Wahine wrap up two-a-days
Team finished its second practice around 2:15 today. Still lots of work to do according to coaches and players.
As mentioned after Friday’s scrimmage, they’re still working on starting lineup. Do think the one-and-dones will contribute this year.
Opposite Angel Gaskin is a great addition but she’s never been in the passing rotation so that might limit her back row play.
Middle Sarah Liva is athletic, still getting into volleyball mindset and shape.
Libero Tita Akiu is really good.
The biggest issue will be connections with the middles. Think people got spoiled with Emily Maglio and her ability to run the slide. Not seeing that yet from this group of MBs, although Liva did a couple of inside slides Friday that worked.
Team off to a function tonight. Back in Gym I on Monday afternoon after classes.
Much mahalos for your updates as usual! You’re the best! Are the coaches trying to get Angel into a full rotation? She didn’t look so bad doing some digging last night.
Yes, we did get very spoiled by Mags. She was fast and got up pretty quickly to get past the blocks. Burns doesn’t do too badly on the slide, but she doesn’t have Mags’ speed. Sarah really did come to practice/play; she was impressive.
GO BOWS! Can’t wait till next Friday!
Cindy , do you know how long McKenna Ross and Sophia Howling be out?
So basically this team is gonna be way worse than last season and they were mediocre at best last season. I’m so loving the Ah Mow era.
Wonder how many people will show up at the meet and greet function. Kinda expensive .
Not that we will forget Mags, but Sky does a nice job in the middle. Burns, Liva and freshman Krug also put up nice blocks….and kills. This team is ahead of last year’s team which never had a consistent Opposite. Gaskin fills that void. Sibley has shown good improvement at Outside.
seriously #3? if your gonna be that mean and negative than do watch them this season since you clearly seem to have made your mind up about them before the season has even started.
5. Agree ..this team is much more ahead than last year. What they gained from losing some top seniors is IMO a much more balanced attack. I think Castillo and Sibley have improved in play and confidence. The addition of Angel Gaskill is huge! Sarah Liva might not be your prototype 6-3 to 6-5 MB but at 6-1 she is athletic and a Hammer. We have good enough MH with depth. I don’t see a huge drop off between Savannah and Akiu ..Akiu will do a mighty fine job anchoring the backcourt…The other 2 DS/Libero are good too. The huge difference with this years team is the amount of energy and communication displayed for 2 hours. This team is way ahead of last years team in many areas going into this weeks challenges. Their relentless effort is what I loved at the scrimmage. The have a lot of work and improvement ahead of them, but Coach has done a remarkable job with her returnees and transfers…I am more optimistic than I expected..
Robyn’s 2018 team will surprise some of the doubters. From what I’ve seen from the scrimmage, they remind me of a Japanese team, with vocal communications, quickness and kills from all areas of the court. Most probably their opponents this season from across the net will almost always have more height then them, so quickness will balance that lack. The key will be the quick setting of Noreen and Faith. They will deliver.
Opposites generally are never part of the passing rotation, so I don’t see how that will limit Gaskin’s back row play. Everyone’s expected to play defense, but the passing rotation generally is made up of the libero and the two outsides. Unless your opposites are named Susie Boogaard, Aneli Otineru, Teisa Fotu or Tara Hittle.
Aloha Cindy,
Will there be a special Wahine Volleyball insert this week as in years past? I always look forward to those and they’ve never been one to disappoint.
#7 agreed on all points. They are in a better position than last year not only the Wahine, but the coaching staff as well.
Mahalo for all you do!
Hmm…I honestly don’t get what all this talk about “lack of height”? We are basically the same team from last year except for the two inches lost from Maglio to Liva/Krug. Maglio was a great player not because she was 6-3, She was a great player because she was a great player. She would have been a great player if she was only 6-1. Skills make great players, not size.
Granato, Castillo, Burns, Williams, Iosia are all back from last season. Gaskin replaced Koelscha at OPP but both are 6-1 so there is on lost of size there.
UH can still be a very good blocking team despite what some may see as a lack of size. I have no worries about our size. I predict we will be a fairly good blocking team. Liva is very athletic and can move from pin to pin very quickly. Williams is improved. If Burns can overcome her chronic knee problems and move a little better, we will be able to close holes and form better blocks.
Yes, oppo’s not usually in passing rotation, but Wahine don’t have a great passing OHs. Granato is servicable… OH2 Castillo & Sibley are inconsistent. If you sub in a DS for Gaskin in the back row, you can push one of the OH2 out of serve receive & first contact should be better. Still, if Gaskin can terminate consistently from the back row, I’d rather keep her back there than have Ma’afala come in & set with Iosia hitting from the right. She needs to be setting all the way around IMO.
was nice to see Castillo and Sibley hitting out of the back row. both have stepped up their all around game. our middles are lookin good. nice to see them attack the oversets. agree with kahunas assess of our middles playing quicker on defense. this squad will be scrappy and surprise a lot of teams.
Does anyone know what happened to Alexandria Parisian a RS from Apple Valley?She did commit for 2018! Thanks for any info about her.
14. Parisian signed with Hawaii Hilo.
hollycow:thanks for the info!
You can’t tell how the team will play against opponents from looking at a scrimmage among the team players.
just some thoughts.
1. Gaskin has not been a passer in college. It would be something new for sure. She doesn’t have to be part of the rotation.
2. Howling practiced some Saturday, has her right hand taped. no sense aggravating it during the scrimmage. Ross probably Tuesday.
3. Really? they were not mediocre last season. But they were unable to hang on in most of their 5-setters. they were 20-8, six of those losses in 5 sets.
Ah Mow-Santos has had one season, not her recruits, and this year slim pickings for players who usually commit as high school sophomores or juniors.
4. It was well-attended, about the same amount as last year. Think it was limited to 150-plus. It sold out. Agree pricey.
9. Opposites usually aren’t. Taylor was an exception.
10. yes, special section out Friday.
11. True but they are still small relatively.
14-15. Thanks for getting to that for me about Parisian.
17. Agree. We’ll see what happens beginning Friday.