Week 2, Monday practice 2
Another pretty routine practice although they did get into more of a true scrimmage at the end, first to 15, after playing Shoji’s favorite game: baseball.
Baseball had 3 different teams but they kept switching some positions so hard for me to keep track as to who was in for what inning. And after a score one of the coaches would throw a ball onto the other side instead of a serve. The designated “at-bat” team can have runners get on base and advance, or score runs with kills and blocks, with outs recorded for hitting out, being blocked or the other team getting a kill or ace.
The rule also was the first set had to go either right or middle so they are definitely working on those connections. Two teams very event in the second inning; the score was 8-7. the team with 8 won the game 16-12-8
All the middles working very hard. Adolpho had some monster kills and Tuaniga continues to move well, getting from left front outside the setter to the right on a very long step-out move. They are running a lot of combos and a lot of misdirection plays. Vorster also hit with authority but still is jumping early (IMHO).
Uiato made one amazing play where she backpedaled from close to middle back to the middle back of the court next to her, setting the ball perfectly back across her court to her left front. impressed by her footwork and how she got under the ball. Longo even told her so during a water break.
As for the scrimmage, where they didn’t always rotate, a surprising comeback by the side which had Kastl and Manu-Olevao at LS, Vorster and Tuaniga the MBs, Goodman RS, Higgins setting. Kamura at DS. Think they were down 11-8 when the other side got stuck in a rotation. That team Hartong, Adolpho, Taylor, Long and Longo.
Higgins had a couple of nice jump serves and Kawamura at least one ace that had the Higgins’ side pulling out a 15=12 win, including a 4-0 run at the end. Wong did make a comment about how that showed good aggressiveness by Higgins’ side that put pressure on Uiato’s side.
Shoji said he is still looking for that third passer but the decision was close. It could be either Kastl or Manu-Olevao, depending on the lineup. Said he hasn’t determined a lineup yet, was moving closer to it and may have it ready for Saturday’s preview scrimmage for the boosters. said they’ll be working with the starting unit by next week.
The depth does give him a lot of options.
Has Kawamura played more than the other DS? And how was Long as an OH in the front row?
Thank you for the detailed and informative reporting Cindy. It seems like Tai really improved her backrow play to be in the mix with Ashley for the third passer. The A2 training in Dallas did her a whole lot of good. Also who in your opinion so far has the edge in starting on the RS. I’ll be there Saturday, it should be interesting and exciting at the same time.
Thanks for the report Cindy! Season is getting so close, can’t wait!
Mahalo Cindy I enjoy reading your updates.
Thank you again Cindy for all of your great observations. “Baseball” was a favorite drill of mine.. and my previous college coach. Great drill, though it can be difficult evaluating talent since (like you said), it is highly circumstantial. Often times opposing sides are “set up” to lose — but the drill is assigned to create situations where coming back from a large differential should be expected, rather than a surprise. With that being said, shouldn’t be a surprise that there is such competition between the 3 middles. Depending on match-ups, I can see the middle rotation changing from beginning to end of the season.
Anticipate your reports so much, great job, solid info, good insight and asides. Sounds like things are jelling and team building cohesion in big and small ways. Newcomers and seniors forging solid connections is only going to payoff down the road. Fingers crossed for RS consistency and backrow cohesion. Know Wahine volleyball will emerge and sounds like Texas will get and give us a great bang for season opener. Can hardly wait for opening night…. Go Wahine!
Is this preview scrimmage still for the boosters only ? All over twitter today programs are inviting the entire public to come to their preview scrimmage.Would it not be wise for UH to have a preview scrimmage open to all and advertise it which could lead to increased ticket sales ?
If you want to see the scrimmage, join the Booster Club .
No thanks .
If there is one thing that UH Athletics is good at it’s driving people away.
I agree with LC. The Athletic Department should open the scrimmage up to the public. Also, make it free. Keep the box office open after the scrimmage, cause I guarantee you people will get interested in the program and buy tickets. The Booster club people already have their tickets, no additional tickets will be sold, the way they are doing it now. The Athletic Department is famous for saying one thing, but actually doing just the opposite.
thanks for the report Cindy! i too believe Tai & Mita impoved over the summer with their experience in Dallas — woo hoo! Nice to hear the “b” team as i would call it… pull an upset 🙂 nice to know there is Healthy competition with all positions!
Add-on, the way the Athletic Department is doing it, they want the public to buy tickets for an unseen product. Who buys something they have not seen. If they see it and like what they see, some will buy. I thought Ben was smarter then this. But since Ben has been in office, the thinking has not really changed much.
On another subject, great article by Ann, in today’s SA, about the Libero and DS position. I tend to agree with Dave, in his assessment of the DS position. 99% of all DS’s can make the routine play, he is looking for someone to step forward and show him that she can make that SPECIAL play on a some what regular basis. It is those SPECIAL plays that win you CHAMPIONSHIPS. And he knows that, reason for him waiting for someone to step forward and show him she can make those SPECIAL plays, and win the position of DS.
1. the DSs pretty much getting equal play. I will post Ann’s article for those who don’t get the paper or subscribe online. Kawamura has a very good serve.
2. Agree the A2 training has helped Manu-Olevao.
6 UH scrimmage is for boosters. It is one of the perks of belonging. As for the other programs around the country … when most of them average under 800 a match, they could use a little help.
12. not like the public hasn’t been asked to buy tickets for an unseen product before. movies, plays, UH football, etc. BUT I agree opening it to the public would generate interest, as football has done. they could make a little money too ior a nominal charge.
15. Agree. Other programs NEED to hype their teams. They cannot turn people away.
Since when did we become a society of everything has to be offered for free? If you want to support something, what is wrong with joining the booster club? At the very least you get to see the scrimmage and a few other boosters only events.
16. A lot of those other teams are not cash strapped as the UH Athletic Department. What is wrong about joining the Booster Club. How many people can afford to join the Booster Club, just to see a scrimmage, and might not be really interested in the other events it has. It would be smarter to open the scrimmage to the public, and have the public who do attend it, buy tickets to future matches.
17. I’m so sick of your useless banter. The University of Hawaii is not the only Higher Learning Institution in the Country that is “cash strapped”. The University of California system has had budget woes for years. If you are as fanatical about the Wahine in real life as you are on this blog, then put your money where your mouth is. Per their website…….a fully tax deductible membership of $175 for your WHOLE family gets you invited to the preseason practice and potluck(s).
“$175 – Member (including family / partner) ($175 tax deductible)
Invitation to the Preseason Team Practice and Potluck
Membership Card(s) for adult family/partner members
Invitation/Free admission to pot lucks; adult guests permitted @ $5.00 ea”
I know that in these times, $175 can be a burden to many people/families, but the $175 goes to help the athletes that you so enjoy watching go to summer school and help with the recruiting budget. I know you have mentioned that Hawaii doesn’t get the top recruits. Well, here is your chance to “help” get better players.
18. I am not speaking about me, I was talking about those other people who would have enjoyed seeing the scrimmage, if it was not closed to only the booster club. A lot of those would not be interested in those potlucks and such, that come with being a booster. Those are the people, that if the scrimmage was not closed to booster club members only, may be the ones buying tickets to matches. So get your head out of your ass, ok.
19. Is that last sentence necessary. You can disagree and speak your piece but that doesn’t bode well with me and I would think the majority of the bloggers. As Cindy says be nice and no name calling.
18. What difference does it make to you if they have it closed if you don’t even want to go? It seems that you can only focus on what is done wrong. How about looking at some of the positives of the current team?
As too where my head is? I have been told worse. The opinion of an anonymous poster on a blog hardly matters to me.
21. I have been talking about other people, not me. Where did you learn your English anyway. Seems you need to be re-taught. People, is not singular, by the way.
22. Never said I have perfect english. I guess I have a lot to learn.
Have these other “people” expressed their discontent with the team holding a scrimmage only for boosters to you? If not, give it up. If they have, I apologize.
DF, before you question someone else’s grammar and use of the english language, you may want to check your own first. You’re so distant from reality you can no longer tell the difference between right or wrong.
Oh, gosh…been away from the blog for a bit and to no surprise it’s going to s**t because of the usual suspect.
Addition by subtraction.
86 ’em.
Wahine scrimmages and practices are all spirited and competitive as far as I’ve seen. Was a booster at one time, now not, but prefer to spend my money on games that count and am perfectly happy reading Cindy’s and Ann’s reports regarding how practices are going. Being present and supporting players on game days seems to me a better use of my time these days. Just as not reading any posts by some is likewise a better use of my time. I have been and remain a fan and supporter of the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team, coaching staff and UH but do so with aloha and not bravado and bluster and do not begrudge or berate others for their opinions because they are welcome to that ‘their opinions’ however different and opposed to mine they may be. But for me it will always be Go Wahine!