Hawaii men’s volleyball: No. 1 Rainbow Warriors open practice

The Rainbow Warriors opened practice for the 2020 season on Sunday. / Photo by Cindy Luis

And so it begins — #Warriorball20.

Hawaii held the first of two practices today in Gym 1, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Players were excited to get it started.


Will be interesting to see how it plays out. They have three setters and coach Charlie Wade said all three will play. Also three opposites in camp and five middles.

Wahine coach Robyn Ah Mow dropped by briefly. Said she has a nice relaxing Christmas.

COMMENTS

  1. Hot December 29, 2019 11:23 am

    In response to darkfire from the previous comments section, Van Sickle is front row when they do the X-Play. I believe she’s at Zone 2 (rotation-wise) when they run this play. She moves back to Zone 1 during the passing formation, but is technically a front row player.


  2. Hot December 29, 2019 11:27 am

    All setters will play but likely they’ll go with a main setter. One will be part of a 6-2 double-sub late in sets, and the third one will probably be a serving sub or DS for one of the middles.


  3. jm2375 December 29, 2019 12:13 pm

    Can’t wait for Friday!!! Let’s pack the Stan for all the games!

    Nice to see that all matches except the Alumni game and the Nittaidai matches will be televised.

    BTW, not sure what to make of it, but LBSU lost to a Canadian team yesterday in 5.


  4. kahun December 29, 2019 2:16 pm

    Good to see Dimi is ok and ready to go. I was concerned that his sprained ankle would last “forever’ like Jolie’s one. Dimi and Chaz are going to be fun to watch. Both have pogo stick for legs.


  5. darkfire35 December 29, 2019 8:52 pm

    1. Thanks for the response Hot, but I’m still confused. There are 3 players lined up in the front, 3 in the back. You’re saying that BVS is actually in the front rotation wise, but lines up in the back?! If a back player is in the front don’t they call a rotation violation?


  6. Hot December 29, 2019 9:26 pm

    5. One of the players in front is the setter, who is always in the back row rotation in UH’s system. Once the opponent serves, the (back row) setter goes up to the net to take the pass and set the ball. I’ve seen some matches where Van Sickle passed the serve and then go on to execute the X-Play.


  7. Hot December 29, 2019 9:31 pm

    Also, yes, as a primary passer, Van Sickle or any OH who passes for six rotations lines up in the back during serve receive even when they’re in a front row rotation. I know it gets confusing this season because UH used four pin hitters and interchanged them for the three passing roles early in the season and then losing Rasmussen who was one of the passers, and then letting Okino play more, plus taking Wagoner out (who passed six rotations).


  8. Cindy Luis December 29, 2019 11:09 pm

    2. don’t believe that is the scenario. The men’s game has fewer subs so they will not use a 6-2 Wade did say he has an idea of who might be the No. 1 guy. If I had to guess it would be Thelle.
    3. i think what you can make of it is what we said in fall. The Beach is not going to be that good this season. They didn’t look good at all when we saw them October. Canadian teams have been playing league for months. this is their winter break so they are in better game shape than U.S. teams at this point. Plus it’s an exhibition so I’m sure Beach was looking at various lineups in game situation.
    Beach lost to Trinity Western 3-2. TWU swept UCLA Sunday
    4. totally different situations. Rasmussen’s severe ankle sprain was I believe the sixth one she had on that ankle. Which is why it took longer to heal.
    One comment to make from the previous thread regarding transparency of injuries.
    (No.1 has been corrected)
    1. it’s called HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) which does not allow medical information released unless the player agrees.
    2. it was as transparent as possible regarding Rasmussen. Up to the trainer and the player whether player is ready to go. Not cleared to participate in practice was the fact.
    As Rasmussen mentioned in the story I wrote before the Nebraska match, they had measurements to reach by certain dates. And those weren’t not met when expected.


  9. darkfire35 December 29, 2019 11:39 pm

    7. Thanks for your input. The more matches I watched, the more I saw that there were 4 players in the back row prior to the serve that included BVS who was technically in the front row. Norene was in the back row where she was supposed to be in Zone #1. BVS, who is technically a Zone 2 player was positioned to the left of Norene(zone 1). So there was actually 4 girls in the back row with Zones 3 & 4 in the front row. I’m guessing that what I saw was a variation of that theme with either 2 players showing in the front/4 in the back or 3 in the front/3 in the back. That way, the other team has no idea what formation they’re about to execute. Much mahalos Hot!!!


  10. darkfire35 December 29, 2019 11:42 pm

    To the rest of the community, who on the Wahine team could take the place of BVS’ skills in speed, I.Q. and athletic abilities? I guess, until 2021, we’ll just have to wait and see. Until then, for 2020, GO BOWS!!


  11. Hot December 30, 2019 8:46 am

    9. You’re welcome, darkfire35.

    8. I’m referring to a situational 6-2, which can occur once per set, usually late in the set (as I mentioned in my comment) and is used by several international teams. Brazil men’s for example. I am going off on what you stated Wade saying all three setters will play. Also, wasn’t one of the guys listed at setter wearing the backup libero jersey last season? Perhaps he’ll play back row.


  12. jm2375 December 30, 2019 9:10 am

    To clarify (cuz it’s one of my pet peeves), it’s HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which includes privacy of health and personal information.


  13. jm2375 December 30, 2019 9:12 am

    #11. Shewie was Gage’s emergency backup, but with 2 local boys coming in as liberos, he can concentrate on playing setter.


  14. setaone December 30, 2019 11:39 am

    darkfire35….not sure if this will help, but at the time the ball is served, players cannot overlap the players that are immediately next to them. For example, the player in front middle cannot be more to the left than the player to in front left. The front middle cannot be more toward the endline than then player in middle back.

    Back left player can be more to the left than front middle as long as middle back is still more to the left than back left.

    I know it can get confusing.


  15. Kahuna December 30, 2019 6:18 pm

    I don’t see Chaz Galloway in the photo and did not see him at halftime at the men’s basketball game. Is he hurt? Sick?

    Hope nothing bad has happened.


  16. Hot December 30, 2019 9:15 pm

    13. Thanks. I remember him in the Libero jersey but apparently never got in as he’s listed as a redshirt freshman this season. If Thelle is No. 1 at setter, who do you think is No. 2?


  17. jm2375 December 30, 2019 9:48 pm

    Hot – I think Jackson van Eekeren is #2.


  18. Cindy Luis December 31, 2019 5:39 am

    https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=52500
    new thread up for Wednesday.
    12. you’re right. my bad.
    13. Sheward was listed as a backup libero. don’t think that was ever the plan. He was a setter-Opp in HS. They could have gone without a libero.
    15. Galloway had dental surgery over break. can’t fly back until Saturday.
    16-17. It’s going to be situational as to who is the No. 2 setter. Van Eekeren and Sheward bring different skills, set differently..
    Thelle for sure is No. 1.


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