USA women vs. Netherlands; Wahine scrimmage
Good win for the U.S. Karch was very happy to end the Olympics on a win.
25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19
Second bronze. Other came in 1992. The team won Olympic silver medals in 1984, 2008 and 2012. The U.S. finishes the tournament with a 7-1 record.
Scrimmage later this afternoon.
Thought Castillo might play, she said her elbow was better but she now has it taped and isn’t warming up.
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Scrimmage has started. Down to two middles, Burns and Maglio, who are trading sides whenever they should be rotating back to serve. Keeps one middle in the front at all times.
On occasion, DOVO Kaleo Baxter playing outside since they really aren’t really using Greeley in the front row.
Black team wins 25-22. Black had Taylor, Higgins, Granato, Kahakai, Anderson, Ponce. Sibley.
White had Koelsch, who played both S and OH, Iosia, Ross (both OH and DS), Greeley, Guinasso, Burns. Smith and Okino haven’t gotten in yet.
Team that had Maglio on it went on scoring runs.
The White team with Iosia and Koelsch wins Set 2 25-23
China leads Serbia 2-1 in the gold medal match…
Any possible guesses on starting line up based on what you seen during scrimmage, Cindy?
How does Koelsch look on the outside? Does she have a quick arm swing?
China wins it 3-1…Serbia had a chance, but too many mental errors…
Setters have switched for Set 3, Black (A) with Iosia and White (B) with Higgins and Koelsch. White wins 26-24 on controversial net call. Berg argued but to no luck.
5. no guess other than for sure Taylor, Maglio and Kahakai.
No decision until Shoji gets back with input from staff. Much depends on how Greeley and Castillo are feeling. Greeley not 100 percent, still working on rehabbing. Burns has looked good today.
Koelsch also has played well. hitting right but she’s not going to start out there.
Lots of options at DS.
Black side with Higgins setting wins 25-22.
Even though the scoreboards said Black, they are called Green in the stats. White defeats Green, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22.
Julianna Pani Napoleon has committed to the beach team
Taking Bronze is no disgrace – congrats Karch & Co. Great win for China – peaked just at the right time. Lots of appreciate for Serbia – what a tough team.
For UH, will be interesting if Burns continues to impress. If Greeley is not quite ready to come back, Castillo moves back to OH, and Burns moves in as MH.
OK, it is pretty clear that the pre-season is going to be rough going and not what most of us were expecting. However, like China, it is not how you start but how you finish the season. Here is hoping we do the same.
I was impressed with the blocking, with the Magill graduating, the team didn’t miss a beat. Maglio stood out the most for me with her overall play and Burns surprised me. You wouldn’t have thought that she (Burns) was cleared for full scrimmage participation 4 days ago. It will be interesting to see if Casey will still practice at middle and not be moved back to OH with Kalei obviously not at full strength. As of today Kristen Sibley and Granato started on the two leftsides on the Black team, which to me was the first team. Iosia has, as mentioned by the coaches has the best hands and a great jump serve with velocity. Overall their play looks like they are nearly ready to compete at the highest D1 level.
Kirsten Sibley.
Thanks for sharing. That was uplifting to hear that the blocking remains solid and the overall play is at a high level.
I put it off for almost a year, but finally went back to watch again the loss to UCLA last season. The Wahine were 5-0 going into that match. They came out flat in the 1st set and lost badly. Then they came out hot in the 2nd set but let UCLA back into it and just managed to close it out with a win, 27-25. 3rd set was close to about the 9-point mark when UCLA’s defense took over and Hawaii’s passing, setting, and serving went south, and they lost the set 25-17. The fourth set Shoji juggled the line up after falling behind, put in Huff and the momentum swung back to Hawaii. It went back and forth, but UCLA pulled ahead to 24-20. Hawaii fought back to tie it and go ahead 25-24, but UCLA’s back row defense and passing kept them in every rally and they won 28-26.
I bring this game up because even though it was a loss, the coaches and players learned more about themselves in this game then they did in the previous five wins. The following week Shoji held two practices where everyone had to fight again for their job. The rest of the season the team bought into the importance of not giving away sets or scoring runs. The rest of the season both setters knew their roles, and both knew they were on a short leash, and to their credit they supported and complemented each other. They also learned they had a deep bench and that Shoji was going to use it. Finally, they learned that they couldn’t just go to Taylor and that they had to involve everyone in the offense, including those coming off the bench, and that when they did so, they were a much better team. The following week, they defeated the #2 team in the nation in five sets, taking the fifth set with relative ease. For the rest of the season they kept improving, and they kept developing their bench which they needed when they were hit with injuries. And they went undefeated the rest of the way until the loss to Minnesota.
Point of all this is that every year it’s a new group of players who have to come together and learn their strengths and weaknesses. Early in the year the team will probably not be as bad as their worst set or match, and likewise may not be as good as they think they are. Last years loss to UCLA had plenty of ugly Wahine play, but the team kept fighting, the bench contributed, the crowd never gave up on them, and the team and the coaches all learned they could improve and excellence was within reach.
This pre-season schedule is more difficult than last years. But like last year, I think this group won’t quit on themselves and they’ll fight to stay on the court and on top. They’ll learn from their mistakes and they’ll improve. They’ll develop their bench, because they’ll have to; like last year they’ll need every able body at some point, and everyone will work hard to find their way to contribute.
Sunday, 06 September, 2015: UCLA vs. Hawaii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2a5VGhkq8A
Cindy brought this up before, that this team is much more vocal than last season’s. Even with 14 players returning from last season and only 5 newcomers, somehow they’ve combined to be much more vocal than last season’s team. This overall attitude bodes well when the sets get tight.
Due to the injuries in the front court the back court will have to carry the team in the preseason (both offensively and defensively). If passing and digging improves there is hope. The large group of DS’ will have to yield a couple of diamonds that shine, and Kahakai prove Shoji correct.
We can consider the Wahine as going back to their roots, which is team defense.
So Koelsch played OPP, not OH? What about Ross? It says above that she played OH, but I think I read in an article that she played OPP in HS/club.
Thanks for the info regarding the scrimmage. I really miss seeing the boosters and the Wahine in person. I especially miss talking to Roofer68 who knows as much about volleyball than most coaches.
than some coaches.
http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=38766
new thread up.
17. block was good but remember they were playing against each other, not like they had to do a lot of scouting. things got a bit predictable so … but was very impressed with Maglio, offensive and defensively.
21 Ross took six swings. if I remember correctly, most were on the right. but as you know, Taylor may be an opposite but she hits left in one rotation. Granato hit right in one rotation. So when I wrote Ross was on the outside, it depends what rotation she was in.