Wahine-Cougar rewind
Not really much to say. Bad, bad loss.
Season started out so promising. But as has been said ad naseum, Wahine got very predictable. First time they’d been swept all season and looked bad doing it. 86 minutes.
last time UH lost in straight sets was the 2011 second round at Washington.
COMMENTS
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Can’t imagine how they’ll do next year without Hartong. Longo’s a big loss as well. Blocking has been UH’s weakness since Hewitt left, along with diversity in offense. Can Uiato be blamed for that, though? Was her decision-making flawed? Vorster and Adolpho didn’t really contribute much on offense, and they’re not good blockers. My observation was that Vorster was not being set much, but when Uiato attempts to involve her more, she is unreliable. Adolpho’s even worse.
What’s really depressing after a loss like this is seeing all of the dejected faces in the newspaper the next morning…it’s kinda like reliving it…Oh well…I think that Canadian recruit will be very good & Nikki Taylor should be much improved herself…We’ll see…
I wasn’t able to watch the match due to buffering and computer malfunctioning so I didn’t miss anything. Only silver lining in the loss is that they didn’t have to travel to USC and get clobbered there. Now they can stay home and study for their finals.
good night all.
I was well prepared for this,if it wasn’t here tonight it would have been next weekend at USC.
5 I am sad to say but so was I.
Now we will wait to see if Shoji announces his retirement.
Through mountain highs and valley lows–we are Wahine fans no matter the situation. The end to a season is finite, but there will be another season to come soon. With the departing of a Willoughby and Kamana’o, there was a Danielson and Mafua, then a Hartong and Uiato…and a Longo. Every season, Na Wahine will have those players we admire for their athleticism, ethic, modesty and the ‘Aloha’ they have for the game, which they share with us, and we support wholeheartedly. Remember the moments and the reason why we love this program, year after year. ‘Til next year, here’s one last “Go Bows!” Mahalo for the great season and thank you Cindy for your dedication in keeping us fans connected through this blog and your articles.
One consolation. I am an ardent fan of Wahine basketball. Perhaps, Kalei Adolpho will be placed on the roster for its upcoming road trip. Hope so. The team could use Adolpho’s height, heft, and experience in the middle. If Adolpho improves her shooting, the Wahine will be tremendously improved.
Such a sad loss, but BYU was unstoppable tonight. I really dont want to see dave go though. It will be such a huge loss
One of Tsuji’s comment after the game was the youth of the girls show that they keep hitting into and challenging the block instead off the top of the block. I remember Danielson did that when they played Penn state at the final four, hence the loss. Perhaps this is the way they are coached????
Swept at home. Auwe! Saddest for Hartong and Longo. Both played hard, as usual. Two classy wahine who went down fighting. Not much help from the rest. When Vorster got two kills early in the first set, it looked like a good start, but that was not to be. BYU played tough, and all the bounces seemed to go their way. Timely service aces. (How many did UH have tonight? 1?) And did the Cougars have any service errors?
Swept at home. This will hurt for a while.
1 I agree with your observation. Feel really sad for the seniors. Really showed that depending on Emily catches up when you play a high caliber team like BYU. After watching the ASU vs BYU you could sense that we would have a difficult time with their block. All of BYU players play with tenacity and some of our players who started against Washington last year(so they are not young)
I think people gotta realize that although UH is such a tradition rich volleyball program and has the great attendance, fans, etc. , its still a huge uphill battle recruiting enough of the “big time” players to come here to play. Schools with the money like USC, UCLA, Stanford, Penn state, etc have the money from football, tv deals , and boosters to get the facilities and recruiting budgets that really attract recruits. I think Dave has done a great job considering what he’s up against. You could really see the swing in the talent and winning going towards the BCS schools once the money really started to pour in and having much more disparity in football.
13. Maybe so but BYU is not a bcs team either and their best player is a Canadian.
Tonight was pretty much a nightmare. A program the calibre of UH should not lose in the second round at home in that manner ever, especially when chances to host are so rare. UH wasn’t just beat they weren’t even competitive in the last two sets.
It’s pretty obvious now that the Big West was not very strong and that UH never recovered from the mid season slump they had. I thought changes should have been made to the line up that would have helped them in post season instead Shoji chose not too.
Sorry I press the submit by accident. Getting to my point, Hartong, Longo, Uiato, Vorster, and Adolpho all started in the NCAA tournament last year. Only 3 of the 5 improved. 1got a little better but still a little slow. And 1 of the 5 look like she is playing park volleyball, scared, or just not checked in. Sorry!! I do not blame the athletes but if we have the depth like they say we have….then who do we look at. Their is only 1 answer. Best wishes to BYU cause you deserve it and surely played like a 11th ranked team. I am sad for Emily, Longo, and Uiato cause they play their hearts out. Thank you for your contribution and choosing Hawaii. Nikki Taylor, your a BOMB and your freshman tenacity and court presence shows you are the next leader. It really shows!! Your the real deal and just imagine by your senior year how scary you will be. Thank you Wahine for a wonderful season!!!
14
True but looking at the rankings for the past how many years, UH has been pretty much the only non BCS team that has consistently stayed in the rankings and relevant. BYU played a great match though. From in the arena could really tell it was one of those nights where UH could do no right and BYU could do no wrong, even the way the ball was bouncing.
Not surprised at all. It’s come to be the norm. Thank you ladies for all your hard work and efforts. Mahalo
Congrats to BYU though, they out played UH and their coaches out coached Dave Shoji. Seemed like they wanted it more.
However UH made them look better than they really are, in fact I predict USC dispatches them pretty easily.
Very disappointing night.
Kalei,
go get ready; just in time to packed for the northwest!
concentrate on basketball; need you to beat Oregon!
all-out for full time next year. you’ll get more fun!
Just got off work and found tonight’s results.
A very sad and disappointing ending to what had been a very promising season.
From reading the comments, it seems the same problems from the past (predictable sets, sticking with players having off nights, hitting into the block, etc) haven’t been addressed so I guess the result is understandable.
To the team especially the seniors, Mahalo for for all your hard work and effort throughout the year leading to this point.
Few people really understand and appreciate what goes into participation in a very high profile program such as we have with Na Wahine.
While this season ended in a disappointing fashion, life will go on.
If the worst thing that happens to the team members in their lives is the loss of this match, then they will have lived very good lives.
As for the future, it’s been said Coach Shoji is a genius when he wins and tired/worn out/overdue for retirement when he losses.
May I humbly suggest that he fix a date to conclude his long and illustrious career so that a successor head coach and staff can be considered.
I know that’s very difficult since top candidates likely have existing positions and there is an effect on recruiting, but I think it is time to lay the groundwork for the post-Shoji era.
Mahalo to all for an exciting journey this season.
Till next time, Go Wahine!
Repercussions will be felt.
Lily Kahumoku was a First Team AA as a Junior but dropped to Second Team in her Senior year. Em might face the same fate. It was unrealistic for Team Shoji to think Hartong alone could carry this team on her mighty shoulders, for every UH team that went to the Final Four had a dynamic duo covering each other’s back and this team did not.
Thought Uiato might move up to Third Team AA, but now that seems unlikely. Longo deserves AA status no matter what, and hope this loss doesn’t affect her chances.
(Also feel sorry for Ann Miller that it’s going to be this “disaster” that ends her career as the main beat writer for the Rainbow Wahine.)
This loss will rival the UH Warriors’ embarrassing season as SPORTS STORY OF THEY YEAR. Sad that it’s going to be a negative event that is going to be the #1 local sports story of 2013.
I think that was the best comment that I read, to lay groundwork for post Shoji era. Start planning a transition period, down the road.
Like they always say even good things must come to an end.
Just watched the post game comments – my heart breaks for Emily. She deserved a better outcome but she was the only real hitter of the team so it’s hard to beat good teams with only one really good hitter.
As far as next season. They do lose seven seniors but only three had significant playing time. The loss of Uiato is probably the less impactful one of the three. I don’t think she was ever a leader on the court and while she had sweet hands her decision making was suspect and she wasn’t very deceptive.
I am high on Higgins but she needs to be the leader on the court, it’s her team now.
The loss of Longo will hurt, but I have been very impressed with recruit Savannah Kahakai, I just hope she is ready to make the jump from OIA to D1.
Now The loss of Hartong will be huge and not sure how UH will make up for her offense. My hope is that Nikki and Tai both improve a ton. Not only in their overall play and ball control but also add some inches to their jump verticals. I have a lot of faith in Nikki but not sure about Tai. UH might be better off next season if Tai gets beaten out for a starting spot by a new recruit or Passi.
Also the coaches must do something about the blocking!! It’s painful to see almost every team that comes in the SSC be a better blocking team. That has to stop.
Is anyone gonna talk about this…? UH Athlete putting the fans down and other UH athletes favoriting it.
https://twitter.com/kods_54/status/409572535701757952
Shocked is all. Knew they might be stopped before FF, but expected battling to the end. BYU outplayed Wahine in every phase of the game and were ready for every strategic move with answer of their own. Too many attacks and tenacity and intensity by Cougars. Kudos to them and wish them well going on. To Wahine…. and especially Ali, Em and other seniors, I appreciate the depth of your efforts on our behalf after last year’s end could feel your pain. This time to see it first hand was hard on us, too. You will be remembered here always, not for this game but for the totality of your career’s here. You have not diminished the legacy one bit, you always played your hearts out. You were beaten tonight by a better team, but you are a good solid team that has played with honor in carrying out banner into the fray. Mahalo for choosing Hawaii and best of everything in your futures. Aloha! And Go Wahine!
19. Hartong will be first team. Kahumoku situation was different. Field of OHs that year was crowded, and she was playing opposite Willoughby, who averaged 6.6 kills/game and hit .373. Kahumoku had 4.5 kills/game at .291 hitting. Yes, first team numbers on any given year, but the year before, she hit .333 with 5.27 kills so there’s that.
Passi is an opposite, right? Like Goodman and Satele? She and Olevao play different positions.
7. agreed. Dave will announce his retirement after this year…count on it! yes, BYU did have a great game plan, but losing at home (swept) is ridiculous/embarrassing! like everyone said, hawaii is too predictable. to go up against top teams, you need a spread offense with height, and not rely on on just one player. all season, they rode w/Emily and she can’t do it herself. the reason why Dave has not won a national championship after the 80’s is that he fails to make the necessary changes when need be. also, the athletes that come in are sometimes too raw & needs lots of development. we need players that are ready to play.
thank you dave for all you’ve done for the wahine program, but it’s time to pass the torch & enjoy the retirement. another coach will come in and hopefully take the wahine to new heights. future is bright w/higgins setting, Taylor back, along with the recruits. there will be also roster changes because tai aint the answer at OH & don’t think jade will be here longer than her jr season.
i think for me the season ending is not what sucks most. it’s losing 7 seniors, 3 of whom played big roles on the court. i will truly miss all these seniors. as for next season, idk what to say. rebuilding year? maybe a 2004 kind of season. i remember everyone calling that year a rebuilding year, and Hawaii ended up going undefeated for the whole season before losing to Wisconsin. don’t know if that’s possible next season, but we’ll see. don’t know much about the incoming players for next year, but I hope they are good. I don’t have the energy to complain about what could have, or should have been. the only thing i will say is that I may complain and come off as totally negative when Hawaii plays bad, but I will always support this team.
Yes Hawaii hitters seem to go right into the block and have no clue what to do when confronted by a big block. BYU on the other hand was going around and through the block
or off the block and this was all of their hitters.
And they had one hitter who could go over the block in Alexa Gray, something even Hartong couldn’t do cause she doesn’t jump that high, good as she is.
Hawaii is not as bad as they looked last night but still would have lost even at their best.
Shoji has been good for a long time but he hasn’t won a title since 1987. Maybe some new blood needs to come in and get a faster attack with some better players or maybe it’s like football where we will never get the Bailey Websters or Alexa Grays or enough of them at one time.
Either way, volleyball has changed since 1987 and one great player isn’t enough anymore.
congrats to byu. they were light out last night. every aspect of their game was clicking, especially blocking and ball control. there would have been very few teams to beat them last night.
hawaii … what can i say. it was a great season, no matter what. with some thrilling moments. it’s gut-wrenching for this senior to class to end things so early in the tournament. you could see the tears start to flow immediately after the final point. while it was not to be last night, this team still has lots to be proud of.
so long, and thank you especially to the seniors.
wow … reading over the comments … a lot of folks are jumping to far-out conclusions, based on the outcome of one match. yikes! let’s not go off the deep end people…
ok, carry on …
I didn’t want to comment out of respect for the young ladies whom I am proud to support. All I have to say is, thanks for playing and trying your best. As in life, there are ups and downs and learning from both is what life is about. In the end, UH was out played and in this case out coached.
I don’t know what THE answer is, just off the top of my head, I’m guessing role players that are specialists, is never easy to recruit exactly what you need, but if there is a way to convince players to come, the recruiting coach has to be able to bring them here. Also, upgrade offensive and defensive systems and find players that have heart. Not to suggest that any of Na ahine does not have heart, just that our system does not encourage firery players more than it does players that are followers. And for the coaching staff, please, please, please consider bigger stronger taller players both backrow and front row. I never understood why we would not look for a big, tall libero. They are out there, with enough ability to take up a lot of court space in the back. I’m convinced that short quick players have become obsolete. Faster big and tall players with great agility is what I would look for. I would recruit players 6′ 2″ and taller for the front row and anywhere from 5′ 7″ to 6′ 1″ for back row plalyers.
We have to realize that we have a huge disadvantage in recruiting here in Hawaii. They can’t have the top talent make a recruiting visit because of our budget. Therefore we get the leftovers and sometimes we get a GEM. Our best talent all want to get off this rock. So when we get a good team be HAPPY. The best now is the wahine softball team. Keep up the support. GO BOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is the odd thing: Dave was asked in the post game interview why was BYU block so good when there were no girls that were 6′ 3″ or taller. We have Taylor and Vorster at 6′ 4″. Dave said probably technique. Are UH girls NOT being taught technique? This is not a slam against Dave but is it possible he is coaching “old school” when the game is changing and he is being beaten by the way younger coaches who have more modern techniques. Again just a question, not a slam.
Coaches, think outside of the box. Seriously, its humbling, but its time to learn new techniques and philosophies from around the world and develope new methods. Recruit heavy from Asia, look to Japan or China or even Thailand. Send your girls over sees for training and provide avenues for all the players to break into the lineup even if they are not your favorites. Run a point system like Washington where the best players are out there, regardless of status. You have to earn your spot. The first sign or being sared or making mistakes, you come out. lol. maybe not every time. But istill in the players that they have to bring it ALL the time. They have to fight and get mean but play with smarts. We need smart players that have all the shots and the knowledge to assess when to use it. Hitting into a block when you could have deep roll or look for high hands will not win matches. Mentally toughen the girls up. A few of our starters then to get into their own heads when things go south. With smarts, they can figure it out otherwise they are just doing the same thing ad nausea um. And find players that can pass, I mean not just a few, but all. Passing is fundamental, we lern that in kiddie VB camps. How you get into Div 1 without being able to pass with control is beyond me.
So we’re going to ignore that tweet. Is the paper doing the usual and protecting/shielding the athletes?
https://twitter.com/kods_54/status/409572535701757952
regardless, believe Hawaii had a great season and very proud of them. to compete will larger blocking teams, Hawaii has to go to a faster offense, the setter must set the balls lower and quicker; the high lob sets are too easy to block with large blockers. however the good thing about high lob sets, the hitter has time to see the block and choose where and how to hit; with a faster set, the hitter usually can only hit the ball at one angle, no time to decide where to hit. both are good but you need the players that can execute the different sets.
#27. Yeah how about Steve. You know so much.
Speaking only for myself and family here. I’ve been supporter since late 60’s and Klum Gym. I’ve only seen few special teams take it all and each had a different and special mix of grit and talent. They all struggled along the way and had seasons end with losses. To me this team looked for the totality of its combined years here every bit as good as those championship years, I did not expect last night but I am not going to remember them not one for having been on the floor either. When you’ve seen seasons come and go like the years, you get a long view on pain and sorrow, disappointment and loss. You’ve got (all of you) a lot of years ahead – more good and some bad I’m sure, but for sure more. Move on and get your degrees and understand that you’re all winners/players. Go On Wahine! I will return next August to cheer and support your sisters as I did you and I do hope that you will someday be able to step back into the SSC and accept our Aloha and Mahalo for you again. You earned it and are part of our Ohana now and forever. Even Jane would get this much aloha and respect because she deserves it, too. One game does not a life define. Hold your heads up high! Go Wahine!
First match of the season, Texas #1 – Hawaii #5?. Post season, Texas #1 still. Hawaii swept in 3 – out of post season. I’m interested in Texas’ lineup from the start of the season to post season. I know about Hawaii’s continual shuffling and indecision on player selection. Personally, I’m tired of that happening, season after season. It’s a well know fact for years that Hawaii doesn’t have a middle attack, it still doesn’t. As soon as I heard BYU was coming to town, I predicted that Hawaii wouldn’t get pass this regional. Dave, time to move on.
My selection for Head Coach is Robin Santos. Did she earn her degree yet?
This isn’t good. Under no circumstance, will an athlete criticize the fans of their team. In the pros, you get reprimanded. How is this allowable here in Hawaii? AND the other UH athletes who favorited it? Unimaginable elsewhere…
https://twitter.com/kods_54/status/409572535701757952
Dave, probable needs hire a california club type coach to help him recruit. Sealy brought in hartong and waber. But none snce he left. We have great coaches but seems like no pipeline. i know it hard to win recuiting against the USC, Washingtons etc. with the state of UH manoa facilities.
31. Alohilani. I had the same thoughts as you on the blocking. BYU is an average height team in the top D1 level and yet they averaged 3 blocks per set and their top blocker is freshman Young at 6’0. Players with quicker feet, reaction, or being taught with better techniques? I don’t know the answer, but I’m sure the UH coaches are trying to find answers to get better in the off season.
Cindy, Steve is back bashing.
Byu had 24 block assist in that much I beleive. They destroyed us
But I’m still sad. I thought by now I would be over it but im not. I love the wahine but I hated seeing emily and mita cry.
its not just about height. Its about technque and ability. Jade is tall, but still learning how to move laterally as is Kalei. The bYU blockers don’t have that issue with closing. I don’t believe that a late closing MB that can close up last minute is the wayto go. Look at recruits that have those abilities instead of projects. And for criminy sakes, players like Alohi Robins Hardy does not come every day, do what ever it takes to get her here. Listen if you wat to play with the big boys, you have got to play hard ball. Do you think most of these top programs sit arund la de da ing all day? They are out there promising te world to each and every recruit. And when it comes to let them go for a better player, well that’s what re assessing your scholie options are for. Why? because if you can’t do the job, then you get replaced. That’s the real world of div 1 volleyball. Revoke and bring in better. Either you win it by playing the system, or you will lose.
Kalei Greeley will be the next Emily Hartong…..mark my words
41. No she won’t she will be the next Kalei Greeley!!
40. I’m disappointed Alohi will play for BYU as well.
and maybe Shoji should consider hiring whoever is in charge of blocking for BYU?? If Scott get the pepperdine head coach job.
30. Easy to say, but Hawaii does not have its pick of the top recruits, much less be picky about liberos. Shoji does great with the players that he has. Look what he did with Hartong. She wasn’t a top recruit. On the flip side, look at the middles. Vorster is 6-4, but compared to an average middle, she’s not that good of blocker. Adolpho is strong, but not quick enough. Regarding liberos, height is nothing if they can’t pass. They already had a 5’8″ libero in Ka’aihue, but I can’t say she’s any better than Longo, Watanabe, Ilustre and Villaroman.
Why didn’t shoji recruit robins-hardy. She’s 6’2″ and the best vb players in the state, yet wasn’t even recruited for vb. and now she’s going to play for buy. Auwe.
44. Most schools have a hard time recruiting. That’s a fact that most of them have to deal with. If you don’t like it then as a coach find another way that will be more than competitive with the other schools otherwise you might as well set your goals low. I think you forget to recognize that all the schools from the top to the bottom are competing with each other. For those who think that Penn St doesn’t compete with Stanford or Nebraska, youre mistaken. But instead of saying, its not easy to compete for tp players, they go out and compete for them. Suck it up or let someone let someone else do it.
this was a bad loss, but lets not get carried away. it was one of those nights for BYU that no matter what they did, it worked. it seemed like maybe we were’nt serving tough enough cause it was way too easy for their setter to set up her hitters. BYU definitely served tougher than the Wahine, which surprised me. Nikki and Uiato seemed to take a little something off their serves. the main thing about the loss was the blocking. not that we were outblocked, because that happens a lot to the Wahine. but that the front line could not touch a lot of their spikes. Longo did a great job of digging but too many spikes were coming in untouched making it really tough for the back row. the blame cannot be on just Adolpho and Vorster. everybody in the front row didn’t do a good job. BYU scored virtually at will in the second and third sets, while the Wahine struggled to put a ball down. there will be a lot of young players starting next year but i still think the Wahine will be a very good team.
I know we just ended this season, but i’m excited for 2014! I feel as if the wahine will dominate BW and make it again to ncaa….Obviously, Nikki or new recruits will need to step up to the Emily plate. Higgins showed us this year she’s deffinately capable of filling Uiato’s shoes. The one position that will be difficult to fill is Longo’s. I’ve never really payed much attention to the libbers before this year. Longo will deffinately be missed next year.
I hope Dave does not retire for next year. He loved the seven seniors and promised to stay for them. If he leaves…they may feel that they let him down. He and the team and the fans need closure. I am looking forward to the 2014 team. They are our wahines…win or lose.
Just disappointed that we won’t be in the sweet 16 and three of our opponents BYU, USD, and Texas will.
Really thought we were going to L.A. before meeting the norman juggernaut. i’m wishing them the best in LA. If they play with abandon like they did in the SSC, they will give USC all they can handle…
So proud of the Wahine and all their accomplishments this season. The seniors will be missed but I’m sure they will have great careers both on and off the court. Thank you for representing Hawaii and the University so well.
Unfortunately I can’t say the same about the football team. Disappointed with Football player Kody Afusia’s tweet.
https://mobile.twitter.com/kods_54/status/409572535701757952
“Dorothymantooth” on volley talk, who is usually reliable is saying Shoji will probably retire. I totally understand if he wants to just enjoy being a grandfather without all the stress of coaching, but I’d hate it if his last match was that terrible loss last night.
45. Yes but Hawaii is in the top 20 consistently with almost no top 10 recruit. If you think Hawaii is not going after those top recruits, you are mistaken. They simply do not chose Hawaii. Some recruits don’t even consider Hawaii an option. Some of those teams you mentioned have top recruits riding the bench. Those are the teams that Hawaii is expected to compete with and I think Hawaii wasn’t to shabby. Not at all.
My take on Shoji retiring, he’ll stay another year and a toss up for 2015. I doubt if he feels ok to retire after that really bad feeling after the match. Even with a loss in Washington last year the feeling was, yes bad, but it was close, unlike last night. He still enjoys coaching and with the promising class coming up he’s probably looking forward to the challenge at hand to see what type of team he can mold, at least for the new recruits first year.
51. Hot. I agree with your comments here. BYU is another non-BCS program who like UH has no top recruit riding the bench. Shawn Olmstead has kept the BYU program playing high level vb ever since taking the job after Jason Watson. Hmm wonder if Olmstead is on Shoji’s very short list.
Now that I think about it, I can see him retiring. I am thinking he will let the freshmen have four years with the new coach.
53. I wouldn’t mind if he was, clearly a great coach and if he can bring Alexa Gray and Jen Hamson with him , even better.
On to men’s volleyball in about a month.
56. Should be a good year, if team doesn’t improve on 8th place standing from a year ago in the MPSF then it will be a big disappointment, I am hoping they finish top 4 and host first round of the MPSF tourney. Can’t wait to see the new Norwegian recruit play.
Glad they are starting a little earlier this year. Eases the pain of the womens volleyball.
Hoping the Senior Award committee recognizes the excessive vote cheating going on with the Florida people and correct the voting numbers.
41. surfboy. Are you the one who made a comment on Nikki being the real deal before the start of this season. If so you’re on the money, she turn some heads, not only with her hitting but serving and backrow play. You’re right on Kalei #2 too.
niki right now is not the answer. she doesnt hit at a high contact point wich can mean that she can be easily blocked. And she is to slow with her approach. I would modify her arm prep so she can get around faster. For someone 6′ 3″, she should be going over the block most times.
61. are you kidding? I don’t remember the last time a freshmen hit over .300 in a season as she matures and gets physically stronger and in better shape she will be even better, People seem to forget she had only started playing this past summer due to injury that had her out for over a year.
My old eyes must be failing me and giving me false impressions, but I swear Nikki hits at a point with her right arm fully extended and at a jump with her body straight. Let me go check my taped videos and see if my eyes are fooling me.
63. I know right, I think this “wop your jaws” person is mistaken Nikki for Tai who hit’s low.
I love to see local girls on the team. I watched Tai her last two years at Punahou and saw that she wasn’t contacting the ball at the highest point of her straight outstretched right arm, rather at a lower point following thru with her arm and wrist curled. Up to now that’s her motion and results are showing in her hitting pct. Nikki’s pct dropped to .287 after the BYU match, but that’s a far cry from Tai’s .200 (?, I didn’t look at her final). Wonder why the coaches can’t change her hitting contact point.
Nikki’s percentage did drop below .300 after this weekend, she made a lot of errors this weekend, but she will learn from that.
Tai actually hit .196 and that’s the lowest hitting percentage for a UH starter since Jessica Sudduth hit .220 back in 1999.
My bad just looked it up and Susie B hit .211 in 2004 but thats still better than .196
By the way to Cindy or anyone else in the know, Any idea who is on the pre conference schedule next season?
Nikki was on three (?) times on the post game show and on one she mentioned that she was practicing to speed up her armswing. At least she’s aware of her short comings and working on it. Goodnight gang.
~~ From the WHO CARES! Department ~~
Who’s Left Standing at the End of the Subregionals
BIG TEN = 8 berths with 5 seeds
Round 1: 7 W, 1 L
Round 2: 7 W, 0 L
Sweet 16: 5 seeds [#2 PSU, #8 Nebraska, #10 Minnesota, #12 Wisconsin, #13] along with 2 unseeded [Purdue beat #4 Missouri, Michigan State beat #15 Kentucky] for an incredible 7 teams representing the Big Ten in the quarterfinals.
PAC-12 = 9 berths with 3 seeds
Round 1: 8 W, 1 L
Round 2: 3 W, 5 L
Sweet 16: All 3 seeds playing [#3 Washington, #6 USC, #7 Stanford] in the quarterfinals but for a conference with a league-record-breaking 9 berths, you would have thought at least one of the Pac-12’s unseeded would have joined the seeds.
BIG 12 = 4 berths with 2 seeds
Round 1: 3 W, 1 L
Round 2: 2 W, 1 L
Sweet 16: Both seeds (#1 Texas, # 14 Kansas) advance to the quarterfinals.
SEC = 8 berths with 3 seeds
Round 1: 5 W, 3 L
Round 2: 0 W, 5 L (including all 3 seeds #4 Missouri, #5 Florida, #15 Kentucky)
Sweet 16: The SEC ends up with not a single conference team in the Sweet 16 in spite of being tied for the second-most at-large bids awarded to a conference by the NCAA Volleyball [Selection] Committee.
ACC = 4 berths with 1 seed
Round 1: 2 W, 2 W
Round 2: 1 W, 1 L
Sweet 16: The unseeded (Florida St over #5 Florida) and not the seed (#16 Duke) moves on to the quarterfinals.
WCC = 2 berths with 1 seed
Round 1: 2 W, 0 L
Round 2: 2 W, 0 L
Sweet 16: Both #9 San Diego and unseeded BYU move on to the quarterfinals. With hindsight, the NCAA Volleyball [Selection] Committee should have extended an at-large bid to St. Mary’s (3rd in WCC Standings), as the WCC has proved itself to be the second-most powerful conference in the West after the Pac-12.
BWC = 3 berths with 1 seed
Round 1: 2 W, 1 L
Round 2: 0 W, 2 L
Sweet 16: The Big West will have no one in the quarterfinals again.
Big East = 2 berths with 0 seed
Round 1: 2 W, 0 L
Round 2: 0 W, 2 L
Sweet 16: The Big East will have no one in the quarterfinals. The NCAA Volleyball [Selection] Committee can pat itself on the back for not seeding Marquette or Creighton.
Correction for ACC:
Round 1: 2 W, 2 L
67. In defense of Susie, the team was running a fast offense that didn’t give her or Arnott a lot of options. Boogaard was also a great blocker and the best passer on the team aside from Watanabe.
72. You know what I completely forgot about Waber who hit .193 in 2010 as a starter, so she was even worse than Tai.
okay regarding hitting ave. who cares, if you lose. who cares, if you keep hitting out or into the net. who cares, if you keep killing any momentum that Hartong was providing. UH lost badly in three. There was no fight, no fire, no heart. From my seat I saw shell shocked players who didn’t have a clue (Nikki, Tai, Jade, Kalei). IMHO. Lost in three, no smokes, no mirrors. No puffing, no pointing out past wins. Just lost badly. I thought you had to be peaking post season. I thought they were better since the second half of the season. I thought the tweaking of the line up shore up the defects. I thought the NCAA giving Hawaii the 1st and 2nd round was all UH needed. Well, no it comes down to the players and the coach. They lot in three badly. ITs not even that they lost, its the way they lost.
So what do you think about this tweet from a UH football player ?
Kody Afusia @kods_54 7 Dec
To the UH Wahine volleyball team. I did my best to give you that 7th man. I can honestly say UH’S crowds are complete garbage. I am sorry
https://twitter.com/kods_54/status/409572535701757952
******
First of all IMO the crowd was in shock. What they were watching wasn’t suppose to be happening at least that is how I felt.
Maybe Kody is just upset that the Hawai`i football fans have turned on the football program ? I don’t know what he is thinking but if so maybe he should understand that it is the Head Coach that they have lost faith in.
73. Michelle Waber was a true freshman. Olevao is a sophomore.
Sorry Kody feels that way about UH’s crowd. Maybe he shouldn’t be on the football team. Anyway, i am more interested in the womens sports and baseball program. Lost intrest in football since the JJ days.
Cindy, Thanks so much for hosting this blog. If I didn’t have a place to vent and a forum to settle me down and consolidate my thoughts, I think I’d just blow up sometimes. I will miss Ann’s insight and intimate and thorough knowledge of Wahine Volleyball going forward, but I look forward to next season and this blog and renewed success (and some disappointment abd failure, too) with expectant enthusiastic optimism. Take care and thanks for being here for all of us and the Wahine. Go Wahine!
I thought it as tasteless of Uh to put Em and Mita at a table on video to answers stupid questions from the media. It was so obvious that they were hurting.
If I played for this team I would never ever talk to the Honolulu media.
79. during the tournament, NCAA requires that coach and 2 players be at the press conference, win or lose. Winning team goes first, losing team second.
78. you’re welcome. this doesn’t end because the season does. still plenty of vb to discuss, especially when the men’s season starts. Don’t know how Ann’s retirement will affect what I do next year.
Happy Holidays.
LOL the NCAA, who cares about what they want and don’t tell me they can force you to speak.
It is required. ASU and Idaho State had to do it as well Friday
There are many examples of no videos at other 1st & 2nd round hosting sites just statements.
And there are other examples where there are videos.
didn’t say that the NCAA required videos. just that they require teams to send 2 players and a coach to post game press conference.
no one is protecting anyone. i don’t follow twitter.
but is it really a UH athlete or someone pretending to be one?
and did the person who tweeted come here to say, why is no one talking about this, just to give the tweet another forum. the email (bogus) was uhfansgarbarge is a bit suspect
Adolpho isn’t going to be on the road trip. She hasn’t practiced with the team.
So what disobey the NCAA who are they anyway.You media folks love photos and videos of people who are in pain over a loss.
Asl for Robins-Hardy, she chose to play for BYU.
Again, i didn’t say the NCAA required videos.
Take it up with the people who posted the videos because I didn’t and neither did the paper.
Read somewhere that Alohi Robins-Hardy was recruited by the Wahine basketball team but accepted the BYU offer because she wanted to play both volleyball and basketball in college. Hawaii told her basketball only. If this is true, wondered why she wasn’t offered a volleyball position at UH. I can only speculate. She is a combination setter/outside hitter at Kamehameha. Hawaii has two setters already and Robins-Hardy did not impress enough as a standout outside hitter in high school. I have never seen her so I really don’t know. Another speculation….perhaps, having another player besides Adolpho splitting time between basketball and volleyball was too much. It could be that the story itself was only a rumor, Hawaii actually did not try to recruit her for any sport. Anyone knows the actual story?
Since the subject of post match press conference came up here, my question does the media people or UH decide what two players are to be in the conference.
Per NCAA, the senior sport has to have the scholie. After that, playing both sports is between both coaches. So you figure it out. A basketball scholie for Alohi was offered. But no chance of playing both sports. Its pretty clear.
104. The SID will ask the working media which two players they’d like to talk to. SID then brings in the 2 that were most requested. So you had the S-A, Ka Leo, TV requesting players.
Cindy re: #99. I sort of figured that Adolpho would not be allowed to go on the road trip. Most coaches have strict rules regarding practice time for making road trips. Hope, however, that Adolpho gets a leg up on practicing this week. The Wahine basketball really needs a bigger presence in the middle, although record-wise they are doing really fine this year.
106. CL. It was pretty obvious that Emily was in no way ready to talk to the press and another alternate player in better form should have been chosen to be there in her place. It’s too late, but I regret watching the video.
109. requests are made toward the end or right after the end of the match. there is a 10 minute break before the winning team comes in, followed by the losing team. so about 15 minutes between when the requests were made and when UH came into the media room. No way for the media to know if a player is ready to talk or not.
107. not sure if ‘allowed’ is the right word. She hasn’t practiced with the team and I don’t know when she plans to. Team likely leaves the 10th (tomorrow) or the for their game on the 13th. She’d only get 1 or 2 days of practice in if she were to travel. not sure of their practice schedule.
But BKB likely didn’t expect to have her back for this trip, anticipating that the volleyball season would run through at least this week.
I don’t see the video on the team web page just a statement but it is on the UH athletics youtube account and of course the Big West has it up.
If you folks at UH athletics read here remove that video from youtube .You don’t parade these kids before the public at a bad time in their lives like they are captured prisoners of war.
Cindy, not faulting the media or the SID, perhaps the word to Emily for the press was a relay of words from one person to another in the locker room, without the SID actually seeing her in that shape. Not trying to make a big deal out of this, but I’d like to remember her playing all out and happy to be a Wahine. That conference was a real downer.
didn’t think you were faulting the media, just letting you know how the process works.
I don’t know how word got to the locker room or who did it, the SID or tournament director. or if either of them saw her before she came out and walked over to the green room.
From the beat down last Saturday, I became a post-regional BYU sweet-sixteen fan. I wish them the best
i don’t think UH played as badly as BYU just played at the apex of their game. Got to hand it to them and
cheer them on in LA. I saw them play the same way when they beat down USD in 3 at home early in their conference games. I was hoping then we wouldn’t see them in the regionals…
Cindy with all that said, trying not to put you on the spot, but is there anyway that you can inform the right UH people to remove the very public youtube video of the UH media post conference? I don’t think it was a NCAA rule to put it up publicly on youtube and it really leaves a very negative visual to recruits UH are after.
afusia’s tweet is off-the-mark and misguided.
i was in the stands in the loss to byu, and while the crowd was silenced/stunned at one point during the match … they did not stay that way. during the 3rd set, the crowd was making a lot of noise, and doing its best to lift the wahine. some nights, the 7th man — though we try — just isn’t enough, infortunately.
it sounds more like afusia is redirecting his frustrations at the football crowds from this past year … towards the volleyball fans, who came out in force and actually raised the average attendance this year, over the past few seasons.
i wonder if afusia was regularly in attendance during the season … if he was, then he should know better that hawaii volleyball fans are certainly not “garbage.” if he only decided to go watch the wahine because they were hosting the playoffs, then it doesn’t say much about him as a true fan, does it? …
in any case, i’m sure the athletic dep’t will soon be clamping down on his tweets. it’s only a 140-character limit on twitter, but clearly some people aren’t responsible enough to even handle that.
#115 Afusia was one of the people trying to start the wave in the middle of play on Friday. It does not seem like he has been to too many volleyball games.
In reflection, Emily displayed the emotion of how the team felt during the post game interview. She was emotionally spent! THANK YOU EMILY for being a model player for four years. THANK YOU for playing for the U of H for four years. THANK YOU for bleeding green for four years. THANK YOU for the memories. THANK YOU for carrying the wishes of so many on your back, all visualizing the next national championship and thank you for carrying the disappointment of the team. Lastly, bring back that wonderful smile of yours for yesterday is already a memory and the legacy you have left behind speaks volumes to what determination and hard work can acheive. THANK YOU for being Emily Hartong a Rainbow Wahine. -with Aloha
116 Agree, I think any team that lost a big game will show that. Unfortunately it was Hawaii’s team, and I belive alot of fans feel the same pain that the girls do. That’s sports though.
What is the issue with the press conference? Cindy already explained that 2 players are required to join the coach. And if you think one of those players isn’t going to be Emily Hartong, you’re clueless. Would the press rather talk to two reserves who didn’t play? Of course Emily was hurting after the loss. Every one of those 18 players was. Did you really expect Emily or any of the players to put up a chipper front? EVERY losing team has to face the press conference, not just UH. So much drama.
I think it was especially painful because it was Hartong, who has been so stoic after other losses.
114. Don’t quite agree with the ‘negative image for recruits.’ It showed a great athlete’s vulnerable side.
Never said that it was an NCAA rule about posting a video
If you feel that strongly, I would suggest you call or email the media relations department. All I can pass along is that some anonymous people on my blog said they didn’t think the video was appropriate
Derek Inouchi is the head person. He was at the press conference.
inouchi@hawaii.edu or 808-956-4478.
Cindy thanks for your fair comments, I appreciate it. I think the poster before you is out of line with his sharp remarks and all the questions marks. I know Derek and will contact him on this matter. Thanks again.
How was my post out of line? Because of the question marks? Sorry of the remarks seemed sharp to you, I felt the issue was being dragged on even after Cindy already explained why it was so.
Don’t know how that vid puts a negative visual to recruits. I think it shows the opposite…..that the players feel so much emotion and love for the Wahine that it affects them in this manner. It would look worse if Emily looked like she didn’t care.
Hartong named All-Region along with Taylor being honorable mention
Re: 124 … See 22 above. Uiato, an AA during her Junior year, is not even an AA consideration this year. Only 1 UH player is up for consideration as an AA, as regional HMs like Taylor (if the AVCA follows previous guidelines) are not up for AA consideration.
122. Hot. 123. setaone. Thanks for your inputs. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions and this is what this blog is for.
is this blog no longer accepting comments?
it is. have you been having problems?
there has been a change in platform but it shouldn’t affect posting.