Magill POW in Big West; Hawaii drops to No. 22 in poll
No real surprise. From the Big West:
Hawaii junior Olivia Magill set a school record en route to being named the Big West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week.
The 6-1 middle blocker also was selected Most Outstanding Player of the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic after averaging 3.38 kills and 1.92 blocks per set, while hitting a robust .440 (44-7-84) in three matches. Her signature performance came in a four-set win over St. John’s, where she broke the Rainbow Wahine rally scoring record for blocks in a 4-set match with 12. Magill chipped in with 15 kills to secure the double-double, and hit .538 for the match with just one error in 26 attempts.
Magill opened the tournament by helping UH to a 4-set victory against New Mexico with 11 kills on .500 hitting, adding seven block assists. She had another strong performance in a 5-set heartbreaking defeat to No. 22 Oregon, delivering 18 kills on .333 hitting to go along with six blocks.
Kalei Greeley was nominated for Freshman of the Week, Sarah Mendoza for Defender of the Week. They lost out to Fullerton’s Niki Withers and the Beach’s Tyler Jackson, respectively.
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AVCA Division I Coaches Week 2 Poll
Hawaii drops two spots to No. 22. both teams they’ve lost to continue unbeaten, ASU now at 15 and Oregon at 17.
Stanford new No. 1
ASU up to 15
Oregon up to 18
Magill named Big West POW
I was worried they might drop out of the poll.
Congrats to Magill. Losing in 5 to another top 25 and undefeated team would not drop them out of the top 25, they were never in any danger to drop out IMO.
I never felt that they were going to drop out of the top 25. I think as the season goes on they will do better in the polls, maybe not in the top 10 though. As long as they make it to the NCAA play off is what counts.
Greeley was nominated for Big West Freshman Player of the Week and Mendoza as Defensive Player of the Week.
islandman — also, louisville and oklahoma at the bottom of the poll lost last week. they dropped out so hawaii was pretty safe in remaining in the poll this week.
5. yes, mentioned it
was putting up the poll story on our breaking news. Thanks for the help.
never thought they’d be in danger of dropping out of the poll.
They’ve lost to two ranked teams who remain undefeated.
Congratulations to Magill! Well deserved…#22 sounds about accurate as of now…Hawaii seems to be more of a blocking team this season rather than previous ones…a huge part thanks to Magill…When teams think of Hawaii, the last thing they think of is the “Blocking”…The serving Aces are a huge plus too, hopefully we can keep the errors down…Hope Nikki is doing better?
Any idea if Nikki is cleared to hit this week. I’ve been praying she’ll be back for big west play
no word yet. I doubt if they’d use her even if cleared to completely practice. No sense in risking re-injury if she’s not in game-shape
In order for them to climb back up in the polls they would have to beat some higher ranked teams and we have none on the remainder of the schedule. Big West teams won’t get you back to the top.
There is also a very good possibility that they will be completely out of the poll in the near future.
Sad to say this but you might be watching the demise of this program for a very long time and unfortunately Shoji might not be leaving on a high note.
wished Kalei G. received the frosh honor, as i’m sure she faced tougher competition this past weekend than the other two freshmen’
#11 They can climb in the polls by winning period. Teams above them will lose and that’s how you move up. They are really not that far away from being a very good team. It’s easy to see how they could be 6-0 if a healthy Nikki Taylor was in the lineup.
They really should win the Big West without too much trouble especially if Taylor comes back. CSUN, UCSB, and LBSU all look mediocre. Does any Big West team have wins better than Hawaii. Ohio, SDSU, New Mexico and St. Johns are probably better teams than what any Big West team has beaten so far.
11. Over dramatic much??. They sure will climb up the rankings if they get a nice winning streak going starting this weekend, and other teams like Oregon/Asu/Illinois will keep losing and losing in conference.
Of course our rpi will suck, but we knew that when the schedule came out.
This 2014 class is easily the most impressive since the Kanani/Britt class and 2015 is looking good too, things are looking up. The only reason the wahine are kind of struggling right now, is the 2011-2012 classes, right after Scott got the job, were not good! But since them his recruiting classes have just gotten better and better. 2016 could be his best one yet.
warriorfan — hawaii’s rpi may not be that bad actually. just track how its OOC opponents are doing. the W/L records of all of them so far are at .500 or better, and many of them will be competitive in their conferences. a few of the mid-majors (like ohio, new mexico, etc.) may even win or be competitive for their conference titles, and of course, they’d need a very good W/L record to do that.
that’s all the hope of course. so there’s a chance that hawaii’s schedule won’t be all that bad. we’ll just have to see how it all plays out.
for the big west affecting hawaii’s rpi — i’d just be happy if the big west’s OOC win-loss record is above .500.
13 Over confident much??.
15. I just don’t think it will be top 16. I consider anything lower than that as bad, for this program anyway.
12. Me too. Whiters in two weekends and 7 matches hitting .177 and wins two FOW awards? They’re basing it on only the amount of kills she had not other facets of the game. Kalei got her beat in the two weeks in digs, blocks, serving and hitting pct. by 91 points. Go figger. I’m sure Kalei will have her dues thru the season.
#14 are you saying that the recruits are the results of Coach Wong’s effort. Sounds promising for the future. Who would not want to be coached by a frontline player like Wong, a setter like Robyn, a libero like Longo. (Future assistant)
What is interesting the number for Magill. Last year middle’s their number no where near what Magill has done. Adolpho seems to be no better than last year or two. One would think a senior should have had her numbers improved when the middles are being given more balls to hit. Cannot be the setter or is it the passing when Adolpho is in. As she reached her limits.
For Nikki Taylor’s sake, I hope she comes back strong. There are a lot of high expectations from people on this board and if she isn’t as strong a player as she was last year, there will be some backlash (I believe).
I think this year’s team will continue to grow and improve. Once Nikki does come back it will help with the depth on the outside. The young players (including Long and Passi) are getting good reps in now and know what they need to work on.
Anyway if a freshman replaces Adolpho it will be sad for the supporters of Adolpho, the positive side is she did have a lot of playing time her prior 3 years. Although everyone wants to go out doing great during their last year. If a freshman potential appears greater than the level Adolpho has reached it might be a choice a coach may want to make due to that potential of that freshman.
The turnaround needs to be immediately or many would believe it is time to bring in that freshman.
cube. check the last blog for my response to you.
Every one has a different take on this season. The views expressed here is just a small sampling of what the silent majority of fans may be thinking. I’ve been to three matches this season. At the arena I’ve heard people talking about the same things people are talking about here. Recruiting, coaching methods, who should or should not be playing, what tactics to use and so on. The only real difference I see is in person people have a lot more tact when talking to each other.
24. anonymity can be emboldening.
20. Do not know if Longo will remain in Hawaii once she is done with her degree work this fall. She does have one more sand season available but she said she didn’t know if she would be here in spring or play.
21. as for Adolpho. She is a known entity, there’s plenty of tape on her and more easily scouted than Magill coming into this year in the Wahine offense.
Adolpho is fourth on the team in points 2.02 per set. A little below her 2.54 p ps last year. Definitely hitting well below her average last year but has a better block average per set.
You also have to consider her getting used to a new setter. Hewitt had her struggles when going from Mafua to Uiato.
Let’s use Emily Harding for example….She was very good as a freshman and she ended GREAT as a Junior and Senior becoming an All American 2nd and 1st team respectively…I have come to believe you give your veterans a chance to keep or lose your starting position. Especially now in their non conference matches, this would be the best time to see after 6 matches if our veterans have tremendously improved or not. Maybe, just maybe, taking a chance at this point of the season with a Maglio, Huff, and Koelsch a chance to start a match. It may bring surprises or at best, bring a sense of urgency and fire. It may give the original starter(s) more incentive to get back in the game and play every play like it is match point. Look what Kale Greeley has done from the bench to being future impactful player where she doesn’t even have to be subbed out.
Every player always have to realized that they are replaceable. I would love to see Coach challenge them in this area…This is college volleyball…not park league worrying about people’s feelings….That’s how the real world is…..Doggy Dog
26 Historically, there are many past articles and interview that strongly suggest that Dave intentionally creates a very competitive environment in the practice game resulting in fierce competition among the players trying to win playing time on game day. It is at that practice gym where he determines who plays. I believe Hartong was 2rd team AA as a soph, and 1st team AA as Junior & Senior.
off topic. Shoji’s legacy. I’ve been waiting for someone else to bring up a certain aspect of Shoji’s legacy that I haven’t seen mentioned.
In my view Shoji’s legacy goes well beyond the wins and championships. His real legacy is the number of girls who have received scholarships and financial aid to play volleyball in college be it Division 1,2,3, NAIA and JC. I bet nearly all will say their girlhood dream was to become a Rainbow Wahine and to play for Coach Shoji. While only a few have achieved their dream a lot have benefited from their pursuit of that dream. Shoji should be recognized as a person who has had a positive influence on so many young girls and women in the State.
27. Thank you for making that clear to me about Emily’s A A status. Yes, I agree that coach knows best day in day out. I also do know there are athletes that perform when the lights go on (real game situation) and athletes that may do well in practice but for some odd reason can’t duplicate what they do in practice. Coach knows best!! Just wanted to see if that could be implemented during a real live game…Many times conti ued mental lapses and non aggressive plays from a player come from a no consequence….(being benched for lack of effort)Being replaced in a set/match brings out the true character and “passion” of the athlete…That’s why most of them are scholarship athletes…They all supposed to be ready!! Please understand my posting is not to degrade any of our girls….This is a blog and I love our team so much I want them to win a National Championship!! It has been 27 years and Coach Shoji, staff, past and present players and passionate fans like myself can get caught up in the emotions and figuring things out eventhough we are just bleacher coaches because we care and are so proud of all of them….I wear my passion on my sleeves!! Sorry bout dat
26. Emily Hartong. She came in as the 2nd recruit from the same HS as Jane Croson — Los Alamitos, and only the 26th rated HS recruit that year.
But, as usual, Shoji developed her innate talent, and the rest is history. He has done this time and again, and this is why UH has stayed relevant while other mid-majors have not, given all the BCS money that has fueled programs that historically was not on the VB landscape. A lot of “johnny come lately’s.”
Hartong wasn’t even rated 26th, she was rated even lower than that, I think 48th.
Another example of Tawa under rating a UH recruit. I thought she would have been much higher seeing her as a senior on fox sports west.
Face it women’s volleyball athletes have it and usually end up playing their freshman year some may take until their sophomore year. They have the talent and show greater potential in their first year or two. With coaching the good become great and the great become All Americans. They get better each year and improvement and steadiness becomes a known characteristic. Remember steadiness is what makes a player to be invaluable. Not good in one game and not so good in another. There bad games maybe less than 10%.
Some get to a certain level and they cannot do anymore. Their potential is no more they have reached their limit. Good as well as bad outings are close to equal.
If a coach believes his freshman has the potential to reach the level of his upper classman by the end of the season by all means he will play them. Growing pains and maybe a few more losses but by playoff time your young ponies are now showing their pedigree.
27, 30 oops my bad…never realized i spelled Hartong’s name Harding….Must have been thinking Tonya Harding from Gymnastics. I guess I need to reread what I write. I just speak and write from the heart…I don’t go back I read what I write until later I have submitted it…I guess coach got to bench me now…. (lol)
31. Yup. 48th. VanZant #1, Croson #7. Pretty good class, but several ranked above Hartong did not pan out, including Croson.
Nikki Taylor and Taylor Higgins, as well as Greeley & Kahakai, were not in the top 10 either. But, I think they will develop into special players. Ditto Castillo and Mitchem (if she arrives as expected).
Hartong was not in the same class as croson them.
The 2010 class was one of the best classes I’ve ever seen in college volleyball.
Some dispersed “ala Falyn fanoimoana” but the amount of schools who lost AA Lasr year or their star players is astounding
Hawaii-hartong, uiato, longo
Psu-slay, McClendon, Scott
Minnesota. Dixon, whittman
MSU. Winciksi
Nebraksa- Robinson
Florida- Mann
Stanford- wopat, Williams
USC. Hagglund, olgard, shaw
Washington. Orlandini
Missouri. Kreklow, henning
The fact is, SO MANY SCHOOLS, lost top talent from this amazing class.
Also, Higgins, Taylor, Greeley and kahakai are all not under ranked. They ranked where they should be, but shoji has a knack for turning girls into AA.
Hartong was under ranked. She was defs a top 20 recruit and Castillo should be too. But tawa said she ranked low because of her injury.
Don’t give up on Dave. Imagine if Dave got the top ten talent that Texas, USC, Stanford, psu get. He would win championships like rose does. Elliot had 2 number one recruits last year in Webster and McCage. He had a number 2 in khat and several top ten recruits. They are good, but Dave would make them better. Dave competes and beats these teams with not so much amazing talent, but he makes them good and that’s why he’s the best coach in the game.
AdmrVT, Hartong was in the 2010 class, a very very strong class. Croson was in 2011 a much weaker class. I think the number one in Hartong’s class was FF.
Warrior.
Yes ff was the number one recruit, the rest of this list goes like this
2). Morgan Broekhius – Nebraska
3). Rachel Williams – Stanford
4). Carly Wopat – Stanford
5). Alexis Olgard – USC
6). Anna Dorn – Illinois
7). Deja Mcclendon – PSU
8). Ashley Wittman – Minnesota
9). Hannah Allison – Texas
10). Mallory Woolridge – UVa
As you can see, most of the top ten didn’t really get accolades. Wopat was the most talented on this top ten. Sarah Shaw (USC) at #11, Tori Dixon (Minnesota) at #13, Ariel Scott (PSU) at #17, Katie Slay (PSU) at #18 #19 Robinson. And Mann who didn’t even rank in the top 100. This class top ten was kind of weak, BUT the depth of this class is considered one of the best in the history of the ncaa by many people.
What are the chances Nikki doesn’t come back this season or isn’t fully healed to do the job? I think things are more serious then led to believe. We keep hearing about waiting for her clearance to play but that seems to keeping hanging giving some of hope. If she does come back it would already be almost the middle of the season. Wouldn’t it be better for her to just take a medical hardship instead of blowing half a season where she wouldn’t be a 100%?
Better to have her healthy from the start of a full season.
Just saying…
Nikki did practice yesterday with the team read it on her social media she said it felt so good. But I doubt if she will play this weekend. Maybe one more week
I thought Hartong’s ranking coming out of high school was just at 48. Hartong just matured and improved under Dave’s tutelage with her commitment to being the best she could be. Even Dave admitted in an interview that when he recruited her he didn’t realize her potential be this high or that she would be this good (don’t remember which interview but it was on video, not an article) – this being after she was moved to the outside. When Hartong committed I too didn’t realize she would develop into the top player she turned out to be. I think people are correlating the Senior Aces rankings with what she developed into rather than what she was coming out of high school. I understand Tawa’s rankings are based on potential but I honestly think no one knew her potential to be this high, especially when ranking her out of high school. She was good coming out of high school and was ranked in the top 50 Seniors aces. But she clearly developed into a top player, and surpassed expectations.
John Tawa’s Senior Aces is not a list made up by Tawa himself. Instead Tawa consults a group of experts from both the high school and college volleyball scene who rates the high school players for each class. My point is don’t blame poor forecasting on just one person (Tawa), but on the views of so-called experts who are far from infallible. And one shouldn’t blame the “experts” either. Nothing is so unpredictable about the prospects of teenagers, who develop at different rates and ages. There are lots of overlooked late bloomers as well as “can’t-miss” prospects that turn out to be far from outstanding in college. Just think Brittany Hewitt. If she stayed another year, she probably would have competed for NPOY let alone become a 1st team All-American. She was way down the list of Senior Aces.
Per VT, Plummer took a visit to Stanford this past week. Does anyone know if she has a visit planned to UH?
Per info from other sites, if all three recruits sign next year, Huff will get a BB scholarship; similar to Kalei A’s situation. Information for those with inquiring minds. Anyone want to add?
36 & 37. My error. Went back and checked.
41. Yes, Tawa polls his group of experts. But, this can skewer the ratings if his “experts” have an ulterior motive to end up with a top rated class “on paper.”
But, it is best methodology he can utilize to generate a “list.”
GOOD MORNING, ALL!
Cindy: I like your comment in #25 “anonymity can be emboldening”. Pithy and so true!
My comments on Brittany Hewitt…I should have mentioned that Hewitt did not return because of a chronic back pain. So I should have said that if Hewitt returned in full health she would have competed for NPOY. After all she was the leading blocker in the nation as a sophomore and had good numbers on offense.
LanaiBoy,
Brittany Hewitt was a 3rd team AA her sophomore year, did not make AA her junior year…and she was not the leading blocker in the nation her sophomore year.
43. Adolpho’s situation was, as we all know, play the entire volley season before joining the basketball team. I don’t think Megan Huff’s getting a BB scholie is going to be the same. She’ll probably redshirt her VB 2015 season. And after that who know’s what will happen. It was said that she signed, with the intention to be the best VB player she can be and see how far she can develop, with visions of playing pro VB. I got this from a Federal Way newspaper article.
42. Not looking good for UH. I know that Plummer wanted to play both. Getting her now requires a miracle, but they do happen don’t they?
Oops!
Brittany Hewitt was a 2nd team AA her sophomore year. Also she was a Next 150 Senior Ace coming out of HS. She was a relatively unknown untill her Idado HS team did well enough at the Durango Classic.
Cindy, do you know why Robyn wasn’t at the game over the weekend? Is she okay?
Dang if Hewitt stayed her Senior year no doubt she would have been considered for 1st Team All American. And do recall her being the nations leading blocker in blocks per set, as well as garnishing 2nd Team AA honors in addition to be CVU.Com blocker of the year. She was an All American honorable mention her Junior year despite having only 1.92 kills a set. The bottom line is Hewitt was a force and should have been MORE involved in the offense but lets face it Uiato did not have great connections to the middles during her UH career (Most notably with Hewitt)
50. Ah Mow-Santos was not at the matches because her father had been hospitalized. She also hasn’t been a practices this week.
Was told dad has been released.
48. Huff is not getting a basketball scholarship, at least not for a few years, if it happens at all. Moving the dissuasion to a new post in a bit.
Please pass on my best wishes to her and her family….thank you
To be honest, don’t think Hewitt would have been an AA if she had stayed. Her back problems had worsened. She nearly didn’t return for her junior year but wanted to play during Danielson’s senior year. They were very good friends, tight from when they came in as freshmen. I remember Hewitt’s family saying how Danielson and her family had embraced Brittany from Day 1.
Ya, as great as Hewitt was, by the end of her Junior year she was no where near as effective offensively and even defensively as her Sophomore year. Part of it probably was the connection with Uiato.
I ran into Brittney at Wholefoods right after she retired and she was worried about whether or not her back would ever get better. All said with that great smile of hers, she was hopeful the fans understood. She is a very nice young lady who was ready to move on to the next chapter of her life.
It was not the connection with Uiato. it was her back problem.
keep hearing that Taylor Swift song ‘Mean’ when I read some comments.
I still stand by my statement. Hewitt would have contended for player of the year and 1st string AA if she had returned for her senior year. However, I made that prediction based one condition—that she return healthy and pain free as she was her sophomore year. She played through pain her junior year but still made Honorable Mention AA. She did lead the nation in blocking with 1.68 blocks per set and was named CVU Blocker of the Year in 2010 when a sophomore. She was one of my all-time favorite Wahine because of her personality—just a nice person.
58. my comment was a reply to 51.
Agree IF Hewitt was a mobile and healthy she would have considered for a number of top awards.
Sorry if I came off as “mean”.
I agree, Hewitt’s back pain was a source of her problem. I also know, that both the hitter and setter are responsible for the “connection”. This is especially true on tempo types of sets, where placement and speed is important. Every setter (and player, for that matter) has a weakness. Uiato was a very special setter. Although, one of her weaknesses was her sets to the middle. I believe that was one of the “pluses” of Stauber, people wanted to see Uiato set the middle more and Stauber did that. I did prefer Uiato over Stauber as Uiato was more steady. I guess I’m rambling.
I guess my point is that you are saying that they only reason Hewitt wouldn’t have made AA was her back, when in reality there are multiple reasons why.
LanaiBoy,
You’re right she did lead the nation in blocks in 2010. Usually when you lead the nation in blocks and hit close to .400, those numbers should’ve made her a 1st team AA.
60. wasn’t saying that at all. there were many factors. just saying that if she had returned for senior year, i doubted that she would have been an AA. That is based on the reality of her back problems. She was losing elevation after sophomore year and wasn’t as mobile.