the rather large UH crowd could feed off of. It was almost uncomfortable at times. Watching Granato shank countless balls and literally give no emotion or communicate with her team to bring reassurance was disappointing.

I’m glad Dave threw Higgins in there to try and change it up. I definitely thought he could’ve changed the setter sooner in the 1st set because our offense became too predictable. I felt he should’ve used Koelsch first since, I believe, Iosia was in the front row. Her dumps are lethal and LBSU would’ve had to honor her as an attacker based on that photo taken of her against Cal Poly alone which would possibly have given the other hitters a slight advantage of a split block.

I like the idea of Dave re-opening all positions, I’m sure it gives some added competition. However, Taylor moving to OH is NOT going to help. She is not the best passer, does not have the best footwork, and is not agile enough to receive serve and transition to be effective as she will be constantly targeted. Now if she stays at Opp, but swings on the left in 2 or 3 rotations, that could be a better solution. I say keep her at Opposite.

Although Castillo hit for .000(?), I like what she brings to that OH position. When she was in the receiving pattern, she did pass better than Granato, and she brings height to the outside being able to hit different angles and provide a bigger block. I’m too lazy to look at Granato v Castillo’s blocking stats, but just the fact of having a bigger presence there is enough for any opposing hitter to alter their shot, therefore giving our defense the advantage. Granato hit a TON of heavy balls, but at her height and with LBSU’s trademark defense/ball control, they were gobbled up and used in transition as if there were just really hard driven down balls.

Sure I’m not the coach, and I definitely feel that any outsider does not know what happens inside the practice gym to help make the coach come to the decisions they make (could be based on effort, chemistry, or lack of, etc). However, we can all take a fantasy stab at what our ideal lineup would be based on our own observations and here is mine:

Iosia continue to set the 5-1.
-If she struggles, use Higgins in the backrow/Koelsch in the front row
-Use them a lot quicker rather than waiting until down a set or losing a long string of points

Taylor stays at Opp.
-possibly swings on the left for more than one rotation
-is NOT included in S/R EVER
-fatigue/injuries are plaguing her, USE ROSS to give her a breather and Ross’ energy is CONTAGIOUS. Everyone seems to love her! I feel like she is the golden girl. So who cares about taking out an all-american, it is about being in the moment.

OH: Castillo & McKenna/Sibley/heck even Ross (she’s Chemistry in a bottle!)
-Utilize DSs where needed (Greeley as a non-serving DS, Smith as a full-time DS)
-I felt Sibley couldv’e given Granato a break during those last couple sets once she was not in the starting lineup. Granato’s swings and energy became so stale and Sibley was not brought in to change it up.
-If Greeley was able to swing, I would say Castillo & Greeley on the OH w/Granato used as backup with Sibs

Middles: Mitchem & Maglio (keep it same, use Burns quicker for Mags)
-so glad that when Mitchem was moved back to Middle that she replaced Maglio at M1
-Until they fix Maglio’s terrible armswing, she will continue to error on less than perfect sets. It does not allow her to adjust to lower, wider, off sets. It was painful to watch all those hitting errors wide/long attributed to this.

LIB/DSs: Kahakai remain. Smith used as a full-time DS in a regular substitution patter. Not sure if Dave did not tell her to go in for Granato later in the game after she already had taken her out. Granato finished her service turn, and on first receive got aced and replaced by Smith. Smith needs to replace her immediately after or heck even to serve.

Bottom line is that we do not need any significant lineup changes. It would be nice if we had the front row services of Greeley, but she may not be able to return at all this season. We do not need an overhaul of our lineup, but we do need to let the starters know that if they are not performing, NEXT MAN(GIRL lol) UP!

Shoji should retire if Smith isn’t the first DS in and plays three rotations.