Comments on: Semifinals rewind, Hancock POY and other stuffs

By: Cindy Luis

Cindy Luis — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:36:37 +0000

7. thanks. sadly it’s become more like the haves and never-will-haves.

By: Cindy Luis

Cindy Luis — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:34:18 +0000

20. think it best to see what happens in fall camp. there’s going to be major fights for starting spots and that’s when those will be earned … next year. Granato played well in a high school all-star game. Mitchem played well at the JC level. have to wait to see how the transition to DI will be.

By: vballfreak808

vballfreak808 — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:30:09 +0000

Granato did play well. She went 9-0-11 in two sets. Playing as a six rotation opposite in the second set collecting five kills and two digs. Then play as a three rotation opposite in a 6-2 in the third getting four kills and a dig. It is hard to say where she stands when she gets to UH but it showed that she takes advantage of opponents when they are struggling. Also wonder how she would have played if she played at outside.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:20:53 +0000

Granato is amazing. She deserves to start with the way she’s playing. I know Dave probably won’t, but I can easily see her taking TAIS spot.

By: warriorfan

warriorfan — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 23:48:53 +0000

Granato, is playing well, the east team is very poor. their setters and passing is really bad.

By: blunite

blunite — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:52:23 +0000

@Warriorfan, Unfortunately, even “All-Star” coaches need to keep abreast of volleyball theory and practice. Granato belongs on the left, not the right. At 5’10” she would have a hard time shutting down 6’4″ opposing hitters. Blocking is crucial at opposite because shutting down the opponent’s left side pretty much decides the contest. That said, the opposite (should) always get(s) a good set (5′-7′ set) versus the 20′ sets to the left.

By: Not an Expert

Not an Expert — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:16:30 +0000

Where improvement is needed next year, is defense starting with the libero. Next setter who can be consistent and give her hitters the best possible set. No excuse for not turning a majority of bad passes to hittable balls. That is what a great setter does. Coaching needs to change its game strategy. Tweaking of the offensive coaching strategies.

By: warriorfan

warriorfan — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:53:10 +0000

Granato played RS? That’s interesting, since I thought she was mostly left.
Can’t wait to see this high school all american game at 1.

By: karin

karin — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:16:10 +0000

10. From a VT blogger who attended the match—- West won all 3 sets easily and also rated Granato as the best in her position RS, on the team.

By: blunite

blunite — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 18:14:30 +0000

COACH OLMSTEAD:
“I’m hearing of this program’s getting cut or that’s getting cut because the money’s gotta go to football and pump up football. And it’s a bummer for studentathletes like these girls, because I think that’s really, really important.”

For those who miss my point, BYU coach Olmstead’s inference from his quote above is that women’s programs may be negatively affected by football. Title IX prevents that (schools eliminating women’s programs willy-nilly.) Hence my comment that Olmstead may not have been aware of Title IX.

The implication of my second point is that Aloha Hardy-Robins is better than Tayler Higgins, and if Shoji has realized that he would have offered her during her junior year at Kamehameha.

For those who don’t know volleyball, UH beat Texas last season because Jerrod Elliot put his 2 All-American OHs on the left. Leaving his 3rd best hitter (5’11” Pilar Victoria) at opposite. UH’s Nikki Taylor was at opposite and shut down both Texas All Americans (6 solo blocks to go with multiple block assists) in the 4th and final set. Had the Texas passing/setting been on point they still might have changed the outcome; however, if Eckerman or Webster were at opposite the result would surely have been different.