No surprise: UCSB Thompson BWC POW
From the Big West:
UC Santa Barbara senior Katey Thompson earned Big West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week honors as she led the charge in an upset road victory over No. 5 Hawai‘i.
Thompson delivered 19 kills along with a match and career-high 11 blocks in a thrilling five-set affair that shocked the Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 7,302, which witnessed a 22-match win streak against Big West Conference opponents crumble. The 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25, 15-12 triumph was UCSB’s first against UH since 1994. UH had won 77 straight matches against conference foes dating back to 2008 while a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
The right side attacker was clutch in the key fifth set, accounting for the final three points with a solo block, a kill and a block assist on the clinching play. Thompson also played a crucial role at the service line, where her presence led to several Gaucho runs.
Thompson added seven digs and a service ace while finishing with a career-high 26.0 points for the match.
Mita Uiato was UH’s nominee
Well deserved honor. Congratulations to her. In the long run, strong opposition to Hawaii in conference play will help Hawaii in terms of RPI and preparation for the postseason.
I would’ve given it to one of the CSUN girls. They beat LBS and are on the verge of cracking the Top 25.
Great pick. Enjoyed watching her play. Hope she can play as well this weekend against Northridge. I think their new coach made a difference.
Agree, she was best pick this week. I think coach who’s not faced Wahine crowd and 3/4 young players who rose to challenge and kept coming back despite Wahine surges. And the 6-2 offensive lineup which never had a ‘short’ setter blocking against Em in the front row was a factor. Otherwise, Thompson’s serve and kills were what kept them in sets along with unforced errors and uncharacteristically shaky floor defense and total lack of block. But that was one match and there’s lots of season left to determine the size of the Wahines heart beyond their Hart. Go Wahine!
It’s obvious which coach will get coach of the year if the BWC gives that award. Unless the Wahine lose again then it might make it harder in the committee.
Cindy, do you know if Dave is interested in Sarah Liva from Mililani? She is a very imposing middle blocker and she closes the block really well. She’s gotta be a legit 6’2″.
5. I don’t think it’s obvious three weeks into the season. Lot of VB left to play. COY not done by a committee. It’s a vote of the coaches, as is the all-BWC team.
IF they give the award? Shoji was voted Co-COY last year, along with Gimmillaro.
http://www.bigwest.org/sports/wvball/review/2012/release2.pdf
6. sorry, don’t know if UH is looking at her.
6. Sarah is 6’1 and has been in discussions. Although basketball is her stronger sport, she loves volleyball more. Maybe she might be a duel sport athlete like Kalei Adolpho.
Alumnae match is scheduled for 7 Friday. Is something going on at 5 that same evening? Am looking forward to seeing Hewitt again. Sorry we never got to give her a Senior Night sendoff. She deserved one.
9. Vee. About Hewitt, just was thinking that, wonder if there’s plans to give her a mini senior celebration.
If enough fans request it why couldn’t it be planned. She spent 4 years (inc. redshirt yr.) as a Wahine and played through back pain and injury. She was very popular among fans and it’s something the fans of Hawaii want. We just want to acknowledge our appreciation for her efforts as we have for most every other Wahine that has passed through the program. She is very deserving and loved by Wahine fans and is easily one of the program’s best middle blockers in recent memory.
Designated Servers: I have not seen any stats, but it drives me crazy to see the number of service errors that Shoji’s designated servers make when they come into the game. Kawamura is bad, but Ginger Long is horrible. I am almost willing to say, leave Nikki in the game or one of the middles to serve. They can’t do any worse. Do you agree with this observation?
–Brittany Hewitt–
2010 AVCA 2nd Team All American / CVU.com Blocker of the Year [USA’s–uniquely Idahoan *Boise, Ada Co.*–Div.I, team-sported, female All-Am….PNW’s–Inland Empire’s–exceptionally non Prepvolleyball.com’s “SeniorAce” athlete to be recognized as All-Am.]; a NCAA, 21st Century, rally scoring record’s hitter @.917 (w/11 kills of 12 attempts).
She’s on LinkedIn
&This one is pretty creepy:
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Love-Volleyball/3419197
9_9
I might also add that my sister, she was UH’s #50th All-American / of 84 All-Americans *TD*
..In citation:
Hawai’i has had Wahine VB All-Americans in the AIAW/NCAA, U.S.VB, Sand & AVCA (1974-2012)
—
Hawai’i’s small schools over the years (UHH, HPU, BYUH) have themselves produced 50+or so All-Americans in certificate. These schools mainly in the early years **BECAUSE OF BALL HANDLING SKILLS** beat MANY a Div.I opponent and could’ve contended for Top 25 slot(s)–as it were–had the juxtaposition ever been seriously put forth.
The ONLY other school that could possibly top ^^ is UH’s arch-nemesis for an eternity: U-C-L-A..but you won’t hear ‘it’ from our EVER gracious, also my sister–host, Ms. ‘CindyLuis2’.
😉
–Kari Anderson (now ”’Kari Anderson-Ambrozich”’)–-
Member of the most highly touted recruitment class in the University of Hawaii’s history (of 1991: Danielle Robins, Jenny Wilton, setter–Kari Anderson, Brandi Brooks); long time head coach’s assistant/associate from 1997–2011.
..& givin’ some aloha.
RPI HELP !
Wed
Northwestern # 59 RPI beat # 24 RPI Ohio State.That should help .
10, 11: To whom should the request be made? I was planning on taking a lei and trying to get to her during their match to personally acknowledge and thank her. Would be nice if as suggested by 10 there were a mini-sr-public-ackowledgement. Anyone I’ve mentioned Hewitt to think she’s great; never anything negative ; all regretting her not being included in a senior sendoff.
17. Vee. At 5 the alumni is splitting into two teams and playing one set.
One suggestion would be after the 7 match go to where the aunties are.
16. LC, oh yeah thank you Northwestern, that’s two ranked teams in a row Purdue and now Ohio St.
you can find the stats on the UH volleyball page. Think you’d be surprised that the players mentioned aren’t as ‘bad’ as you think.
have mentioned that the alumnae-alumnae match is at 5 p.m.
HOWEVER there is no match at 5 p.m.
alumnae-alumnae match at 7 p.m.
one set
Varsity-alumnae to follow.
see new thread
14. if you want to see all the All-Americans through the years, here’s the link
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_volleyball_RB/2013/Awards.pdf
Hawaii has 53 players (most with multiple certificates)
Nebraska 74
Stanford 66
Penn State 58
and since you mentioned UCLA 43
Cindy just answering 9.Vee’s question about what’s going on at 5. Maybe she didn’t see your earlier post like I did.
23. see new thread. NO match at 5
8. I saw her recruiting video and I doubt she gets a scholarship to UH volleyball but maybe for basketball.
Cindy: Re my comments about designated servers. Went online and looked at stats. I think that they support my conclusion. For example, it looks like Ginger Long has 40 attempts and 11 service errors. That is one in every 4 serves. Don’t you think that % errors is not horrible? Kayla Kawamura’s percentage is also one of the lowest amount players who have served a lot so I still think that the selection of designated servers by Shoji needs to be reviewed.
25. Would be great if she gets a Basketball Scholarship to UH. Then she could play volleyball too.
http://youtu.be/BUAd7olMJcE
26. agree with you about the numbers on Long, which is why she hasn’t played as much lately.
it’s the reason Lelepali has been used more.