Playoff day: Long Beach State

For the first time in five years, the Stan Sheriff Center will be the site for an MPSF volleyball playoff match when Long Beach State and Hawaii meet in the quarterfinals tonight. Here are things to know:

> Middle: LBSU’s Taylor Gregory is one of the nation’s best middles, averaging 1.58 blocks per set. He’s smart, active and models his game after former LBSU All-American David Lee’s. UH’s Taylor Averill is the best attacking middle since Pepperdine’s Brad Keenan a decade ago. Keenan specialized in the step-out move; Averill creates space with his foot speed and mis-direction hits, particularly his cut-back swing.

> Serving: It figures that each team’s hardest hitters β€” LBSU outside hitter Cody Martin and UH opposite Brook Sedore β€” are the most disruptive servers. In the past four matches, the 49ers scored natural points on 43.8 percent of Martin’s serves. As part of Canadian teams’ warmups, players hit straight-down spikes. That power drill is ingrained in Sedore’s mind set. “I like to hit as hard as I can,” said Sedore, who disdains roll shots from the pins and floaters from behind the service line. Sedore is third on the UH career list in aces with 117, four behind co-leaders Costas Theocharidis and Pedro Azenha.

> Passing: LBSU’s Ryan Windisch was having a breakout season before suffering an injury. Bjarne Huus moved from outside hitter, and started 10 of the past 11 matches at libero. Both are healthy, and with volleyball’s two-libero rule, both are expected to play tonight. Kolby Kanetake has morning-afters made for Alleve. The body aches and court burns are results of diving digs. He also has improved his hand-passing, and now is skilled against float serves.

> Coaching: LBSU’s Alan Knipe knows how to win, how to win in front of large crowds (he coached the U.S. national team in the 2012 Olympics), and how to win in the SSC. Assistant coach Tyler Hildebrand, a former 49er setter, is a rising star in the coaching ranks. Charlie Wade has done a good job amassing arms in a sport limited to the financial equivalent of 4.5 scholarships. In the MPSF, depth is key. Wade was able to resurrect outside hitter Scott Hartley’s career, develop Averill and Davis Holt into attacking middles, and make use of the waiver wire. Wade convinced backup setter Alex Jones to join. Jones, who helped UH beat LBSU on the road in February, is error-free on 55 serves.

COMMENTS

  1. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 8:22 am

    #1


  2. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 8:26 am

    Game Day at the Stanley, Murakami, Ching, Duke and Queens! Go Bows!

    Gotta go early for parking and “”pregame”. Cheeeee!


  3. haka April 25, 2015 8:41 am

    Big day for UH!
    Geev”um Hawaii!
    Imua Kane & Wahine Warriors!
    Let’s Go Bows!


  4. Stephen Tsai April 25, 2015 8:58 am

    3-Prong:
    It’ll be a parking mess.
    To alleviate parking problem, UH moves baseball up a half-hour and volleyball back a half-hour.
    That seems reasonable except baseball starts at 6 and volleyball at 7:30, and that’s still an overlap.
    Of course, the best solution would have been to move volleyball to 1. And I’m sure the next time this happens, that move will be made. But with UH, it’s always: We’ll fix it next time.
    Break up to make up, that’s all we do …


  5. SteveM April 25, 2015 9:01 am

    Good morning everyone!

    An extra big Saturday for UH sports!


  6. Stephen Tsai April 25, 2015 9:04 am

    I know this doctor who decided to see what it would be like to be a patient. He then understood what it was like to find parking, then sit in a room with five other people ahead in line, then wait in the second waiting room. After that, he spaced out the appointments, realizing that time is precious to people, and that they don’t like being seen at 10:30 when the appointment was for 9:40.
    Sometimes I wish UH officials would try to arrive at the school a half-hour before a 7 p.m. event, find regular parking in the structure, stand in a loooong ticket line, and then find the seat before the national anthem.
    A mile in another person’s shoes, as the saying goes.


  7. SteveM April 25, 2015 9:20 am

    RE: #6
    ST — I have long maintained that the UH Athletic Director should leave his end zone suite at Aloha Stadium and sit in the mauka sideline orange, red, and yellow seats on a sunny September day. Might give him some insight on why season ticket sales declined during the 5:00 and earlier game starts. It was not fair to blame the drop entirely on Mack’s team.


  8. Manoa Mist April 25, 2015 9:22 am

    Man I used to love this song. Of course my girlfriend at the time and I were always in constant beast fighting mode! Here’s the lyrics, which fit UH in oh so many ways:

    “Break Up To Make Up”

    Tell me what’s wrong with you now , tell me why I
    Never seem to make you happy though heaven knows I try
    What does it take to please you? Tell me just how
    I can satisfy you woman, you’re drivin’ me wild

    Break up to make up, that’s all we do
    First you love me then you hate me
    That’s a game for fools
    Break up to make up that’s all we do
    First you love me then you hate me
    That’s a game for fools

    When I come home from workin’, you’re on the phone
    Talkin’ about how bad I treat you, now tell me I’m wrong
    You say it’s me who argues, I’ll say it’s you
    We have got to get together or baby, we’re through

    Break up to make up, that’s all we do
    First you love me then you hate me
    That’s a game for fools
    Break up to make up, that’s all we do
    Yeah, first you love me then you hate me
    That’s a game for fools

    Break up to make up, that’s all we do
    Yeah, first you love me then you hate me
    That’s a game for fools

    Break up to make up, that’s all we do
    First you love me then you hate me
    That’s a game for fools


  9. Tempmanoa April 25, 2015 9:35 am

    We can understand now why there was no Spring Scrimmage– coaches or Chow did not want the general public there and they must have their reasons for that.


  10. islandman April 25, 2015 9:36 am

    Usually have to wait at my doctor’s clinic waiting area past the appointment time, then wait again in the exam room. At the dental clinic, have to wait past the appointment time to be called in. So what happens if you come “late” for your appointment ? If your appointment is for 9:30 am, is it okay to arrive at 10:00 am ?


  11. SteveM April 25, 2015 9:41 am

    RE: my #6 rant
    The 6:00 pm game time only managed to preserve the 5:00 survivors… but there were still loses. BTW, I observed this from my 50 yard line yellow mauka seats which I was loathe to give up–but I did.

    Unfortunately, the team record did not bring a lot of new fans and those old-time season ticket holders were not coming back because someone else now held their precious seats.

    My guess is that a better team record and moving the game to 7:00 pm prime time might bring back some old fans and maybe start building a younger fan base. While we’re at it–why do prime games in the SSC start at 7:00 pm? Why not 6:00 pm?

    …and if we are paying for charter flights, no opponent should complain about an even later start time. 😐


  12. islandman April 25, 2015 9:48 am

    So there was a full contact Spring Game, only not open to the general public. Had play-callers in the booth and referees were calling penalties. Not really avoiding injuries as stated before as reason for no spring game. 77 play controlled scrimmage, 2 hour session.


  13. el burro sabio April 25, 2015 10:03 am

    With two new coordinators, holding a scrimmage at the stadium was a good idea. Having an open scrimmage depends how much it would have cost to allow public attendance.


  14. oneseason April 25, 2015 10:03 am

    A win is a win, but a loss in the season opener to a 2 Win -10 Loss, bottom of the PAC12-South Colorado Buffalos would not bode well for the season. If closed practices can help the Rainbow Warriors win, it works for me. I want a reason to upgrade my season tickets. Looking forward to the MPSF match. Best of luck to UCLA too.


  15. Inyoface April 25, 2015 10:21 am

    Luke Matthew gotta step up from a G.A. and coach up these receivers on how to catch everything their way. I understand last year since the ball was usually thrown at their feet or too high but this year there’s no excuse.


  16. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 10:26 am

    ST: Kind of knew it would be a mess. Didn’t realize the chosen times were meant to alleviate the problem. That’s funny.


  17. H-man April 25, 2015 10:55 am

    Now more than ever, I still don’t know why Coach Chow did not have a spring game. I thought it was a concern for injuries, but obviously that’s not the reason. Then I cannot understand why? A spring game is for the fans. Players don’t go 100%. I watched the Oregon St spring game on the PA12 network. They were going through the motions for the most part. As for Hawaii’s scrimmage, the names mentioned as having made plays are names you won’t hear during the season like Jason Muraoka. Ryan Pasoquen is another. Last preseason same names popped up, never to be heard of again. So if the coaching staff was playing everyone, then why not treat the public to a spring game? And those seldom used players will have their day in the sun, if only for a short time before fans.


  18. A-House April 25, 2015 11:20 am

    at the office, when I type in A, A-House appears; when I type a “a”, ahousefamily appears – not so at home – why? chicken hanawai?

    where have all the bloggers gone,
    long time passing,
    where have all the bloggers gone,
    a long time ago

    where have all the bloggers gone,
    gone to pasture everyone a long time ago

    the trolls have taken its toll!! sad, so sad!


  19. Andrew April 25, 2015 11:22 am

    17.

    What would happen if they did have the spring game and a key player became injured and missed the season/games/multiple games? Then there’s all of a sudden people on the blog saying how dumb of an idea to have the spring game. I support the decision to not have the spring game. Do you really think having the spring game is gonna create that much more support for the team? The only thing that will is winning.


  20. A-House April 25, 2015 11:23 am

    #15:

    or get a new, experienced WR coach who has been around the block more than once with several teams working with all different type of WRers

    it’s difficult to believe if the players don’t believe


  21. islandman April 25, 2015 11:34 am

    19. Andrew; They had the spring game last night, only it wasn’t open to the general public.


  22. Andrew April 25, 2015 11:39 am

    21

    That was more of a hypothetical situation if they were to have a full on scrimmage like they’ve had in the past. It’s pretty much a possible damned if you do, damned if you don’t.


  23. st. anthony trojan April 25, 2015 11:44 am

    H-man….so true the words you speak…it shows they really care nothing about the fans…they should be embracing..

    Me can understand the cost involved to allow public to watch…but why lie about it…


  24. Da Punchbol Kid April 25, 2015 11:53 am

    Yep, traffic mess. And we will be there for the traffic, the lines and cold beer with hot dogs and nachos!

    Most importantly, we will be there to support and show aloha to the Warrior Volleyball team. It’s been a great season for our men!

    Excellent posts, SteveM and Stephen. A 1:00PM start would have been great – time to watch the Warriors and still have the rest of our Saturday night to celebrate.

    GO WARRIORS!!!
    GO WAHINE!!!


  25. H-man April 25, 2015 12:11 pm

    Andrew, all along I thought the concern for not having a full-contact scrimmage was concern for player injuries, but UH conducted a 77-play, full- contact scrimmage. So if having a full-contact scrimmage is dumb, then UH coaches just qualified for being dumb.


  26. Andrew April 25, 2015 12:15 pm

    25.

    Aight, was not aware of that


  27. Old School Dave April 25, 2015 12:28 pm

    Anything Chow says or doesn’t say, do or doesn’t do, and he’ll be slammed. This year is do or die for him (he knows it) and they need to put it all together. Sure, it’s his own doing. His team just needs to win (have a winning record and a Bowl game) in 2015. Enough said. Just do it.

    Remember back in the early 80 when Dick Tomey’s D-Line was small, but tough. Guys like Niko Noga (215 – 220 lbs), Itai Sataua (220 lbs), Nate Fletcher (215 lbs), Larry Goeas (215 lbs). Was still hard to run against those guys.


  28. jeezy33 April 25, 2015 12:38 pm

    I first predicted 7 wins a few weeks ago… but inability to recruit a full recruiting class this late in the ball game factored with 0 continuity on coaching staff made me realize depth and chemistry will be a issue once again…

    6 win season…


  29. FCWarrior April 25, 2015 12:54 pm

    Only family members attended the practice/scrimmage, roughly 100 people rooting/encouraging the team. More fundamentals than a “real spring game”.
    Keeping score was not relevant but allowing the players to play, regroup, play, regroup. Either way call it a closed practice but afterwards, family was there with the players. That was very nice to see alot of smiles on the players faces.


  30. cappie the dog April 25, 2015 1:00 pm

    4.

    Oh, wow. The Stylisitics.

    I’m reading a novel called “The Fortress of Solitude” by Jonathan Lethem, and 70s soul is part of the narrative’s milleu.

    It inspired me to buy the first two Spinners albums on CD.

    I think the best song from that period, African-American music-wise, is Harold Melvin & the Blue Note’s “Wake Up Everybody”.


  31. Inyoface April 25, 2015 1:04 pm

    I just think the last couple of years a lot of the losses were because of key drops on 3rd to first down conversions. We use to have the most efficient receivers in all of college football, so it’s a key concern when those dropped passes stats are still continuing.


  32. Kaimuki Kid April 25, 2015 1:13 pm

    Mr. A-House,
    The general direction of the blog turned to a negative feel and of course trolls. We have lost the 5 – F’s. That is why I do not comment often now days.
    The ladies who used to comment ie Powder Puff, Gi Gi, 808UHFan, probably lurk but don’t comment anymore or not very frequently because of the presences of said trolls.
    Dshima, Stretch and other old timers are not around anymore, probably just lurking.
    I miss the 5-F’s part of the culture.
    Oh well back to lurking, monku, monku, monku, must be the heat and the humidity


  33. BigFan April 25, 2015 1:23 pm

    #23, SAT, maybe keeping the facts from the public discourages spies at the stadium. Just thinking of reasons for Chow’s handling of situation. I think he needed to have this scrimmage because of new coordinators on both sides.


  34. BigFan April 25, 2015 1:24 pm

    @8, you must be old to remember The Stylistics. lol, Great group.


  35. BigFan April 25, 2015 1:27 pm

    @6, ST, This scenario reminds me of that TV show “Undercover Boss”. The bosses need to experience what is happening at the “entry levels” to properly assess his company.


  36. Rodney April 25, 2015 1:32 pm

    Me think new qb football gets to receivers quickly
    Gotta be ready?? confidence ?


  37. jm2375 April 25, 2015 2:07 pm

    GO WARRIORS!
    GO WAHINE!


  38. Tempmanoa April 25, 2015 2:10 pm

    I think they did not open the scrimmage to fans because the team is not ready to play. Defense is able to disrupt and dominate, but offense lacked the execution to do much as noted in the accounts in the Star Advertiser and the UH Athletics site. Hard to get all the timing and plays down well enough and that plus the coaches needing to learn how to relay plays to the players would have made for a not so hot debut for the fans. They need more practice– in particular it sounds like Witek and the receivers were not connecting.


  39. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 2:59 pm

    Beer, pupu….check, check.


  40. ALLAN April 25, 2015 3:57 pm

    SCRIMMAGE!?! BIG DEAL! I USED TO WATCH PRACTICES 4-5 TIMES A WEEK AS FAR BACK AS B4 LARRY PRICE WAS PLAYING. I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE SIDELINES (SOMETIMES WITH MY 4-YR OLD DTR, WHO IS NOW 48, PLAYING WITH THE TACKLING DUMMIES WHEN THEY WEREN’T BEING USED). YOU SHOODA SEEN DA EXTRACURRICULAR FIGHTS IN THOSE DAYS! BTW, WHAT’S A TROLL, AND WHAT’S A LURKER?


  41. Akamai Okole April 25, 2015 4:05 pm

    Great Afternoon All!

    Let’s Go Bows! All of ’em…


  42. Akamai Okole April 25, 2015 4:08 pm

    Kaimuki Kid,

    I still stay (d1shima); just using different nick…Smaht A!

    But along the lines of blog nostalgia….

    I stay in Vegas this week. Dropped in to see the gang at Satoya and did some reminiscing about Rasu Begas. Tsigh…


  43. seewhy April 25, 2015 4:11 pm

    GO BOWS!!


  44. seewhy April 25, 2015 4:12 pm

    ST:

    Is Mike a doctor now? πŸ˜€


  45. seewhy April 25, 2015 4:30 pm

    RE: Kaimuki Kid #32

    Yeah… so much negativity. Too bad there’s no enforcement for all the trolls.


  46. seewhy April 25, 2015 4:36 pm

    RE: ALLAN #40

    Those must have been some good times. Ok to answer your question, a troll is a person who posts a deliberately provocative messages to a newsgroup or message board (like this one) with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument for their pleasure. And a lurker is simply someone that follows the forum but doesn’t post.


  47. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 5:26 pm

    Rough start for softbows so far. Sitting in the “Lodges”.


  48. bowwar April 25, 2015 5:44 pm

    Several conditions have reduced the blog postings in my opinion…For one, Chow is not a GREAT communicator or promoter for UH Football and it’s probably pretty tough for ST to find stories or provide insights. Even MACK was a better communicator than Chow. Secondly, we losing and we losing badly…Really kinda hard to say much about the losses and the culture has changed. Thirdly, I do think “indirectly” that the name change from the Warriors has changed fan’s mentality. I honestly have stopped buying UH goods (i.e. T-shirts, etc.) since we’ve had the name change and I refuse to buy anything with Rainbows on it…We did away with Rainbows because we wanted to start a “new tradition” and not revert to how “it used to be.” Lastly, we’re seeing a generational shift. Many of us “old-timers” can be bothered with the Trolls and the “crap” that has filled the blogs…We got other things to do and we can’t raise our blood pressures.

    Hope is eternal and I hope Matlin is able to recapture the pride we all had in our athletic programs. Football is “king” and drives everything in the UH athletic program, so I hope we don’t spend a “whole season” losing (if that is the case) before changing the course of the program. The jury is out on Ganot, but the initial concern I have is his general “silence” during this crucial transition for fans and players…

    Go Warriors!!


  49. Not an Expert April 25, 2015 6:19 pm

    Need to have coaches that communicate well and have a way of saying things that brings interest. Winning helps for them to be that way. Losing keeps them away from the public lime light. Tomey, Murakami, Jones, Arnold, Wallace, Coolen, Shoji, Beeman. Another thing that some of them did was to have their players give of their time to the children and to those less fortunate.


  50. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 6:25 pm

    Parking filling up already!! Wow!


  51. Not an Expert April 25, 2015 6:25 pm

    The football program is hitting rock bottom. We maybe rocking on the bottom again this year. Hope eternal is that the next direction will be up and the ride again will bring back the excitement and interest.


  52. Arcumfortis April 25, 2015 7:05 pm

    Re: Trolls

    Sometimes I think it would be good to have stricter rules on the blog that restricts the posting by trolls. Problem is I think most of the trolls don’t know they are trolls. They say the same lame and dull things over and over and seem to think they are offering something of worth or interest. Pretty much the theme is “I hate coach Chow and don’t think he is a good coach.” The first part of that is ugly and the second part is self evident (so far). Why anyone who is mentally sound wants to say that stuff over and over is beyond me. But I underscore mentally sound.

    We pretty much tolerate trolls here. When someone finally does call them out they simply change their screen name and start the same nonsense.

    But we have a losing team and a coach who does not have any flair or sense of how to create a buzz about the team. Under these circumstances people will express their frustration. Some will do it with a sense of dignity and others in crude ways. I wish the crude ones would go somewhere else. But even more I wish we had a team that was interesting and competitive.


  53. Trunks420 April 25, 2015 8:10 pm

    #52 Well Said


  54. Trunks420 April 25, 2015 8:11 pm

    Great game so far

    Go Warriors!!!


  55. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 8:23 pm

    Is Hartley in the locker room?


  56. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 8:24 pm

    Just came out of the licker room. Hmmm


  57. Trunks420 April 25, 2015 8:40 pm

    Let’s Go Bow!!! Let’s go Bows!!!


  58. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 8:55 pm

    Rockin


  59. Trunks420 April 25, 2015 8:57 pm

    Let’s Go Bows!!! Let’s Go Bowls!!!
    Let’s Go Bows!!! Let’s go Bowls!!!


  60. cappie the dog April 25, 2015 8:59 pm

    Sarah Logan, Na Wahine goalkeeper for the water polo team, looked pretty clutch in the waning moments of Hawaii’s semifinal match against CSUN. I was bored out of my mind, but excited for the victory. Looking forward to the final against UC-Irvine. I appreciated the webcast.

    Here is something I’ve never said before: “Hey, let’s go watch women’s water polo.”

    Tyler Brashears is obviously not returning for his senior season.

    52.

    As for trolls, to me trolling is: I hope Coach ___ has a heart attack.

    I have never heard anything truly offensive on this blog, which is why I like it.

    I fought so hard defending Manti Te’o against all the idiots on the old ESPNConversations format.


  61. st. anthony trojan April 25, 2015 9:46 pm

    Is a 10 pm there n not to much….on here the match..???


  62. 3-Prong April 25, 2015 10:55 pm

    Great atmosphere at the Stanley tonite. Unreal come from behind wins in sets 2 and 3 for the sweep. Long Beach was a tough 7th seed.


  63. turfwar April 25, 2015 11:12 pm

    Did anybody else notice who won the musical chairs game between sets 2 and 3? Pretty sure it was ST’s son who is a pretty good looking athlete.


  64. oneseason April 25, 2015 11:23 pm

    It sure seemed like there were more people at the SSC tonight than against Stanford. The come from behind wins of sets 2 and 3 were surprising. What the heck is it about Alex Jones’ serves that make them so effective?


  65. jm2375 April 25, 2015 11:24 pm

    Great game! Alex Jones should be player of the game.

    That was indeed Tsai Jr who won the half-time game. He played vb in high school.

    My hubby made the 2 large Kolby heads at the request of Donna Kanetake. If anyone has a good picture of it, please let me know.


  66. cappie the dog April 26, 2015 4:22 am

    So did Hawaii nail down, at worst, an at-large bid with this victory?


  67. Maddog50 April 26, 2015 5:45 am

    Big day for UH sports!!!! So let’s see, some 10,000 or more folks poured into the lower campus to see the events. 6100@MVB, 2600 supporting Baseball, 1000 supporting Women’s BB….could not retrieve numbers for Water Polo or Track. Impressive to say the least considering places like Loyola and Lewis which do not get anything like that for their heralded MVB. Still with all that coupled with the impact on the local economy of some 60 million the message is not heard! Politicians and Academics just do not see beyond the tips of the self serving noses! By the way couple new contributors to the Football Coaches choice. Only need a handful of dedicated Warrior fans to hit the number!!! Proud to be a Warrior!!!!


  68. oneseason April 26, 2015 6:51 am

    To me, the rudest trolls were focused on blaming anyone other than Coach Chow for the football program’s losses. I can see opponents to any position being annoyed by the same comments restated week after week, but when the same perceived faults are repeated week after week, it seems reasonable to repeat the same complaints. But it’s a new season, with a new staff, with 2 “gimme” out-of-conference games, 4 very manageable conference games, and a season opener at home against a 2-win Colorado (PAC 12) team. Comments by trolls of any persuasion will be neutered by the quality of coaching and resultant in-game performance.


  69. NorthShoreFan April 26, 2015 7:52 am

    Guud Morning Tsaikos…bootiful day.

    what a game!….definitely a squeezer. Jones did a great job but I also was stoked with Kolby’s play. He is one of the BEST!
    Long Beach will be tough next year. lots of newbies on the team.

    Tyler was magical too. Yes, he might be gone after this year. Hoping for a Hana Hou today.


  70. NorthShoreFan April 26, 2015 7:53 am

    IMUA WARRIORS!


  71. NorthShoreFan April 26, 2015 7:56 am

    can the creator/designer of this blog silence these video ads?!?!@#!?!?!?


  72. 3-Prong April 26, 2015 8:38 am

    maddog50: like your comments this morning. UH Athletics matters and needs to be supported. Good to see our Governor in the audience, but the definition of support for him is more than just showing up at games. He needs to step up his commitment financially.


  73. Stephen Tsai April 26, 2015 9:01 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=30539


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