Wahine open practice, unranked for first time in preseason poll
Players warmed up during the first volleyball practice of the fall. / Photo by Cindy Luis
Practice scheduled to start at 6 a.m. They started warming up at 5:48.
New strength coach is former baseball player Steven Ventimilia.
Only Sophia Howling not cleared to practice. Team spent about 20 minutes warming up in the arena then went out to run on the track.
Fun music. First song: I’m So Excited.
The AVCA poll is out.
Think UH’s run being ranked in preaseason poll may be over today.
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AVCA counting down their top 10 on twitter
10. USC.
9. Wisconsin
8. BYU
7. Florida
6. Penn State.
5. Kentucky
4. Minnesota
3. Texas
2. Nebraska
1. Stanford
In your story, coach suggested last-minute transfers may be coming. Any update on that? Did you see any unexpected new players?
For the first time since the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll came into existence in 1982 the Hawaii women’s volleyball team is unranked.
In today’s AVCA Top 25, the Rainbow Wahine received 27 points putting them unofficially at No. 34. Cal Poly, picked to repeat as Big West champion, is No. 24; Hawaii was picked to finish second in Tuesday’s conference poll.
The Rainbow Wahine opened at No. 20 in 2017 then fell out of the poll after going 0-3 the first week of competition.
Prior to last season Hawaii had only been unranked for 11 weeks since 1982.
Today’s poll has Stanford ranked No. 1 followed by defending national champion Nebraska, Texas Minnesota and Kentucky. Rounding out the top 10 are Penn State, Florida, BYU, Wisconsin and USC.
This puts less pressure on the women. With one of the best setter in the Country, I think we will surprise a lot of people this year. I also think we have enough talent to be in the top 20 .
i honestly could care less about being ranked. i mean what does that get this team? surely no respect, i see it as more pressure to play perfect just to stay ranked. maybe this is best, it’s a new era and all i want is to watch and support this team
Cindy did they look like they were in better shape?
2. nope, no one new.
4. agree. polls are meaningless.
6. Compared with last year’s first day as a team … yes.
Do you eat peanuts?
Being unranked nationally and picked 2nd in the Big West for the 1st time can only create. “Motivation!” I prefer this scenario over the accolades of preseason hype. This is a “Heart Check!”
Ranked or unranked UH RAINBOW WAHINES will RISE to the top as always. Let’s go ladies.
I like this ranking (34th/27pts). Motivation for the team and less pressure.
Cindy is Sophia Howling serious? Anymore observations from their first practice.
I’m asking about her injury. Lol
Depending on future trajectory of wins, it seems time will shine on how great a job Dave Shoji did, his methods, instincts and passion for the game. What it does seem WVB needs is a terminator, “go to” type and currently lacking. Of course, a declining stature may result in declining attendance since many fans have high expectations.
Player pictures were added to the roster today.
https://hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=wvball
Hmmm…are you certain Sophia Howling was not cleared to practice? I just saw a video filmed by Kaleo(the school paper) and saw Sophia going through blocking drills and lined up for passing drills.
http://www.manoanow.org/kaleo/sports/rainbow-wahine-open-fall-practice/youtube_e7e74270-9b70-11e8-9e76-b3f37ad922be.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
Here is the Kaleo video
Kahuna, I looked at the video and yes, I see Sophia practicing, but I did not see Natasha Burns.
Is that Burns in the pics above?
Yeah, No. 6, that’s Natasha. I am really glad she is at practice. She will be key this season to generate a middle hitting threat. I just looked at the box score of the NCAA 1st round match against Illinois and Natasha was credited with 13 kills. Emily Maglio led with 18 kills, followed by Granato with 15. The Wahine out-hit the Illini 74 kills to 53, but was out-blocked by the Illini 4-10. Improved blocking might be the key to success this season.
12. etc
Howling sat out some of the early warmups. I forgot to update her status. sorry.
20. height will be a factor with this team.
Re: Illinois match … many of the blocks came early in the match, some on trap sets that were very predictable and easy to block.
As for Burns, she has not passed her testing which will allow her to fully participate.
Cindy is there anyone that is a pleasant surprise to you? Anyone you can say has made a great improvement over last year?
Hope angel is a nice surprise.
Worried about the beach team though losing so many players to graduation and transferring out:/ very sad about Monkhouse. She singlehandedly kept UH in the last match against ucla.
23. What happened with Monkhouse? Did she transfer? I must’ve missed that.
Monkhouse was said to have left the UH program. Someone on VT mentioned that she did not get her release so she will be ineligible to play for any other NCAA D1 team right away.
Usually Hall would grant a player her release like he did with Chloe Luyties and Sydney Kidd so Hall not granting Monkhouse her release indicates to me that this was not a friendly parting.
http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=46340
new thread up
22. mentioned there that Gaskin will help right away.
23-25. haven’t spoken to Hall about it yet.
25. Luyties got her release. Kidd has retired from the sport and is concentrating on school.