By Cindy Luis

A tough loss for Hawaii but I was impressed that they didn’t give up. Problem is they just give up runs of points and rarely string together runs of their own. At the end, UCLA made more of the off plays and the Bruins’ defense was impressive at the end, dug a lot of balls I thought were down. they had 42 digs, 11 by Hastings.

Cervantes played his heart out again with 12 of the Warriors 31 digs.

One thing Hawaii didn’t do was honor UCLA’s middle. thought Amberg and Vogel both came up with key kills.

Walker did a nice job coming back off his off night Thursday. finished with 25 kills but Hawaii may have tried to dink too many times in Set 4. These were both winnable games.

Service errors pretty even, UH with 16, UCLA 15. Bruins with 8 aces, UH with 6. Hawaii wins the block battle 9-7.5. Rawson in on four. and Dyer had a nice match, 9-2-15 but he missed five serves. Umlauft with a better ace-error ratio, 3 aces, 2 SE.

By Cindy Luis

Same starting lineups as Thursday. We’ll see how UH’s serving comes out.

UCLA has a 15-14 lead at the TTO. nothing real spectacular on either side. pretty much sideout volleyball. Walker passing better. Umlauft didn’t get his first kill until he gave UH a 13-12 lead.

UCLA has gained separation at 25-22. another blown call by the linesman. Should have been an ace by Dyer, which would have tied it at 22. instead it made it 23-21.

Walker’s first hitting error gives UCLA a 27-23. another TO for UH.

Muagututia puts down his seventh kill to end it 30-26.

UCLA has set point at 29-26 but UH pulled a double sub, something Scates said he was unfamiliar with last night, and he calls his first timeout.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Hawaii has added kicker Tyler Hadden to its recruiting class.
Hadden of California High School in Whitter, Calif., was an All-CIF Southeast Division pick and was the 11th ranked kicker in the country according to Chris Sailer Kicking.
Sailer, a former UCLA kicker, has worked with Hadden since his freshman year through the kicking camps Sailer runs.
In listing Hadden’s strengths, Sailer cited “his technique and consistency, and he’s a very polished kicker.” He also rated Hadden’s leg strength as well above average.

By Cindy Luis

Tough loss for the Warriors but they really came out flat tonight. Hunt even said something about the lack of energy. Seemed at times that they were waiting for the Bruins to make mistakes, especially serving ones.

Umlauft finishes with 16 kills, just three in Set 4. Thought Morehouse came in with some nice energy but too little, too late.

Walker was off from the beginning. didn’t get out of negative hitting until middle of Set 3. He finished 8-7-30.  Rawson had another good night at the net, in on 5 blocks.

Scates said he was familiar with everything UH was doing except for the double sob in Set 4, when they subbed Morehouse and Strotman in form Umlauft and Zemljak.

Someone mentioned about the serving errors, UH had 24, 6 in Set 4, and only 3 aces. UCLA had 27, five in Set 4, with 7 aces.

and UCLA did make more off plays. The officiating continues to be bad. I don’t know what they can do about that.

By Cindy Luis

Still about 20 minutes away from first whistle. looks like it’s going to be a small crowd. may be smaller than the biggest ucla has had which was 3016 for usc last month.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Greg McMackin formally announced the Warriors’ 26-player recruiting class at a press conference this afternoon, though the number could soon be 27.
McMackin said the Warriors are still recruiting a kicker who could be in the fold this weekend.
He reviewed selected members of the class at the press conference. He’ll go over the entire class at the Warrior Football Recruit Review at the Hukilau Restaurant.
>> McMackin said the emphasis this year was to “improve our size and speed,” pointing out the speed of receivers Darius Bright and Allen Sampson.
“Inside the red zone he’s going to be our answer,” McMackin said of the 6-5 Bright.
Sampson is just 5-8, but McMackin raved about his playmaking ability as a receiver and a kick returner.
>> The Warriors signed just three junior college players — Bright, offensive lineman London Sapolu and defensive end Siaki Cravens, who has three years to play. Cravens may be given a look at linebacker.
>> McMackin said linebacker T.J. Taimatuia has a chance to play right away. He credited Pearl City offensive lineman as a cornerstone of the class.
“I appreciate him even more because at every camp we went to it was like he was having a coaching convention,” McMackin said. “He said, ‘no, I’m going to the University of Hawaii, I’m going to play in front of my family and I want to defend Hawaii against everybody we play.”
>> He also highlighted cornerbacks John Hardy-Tuliau and Dee Maggitt.
Hardy-Tuliau set a California record with 26 blocked kicks over the last three years.
“He is a lockdown co

By Cindy Luis

I’m still getting used to the new rules regarding going under the net and net contact. Here is the link to the changes in moving to the international game … but not to 25 points yet ..

Had been sitting with one of the refs at Friday’s UCI match. Don’t think he liked the changes but nothing he can do.

http://www.necva.org/documents/2009/12/22/09-10%20new%20rules%20summary%20for%20necva.pdf

By Jason Kaneshiro

With 26 letters received by UH as of midday, here’s how the recruiting class breaks down so far:

OFFENSE
Quarterback
Kevin Spain    6-3    190    Paradise Valley (Ariz.)

Receiver
Samson Anguay    5-8    155    Campbell
Darius Bright    6-5    225    City College of San Francisco
Corey Lau 5-8    140    Kailua
Christian “Bubba” Poueu-Luna    6-0    175    Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.)
Allen Sampson    5-8    155    Plant (Fla.)

Offensive line
Kody Afusia    6-3    295    Ocean View (Calif.) HS
David Lefotu    6-4    295    Pearl City
Frank Loyd    6-4    265    Moanalua
London Sapolu    6-1    275    Orange Coast (Calif.) College
Sean Shigematsu    6-5    230    Kapaa

DEFENSE
Defensive line
Siaki Cravens    6-3    220    Long Beach    City
Desmond Dean    6-7    215    John Tyler (Texas)
Ipulasi Eselu    6-2    215    Moanalua
Calen Friel        6-2    245    Kailua
David Katina    6-2    225    Faasao Marist (American Samoa)
Moses Samia    6-2    240    Saint Louis
Beau Yap    6-2    245    Kamehameha

Linebacker
Dustin Elisara    6-2    252    Kapolei
Tu‘ulauena Lolohea    6-2    245    Kapolei
Zac Quines    6-4    205    Mililani
Dominick Sierra        LB    6-1    202    La Habra (Calif.)
T.J. Taimatuia    6-4    230    Artesia (Calif.)

Defensive back
John Hardy-Tuliau    6-1    165    Vista Murrieta (Calif.)
Dee Maggitt    5-10    175    Lakes (Wash.)
Marcus Umu    6-1    190    Saint Louis

* already enrolled in school

By Jason Kaneshiro

Many of the state’s football recruits arrived at the Sheraton Waikiki in the dark of morning to participate in the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance’s signing-day event.
>> Among those signing with Hawaii at the event included DE Beau Yap (Kamehameha), LB David Katina (Kanana Fou, American Samoa), OL David Lefotu (Pearl City), LB Dustin Elisara (Kapolei), DB Marcus Umu (Saint Louis), WR Samson Anguay (Campbell), LB Tuulauena Lolohea (Kapolei), DL Calen Friel (Kailua), WR Corey Lau (Kailua), DL Moses Samia (Saint Louis), OL Frank Loyd (Moanalua), DE Moses Samia (Saint Louis) and LB Ipulasi Eselu (Moanalua).
>> UH has also so far received letters from the mainland from LB Siaki Cravens, DL Desmond Dean, DB John Hardy-Tuliau, Dee Maggitt, WR Christian “Bubba” Poueu-Luna,  WR Allen Sampson, QB Kevin Spain, and LB T.J. Taimatuia. OL Sean Shigematsu of Kapaa has also signed.
>> Farrington linebacker V.J. Fehoko put on a Utah cap after signing his letter, Kapolei safety Shaydon Akuna signed with Oregon State and Punahou safety Jeremy Ioane is headed to Boise State. Aiea defensive lineman Lawrence Lagafuaina reaffirmed his commitment and signed with Washington.

>> Mililani head coach Darnell Arceneaux said linebacker Zac Quines was ill and didn’t attend this morning’s event. Arceneaux said Quines remained committed to UH and will submit his letter today.
>> Leilehua head coach Nolan Tokuda said defensive lineman Charlie Tuaau, who earlier committed to UH, will attend Pasadena City College.
>> UH will hold a press conference announcing the incoming class this afternoon. The Warrior Football Recruit Review will be held at the Hukilau Restaurant at the Executive Center downtown. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. with the program starting at 6.

By Cindy Luis

From the UW web site today (2-2):

Washington volleyball received a huge boost today as All-America middle blocker Amanda Gil transferred into the Husky program from UCLA. The Pac-10 leader in blocks in 2009 and an All-Pac-10 First Team selection, Gil will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be able to patrol the net for UW starting in 2011.

Gil, a 6-foot, 6-inch native of San Jose, Calif. was voted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Second Team following her sophomore season with the Bruins in 2009. Gil’s 180 total blocks and 1.57 blocks per set average both easily led the Pac-10, and ranked second in the NCAA.