11. I don’t see Taylor as being laid-back. People have different game faces

as for Taylor being in contention for NPOY … it would take a lot, likely including Hawaii getting to the final four. But the bias against non-power 5 conferences has been evident for quite some time
If you remember Shoji was pretty irate about her not being a first-team AA which most would agree. The only non-power5 member on the first team was from BYU.

on top of that — even if hawaii earns a seat at the FF — nikki’s stats might even have to be eye-popping for her to get the award (like willoughby-like numbers when she nabbed the award while hawaii was still in the WAC). because hawaii is from the big west, and does not play power-5 conference teams day in and day out, the award selection committee might view her stats with that asterisk (unfortunately). this is hawaii’s reality. the perception is that they come from a lesser conference and therefore their stats are the result of playing against an easier conference schedule.

among most fans on VT last year, the talk was that nikki was a shoe-in for a first team all-american slot. but she was placed on the 2nd team … and hawaii was the only elite 8 team last year who did not have a player on the first team. (hawaii was also the only team in the elite 8 who didn’t come from a power 5 conference, and the only team in the elite 8 who had to play a power 5 conference team in every round of the tournament.)

but i would trade all those ‘awards’ for this team to get back to the final four! and contend for a title again! they’ve got some good pieces, if healthy, to make a run. just need some luck with the draw come tourney time.

… starting to get excited to see this year’s version of wahine volleyball!

the big challenge for bricio might be whether her passing stands up to the int’l game. i recall from usc (and pac-12) fans that her passing was at times an issue during her first 3 years at usc. but her passing held up during her senior, and together with their libero whittingham, they anchored usc’s passing just enough to successfully run their up-tempo offense.

she’s a highly skilled player who may find a successful career playing overseas, and she’d be fun to see grow and develop internationally. but if her playing commitment remains with her current national team, she may never see the olympics (unfortunately).

@3. Exactly, which is why the U.S. National team should have asked her.

@5. My bad, the implication was that Nikki was in the running for AVCA Player of the Year (which is actually complimenting Nikki on her play). Players get “hot” during stretches (Bricio in this case) but records are made to be broken and having targets (goals) provides inspiration.

@7. Spot on but National Player of the year is not position specific, which is why Micha Hancock won it as a setter in 2014. I compared Nikki to Bricio because of their serve, hitting, and worth to their teams.