Comments on: Hawaii women’s volleyball: Rainbow Wahine RPI down to 12, still 18 in poll

By: Cindy Luis

Cindy Luis — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 22:47:58 +0000

20. Agree with you. It’s nice that you schedule tough and play in a tough league but at some point what matters is your W-L record. They are barely above .500 and could very well end up outside the tournament a la UCLA last season.
21. so kind of you to say. I hesitated to respond. Have since added a second comment. I am unaware that WF is the poster formerly known as Steve/Steven/Laura. Our administration did block that person from all of our sports blogs, not just mine.
24. sometimes speed does kill.
https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=52099
new thread up for Tuesday.

By: blunite

blunite — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 21:53:15 +0000

The pollsters seem to equate height with strength, but bigger players do not automatically guarantee wins.

As swords are often-times double-edged, tall players are generally not as quick. Consequently, speed is used to combat height.

Cal Poly is a good example, but Hawaii is an even better example.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 19:30:25 +0000

Five out of eight Bigwest opponents have done very well against wahine so far giving two loses, and taking to three times to fifth game. Revived LongBeach try to joining to them continuing with their A+ form and finishing the season at high note…It is fair game to give votes at high ranking to personal favorites and then ignore or give votes at very low ranking to a hated team. Fortunately, majority of AVCA coaches vote unbiased, only based on recent performance and still maintain some integrity in AVCA poll. Hanging at top-20 in AVCA poll and RPI-12 is a big accomplishment for wahine, specially, for FIVE SENIORS. Big Mahalo.

By: Hot

Hot — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:58:41 +0000

21. Wahinefan was Steve/Laura/multiple other personalities who was banned from this blog years ago.

By: Maverick

Maverick — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 09:19:51 +0000

Note to Cindy: On another blog, I read your response to “wahinefan”, who appears to have an axe to grind with you. I wanted you to know that I was impressed with your fact-based, tactful and non-confrontational response, which does you credit.

By: Maverick

Maverick — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 08:24:59 +0000

Cheeseball et al. I have great respect for Illinois’ volleyball program, which was the beast of the Big10 before Penn St.’s run (UH beat Illinois in the ’87 and ’88 final fours). However, what I’ve learned most brutally as a UH fan is that you cannot just play a tough schedule (non-conference in UH’s case), you have to win. Illinois is 3-7 against RPI top 50 competition (who are all ranked in the AVCA except UCF and Ohio St.). Illinois hasn’t beaten a lot of great teams and hasn’t lost to a lot of poor/mediocre teams. Illinois is just average. I could agree with a top 35 ranking, but at 13-12 and still ranked 25 is just Big 10 bias–“the conference is great so we will give the team a break”.

Compare to AVCA #26 USC, which is 6-11 versus RPI top 50 and hasn’t lost to anyone below that. This 15-11 team has the #1 SOS and the #3 non-conference SOS. Illinois is #9 and #39, respectively (this shows that Illinois is trading on the BIg10s competitiveness rather than going after tougher non-conference competition). Yet USC doesn’t pass the eye test like Illinois does.

Interestingly, UH knows it is in a weak conference and does what it can to schedule a tough non-conference schedule. UH has the #43 SOS, but its non-conference SOS is #13 and its non-conf RPI is 5th best in the nation.

Anyway, good to know a volleyball fan from America’s Dairyland is a reader and now contributor to this blog. I disagree with your view on Illinois’ ranking but I agree they could surprise some teams come tourney time.

By: darkfire35

darkfire35 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 06:26:36 +0000

5., 14. You’re a riot Harvey…FOTFLMAO!!

By: Harvey

Harvey — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 04:41:42 +0000

17. I note that accurately using nondefinitive language (e.g. *if* they make the tourney) is another sign that the team is unworthy of being in the Top 25.

By: Cheeseball

Cheeseball — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 04:32:19 +0000

14–I’m not saying that Illinois will win the NCAA-just that a #25 ranking might not be too wrong. They have 8 losses to teams in the AVCA top 10. I suspect that they will win 3 or 4 of their final matches for a 17-12 or 16-13 record. If they make the tournament, they could easily surprise a higher seed (or two).

By: nomu1001

nomu1001 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:52:42 +0000

12. Agree. Illinois is a good team just a few steps away from being very good. They have lost some tough matches as well against some great teams. The selection for the post season has very nearly gotten it right every time. So, be interesting to see how things shape up.