The setting to the middle hasn’t improved consistently this year, but our middle attack is winning us points simply due to Olivia’s incredible in-the-air adjustments.

However, I disagree with you on a couple of points. I do not want Olivia to only have high sets. That slows the offense and doesn’t allow her to use the roll shots and dinks that keep the defense guessing. Secondly, if it’s apparent to you and me that Olivia is effective with high sets, then it sure is to Robyn, Dave, and Higgins. When Olivia is hitting at a low %, I look to Higgins. If Higgins is struggling to better the balls that are passed to her, then I look to the passers. UH currently has a passing problem when the serves are tough. That’s not just a one-person fix. The responsibility there lies with all the Bigs in their back-row rotation and the smalls. In fact, bad passing affects even the best setters and good passing can transform a less-experienced setter: In CSUN sweep of UH, freshman Conati looked like a senior setter mostly because her passers were on fire.

Also, thought Wahine played one of their best games this season against Northridge.

Thought Sarah and Nikki are stepping up their games at the right time. When they win out the next four games, watch out for this team in Post Season, they’ll be overlooked and that may be a good thing for them.

i dont think kahakai was the problem though she was forced to retrieve a couple tricky fell over the tape serves. and even still they were ahead in the opening set and should of won that. but looks like they need more of that 20 all or even 10 all (as though set 5) fatigue finish practice again. shoji said that he simply switched liberos to hopefully provide a spark in the case of at irvine. thats even though mendoza didnt seem to be a problem but got hindered at the beginning because some of the hitters got in her way when she was trying to dig the ball.

it hardly seems the difference would have been mendoza instead of kahakai at libero. thats more doubtful because you can say well the difference between them is with kahakai at libero, they won (at irvine), with mendoza at libero, they lost (the beach).

oh well, good win for na wahine in this match, 2nd win in the solid green uniforms too. there was also a sighting of mahina haina, so i guess it is also between her and longo trying to outcoach the other eh?

I notice even all the other hitters receive high sets, they don’t (or can”t) make contact with the ball until the ball comes down to about 6″ above the net. That’s why a lot of attacks are either blocked or the ball goes out since the attacker is trying to avoid the block. Because Magill can jump so high and make contact at such a high point she has no such problem. If Magill receives high sets ALL THE TIME she would average 1-1/2 to 2+ kills per set. Too bad Shoji doesn’t realize what an asset he has. I guess after 40 years of never having such a jumper he has in Magill, he’s not able to develop the attack properly to take advantage of Magill’s ability. Higgins’ shortcoming doesn’t help.

In the men’s international game, the blockers get their arm pits above the net, BUT the attacker’s chest if above the net when they hit the ball. Everything being relative, that’s what Magill represents to the Wahine team…her ability the hit the ball above the net relative to the blocker’s hands.