UH-UTEP rewind, look ahead to USD
Sorry for the abrupt departure from cyberspace.
I had a feeling that the free wi-fi in the arena was going to create some issues and it did. May be too many users that it got overwhelmed. but my UH access also knocked off.
the free wi-fi only good for 2 hours and you can’t re-log in to get another 2 hours.
will let UH know and hopefully they’ll have it fixed by next tournament. doubt if they can do much on the Sunday of a 3-day weekend.
As for the match, it last 82 minutes, including all the breaks that come with it being on TV. always hard to gauge against a team like a UTEP because they do not hit with the speed and power UH sees against itself in practice, which can throw off the defense since the ball comes off the soft block slower than it does in practice.
But for the most part, felt UH stayed pretty focused and stayed in system. Everyone who is expected to play this season (redshirting are Passi and Kyra Goodman) got in.
One thing it did do was make UH very hard to scout by USD. Not sure what was going through the Torero coach’s mind but no way they could track any tendencies with all of UH’s shuffling. Hartong Longo and Uiato the only Wahine to see time in all 3 sets.
Taylor continues to be impressive, doesn’t seem to be bothered by being on the big stage. has stepped pretty well into the blocking schemes.
As for USD, a very good opponent. Shoji had said early on he was concerned with them. As mentioned, the Wahine won’t have Manu-Olevao but I think with UH’s depth it shouldn’t be a problem. you’ll likely see Kastl at L2, Taylor RS.
The Toreros should match up well. They play great defense. Very scrappy, much like the Wahine. USD did drop a set to UTEP on Friday.
Think the Wahine middles should be able to handle USD’s senior middle Hoekman, who had 14 kills vs. Texas, as well as their outsides. USD uses 2 setters, but Bonomi (Carlos Briceno’s stepdaughter) had more playing time against Texas than Alvey. USD was very balanced against Texas. 4 players in double-kill figures. and had chances to beat Texas in 4. their serving let them down at the end, finished with 20 SEs, including giving Texas its 14th and 15th point in set 5.
Hawaii’s serving could disrupt USD’s offense so that will be a key. Another will be the Toreros’ mental state after losing such a tough one to Texas, a match they probably should have won Their coach said they’d use it as a learning experience and move on, that they were looking forward to playing UH in front of a big crowd.
should be a good match. Shoji 1 win away from tying Banachowski at 1,106 for most wins all-time.
Have a good night and thanks for the patiences.
This will be another test for team. I see USD presenting unique problems for UH in that they are somewhat of a reflection of the Wahine. They play tenacious defense and have a more than adequate transistion game. Wahine will not be celebrating ‘kills’ right away until whistle blows, I think. But as they face each other in (so reported) “spirited” practices, at least they will have faced a similar style there. Should be a good game. Missed ‘electric’ atmosphere/crowd of Friday and did appreciate play of Torrero and Longhorn except at very end. Will be there tonight to stand behind team and Coach Dave on such an important occasion. Go Wahine!
A very workmanlike, efficient game by all 16 players. Hoping they’ll remain focused as USD
is a very skilled team, but with the Wahine depth, I see three and out. GO BOWS.
I think its going to go to five tonight.
I am so impressed with the two freshman recruits in Nikki Taylor who seems comfortably settled in as right side hitter and Taylor Higgins who will be an outstanding replacement when Uiato graduates after this year. Both freshman have not only tremendous skills but a maturity way beyond a freshman playing on the big stage. Nikki is so articulate, smart, and, definitely very skilled and for once, we have a legitimate RS hitter that can complement the LS and esp. the middles who are becoming a force to be reckoned with and Uiato is making good use of the variety of weapons she has at hand. Team chemistry is also evident and, not putting Croson down, but to all the naysayers that said Hawaii was going to miss Jane and Jane this and that, where are you now when you said HAWAII was going to miss Croson…yes, Hawaii misses Crosen and she is doing well at Arizona but, certainly, you owe an apology for making negative remarks about UH and Shoji for letting Croson leave the program….nothing more and nothing less….
What’s gone is gone. What’s here is here. Yes, somethings changed but not for the worse for the better and players/teamates knew what they needed to do and they did it. It’s what teams do after injuries and graduations and transfers. It’s what TEAMS do. They move on, they adjust, they step up and they find their way past things. This team had done it and showed ev’ryone what their made of. We should thank them for this lesson in life. Go Wahine!
…what they’re made of….
How are the teams affected by playing two matches in a day? Seem that Texas and UTEP had to play two while Hawaii and San Diego played one. If Texas played only one, maybe the score wouldn’t have been as close vs. USD. USD should be respected but also expecting Hawaii to dominate.
Don’t have another place to say it.
THANKS Star-Advertiser. THANKS Ann. I was pleasantly surprised to find an article on last night’s UTEP in print this morning.
Regarding WIFI at the Sheriff: Time limit notwithstanding, there are issues with just plain logging on as a visitor. Cindy, can you list a resource where you can find out what the protocols are for logging on while at the arena? THANKS!
Yep stat feed was weird last night. Like someone was hitting the on off switch. Nice to see Dave giving a lot of players some PT last night. Good to see Ginger on the front line. She did a really nice job. She also got a block. Left side, right side no matter. We have players that can play all along the front row. And they can hit from the back row too. I can’t remember when we had so many players who could do this.
SD really worries me. Yes Texas is not playing like number one right now but they do have the talent to do so in the near future. For team like SD to battle the Horns the way they did says how good they can be. UH can not afford to start off slow. Wahine also needs stop having that set 2 slump. It has haunted them in the past.
I do not believe the Wahine will overlook USD, they remember what happened against California, last year, especially Hartong , Uiato, and Longo. The Wahine will come out firing on all cylinder, if they do not, I will be shocked.
The BIG difference, between Jane Croson, and Nikki Taylor, who essiantially replaced Jane, is that Nikki has the Wahine blood running thru her veins. Nikki has been a Wahine ever since she started playing volleyball. You can tell by the way she talks about finally being a Wahine volleyball player. Nikki will do whatever it takes to make sure the Wahine team stays amongst the elite teams in women’s volleyball. She is a true believer in Wahine Volleyball.
9. If Kastl starts to struggle, Dave can bring in Ginger, to replace her, cause USD is not that big on the outside. So Ginger’s lack of height will not hurt her, or the Wahine. In fact, Ginger is a little more athletic, and plays a better back row, then Kastl. The only reason Dave would start Kastl over Ginger, is due to the fact that Kastl has more experience then Ginger. Kastl will needs to contribute, and not make errors. otherwise, I see Dave not hesitating to go with Ginger.
I have a lot of problems with wifi in arena too
10. Hey Df for one I like your second paragraph posted here, very positive and very true about Nikki. Keep up the positive posts.
DF, turning on your favorite, as you quoted, “free spirit”? Weren’t you so admamant that Shoji was in the wrong in not allowing croson to be a “free spirit”?
roofer68, dont get your hopes up. he will turn on any one of them as soon as the opportunity arises.
Been very impressed with Tai. She is showing what athleticism she has. Being thrust in the lineup was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to/for her last year.
Nikki Taylor has been the best surprise in a few years for the Rainbow Wahine. Hopefully she continues to work hard and not have a let down.
It could be said the one is impressed with the first couple of showings of the Wahine this season, however, I for one expected nothing less from a team that (as DF so greatly put into words) has the Wahine blood running through their veins. This season we are seeing a team that is together, confident and clicking! Haven”t truly seen that is the past couple of years. And, agree also that Nikki Taylor is a definite wonderful addition to an already solid team. Was very impressed with her post game interview after with BIG WIN over Texas. GO BOWS!!!
It looked like Longo may have injured her let arm lastnite in 2nd game…..
san diego will be a tough test. the first opponent of the season with 2 solid and active middles (hoekman and ferrari). san diego’s other strength appears to be their incredibly tall opposite (brown), who looks awkward at times out there, but she’s just tall and athletic and can go over the top of blocks.
A lot of people, including myself, have wondered what kind of team the Wahine would have been IF Fanoimoana had become eligible to play for the Wahine. Well, I believe we are finding out now, with Nikki Taylor. What an addition she has been. Keep listening to your coaches, and working hard, good things will come, the sky is the limit for you Nikki Taylor. Also, be humble.
17. Playing opposite, can she go over Hartong, who I believe will be matched up with her. Also, can she stop Hartong, I do not think so.
kaleiboy — i hope not… here’s hoping she’s fine, and it was just a bruise or something.
17. I believe Adolpho is quick enough this year, to neutralize one of the Middles. Question is, can Vorster neutralize the other Middle, or will Shoji have to go to Tuaniga.
Oh ya forgot to mention. Nikki Taylor seems to have a huge wingspan.
Setaone, when Hartong and Nikki are up front together, who does the other team double. BIG, BIG, problem for the opposing team.
df — anyone can be stopped or slowed down, even hartong. what helps hartong is that hawaii’s offense doesn’t just have her hitting left side, she hits on the right, outta the pipe, etc. that variety, for sure, makes its tougher to stop hartong. as we’ve seen this tournament, she’s been blocked or slowed at times, but hartong just keeps coming at opposing defenses. her power and relentlessness is tough to stop for more than a play or two.
as for sd’s opposite (brown), whether the hawaii block can contain her will depend on matchups. she may not be lined up against hartong; she could instead be lined up against kastl, who does not put up as imposing a block as hartong. and a lot also will depend on whether sd’s middle attackers do their job well enough to hold vorster/adolpho enough that their opposite is facing one-on-one situations, rather than double-blocks all night.
24. Cubicle, what has helped Hartong so far, is the play of the middles, and especially, Taylor. The opposing Middles have been late in closing, giving Hartong a seam to hit thru. If the Middles and Taylor keep playing like they have been, and Uiato spreading out her sets, I do not see any team stopping Hartong. Maybe, slow her down a little, but never stopping her.
As for SD’s opposite, I will be kind of shocked if Shoji match’s Kastl against her. Since Shoji knows Kastl’s weakness is her net blocking.
There is one player who could have a BIG night, if she keeps playing like she has, that player is Nikki Taylor. There is no one on the SD roster who can match up against her.
Both of the SD Middles are 6’1, but quick. The Wahine also have 2 quick Middles, in Adolpho and Tuaniga, if Shoji wants to go that way.
Dave could put Kastl on the right and move Nikki to the left. No telling what he is going to do with the team this year.
On the Prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces, it has Hawaii commits ranked 35 and 64. Are these recruits we already know of (Greeley, Kahakai, Guinasso)? (Can’t be Maglio since she lives in Canada)
Sarah Pavan is from Canada and yet was the #1 ranked senior ace in 2004.
http://www.richkern.com/vb/PrepVolleyball/PrepVBNewRecruits.asp?sort=2&VBYear=2004
They said they don’t do players from Canada anymore. The year of Pavan was the only year to have players from Canada
27. RedZone, I do not believe Dave will put Kastl on the right, reason being, Kastl proved last year, she has a hard time on the right. Dave will keep Kastl on the left, unless it is an emergency situation.
28. 64 is Savannah and 35 is Kalei
DF – I don’t doubt that it’s preferable to have hartong blocking SD’s opposite. But u can’t always predict what rotation SD will start with. Whether that matchup happens or not, I have faith that Hawaii can make the right adjustments.
36. Knowing how great an in-game tactician Dave is, I would not doubt it.
regarding the wifi protocol. I am not tech savvy enough to help you.
all I know is you come to the arena, your choices are TWC wifi or cable wifi. the TWC wifi page has a llink to free access. you click agree. you have 2 hours
the cable access page requires a log in or sign up.