By Cindy Luis

Asked a number of times but answers get lost on other threads.

Kona Warrior, have written this several times that it would be a really nice way for the AVCA to recognize Shoji’s accomplishment. They’ve put in a very reasonable bid but it’s going to depend on which geographic region they put Hawaii in. Last year that had sub-regionals less than 15 miles apart when giving 1st and 2nd rounds to UCLA and USC … at least one of which didn’t put in a bid and had them host on the same weekend as the UCLA-SC football game.

One problem is that there is short notice for teams to get to Hawaii for a Thursday-Friday subregional. but those  are the only two days UH could host because of football on Saturday and the NCAA not allowing the first-second round to be played with a day in between.

Hawaii will make money where other places will lose big time. Still, cheaper to fly one team to the mainland than 3 out to Hawaii. The Utah State coach said he hopes UH will get to host otherwise they’ll be on the road for over 30 days with a five-week period. Hawaii is coming back between the USU match and the WAC tourney as well as between the WAC tourney and selection sunday.

And, No, KFVE will not be televising the WAC tourney. ESPNU has the rights to the championship and Hawaii will be only playing one other match, Tuesday’s semifinal. they said it would cost too much and didn’t make sense for one broadcast. I hope ESPNU gets better announcers that the ones at Fresno State.

By Cindy Luis

Hawaii had pretty good fucus until the end but they also had a new starting lineup with Forsythe and Fowler in.

First two sets weren’t even as close as the scores 25-11, 25-12. Wahine hit .464 in Set 1, .514 in Set 2. Had as many errors in Set 3 as in 1 and 2 combined (6). hit .290. But they still hit .426 for the night.

Cubi-Otineru hit very well from all sides and the Utah State coached very impressed with Hawaii 3-meter attack. said they couldn’t duplicate Hawaii’s hitting power on the outsides. Thought the middle attack was very good too.

By Cindy Luis

First serve in a few minutes. Good crowd but was told a bit of a traffic jam trying to get down into the quarry. Wouldn’t be surprised if they get 8,000. Lots of signs. Same starting lineup for Hawaii.

Ben Kiaaina and Billy V. sang the national anthem and Hawaii Pono’i. It’s Ben’s last night as Wahine volleyball announcer. He’s taking another job that will conflict. He’ll stay for men’s volleyball.

Hawaii up 11-6. TO USU. UH 9-2-13, USU 2-0-9. Hewitt 3-0-3. Ka’aihue with 2 aces.

UH up 16-7, TO USU UH 11-2-15, USU 3-2-13. Cubi-Otineru 4-0-5.

Hawaii wins 25-11. UH 17-4-28. USU 4-4-23. Cubi-Otiner 6-0-9, Hewitt 4-0-5. Wahine have 4 aces.

By Cindy Luis

The T-Shirts Aneli’s mom made up are funny. Black shirt, green wording on the front that says WhoooA …. Neli. On the back has Cubi-Otineru, 13 and a a protective mask, the one she wore after breaking her nose. Should be a good crowd tonight.

Jayme Lee works at the UH ticket office and her office also made up T-shirts for her. Haven’t seen those yet.

Oh, and Goodman, Hartong and Uiato were in early, watching warmups. they’ll be signing Wednesday. As will Waber. A very good class.

By Cindy Luis

compliments of RichKern.com

#1 Penn State def. Iowa 3-0
#2 Texas def. Missouri 3-0
#4 Washington (H)lost to No. 13  Cal 2-3
#5 Illinois (H) def. Michigan State 3-0

No. 6 Stanford def. No. 24 Washington State 3-0
#8 Iowa State (H) lost to #10 Nebraska 0-3
#10 Nebraska def. #8 Iowa State 3-0
#14 Oregon (H) def. Arizona State 3-0
#15 Michigan def. Northwestern 3-1
#18 Arizona lost to Oregon State 1-3
#20 Baylor def. #23 Texas A&M 3-2
#22 San Diego lost to San Francisco 0-3
#23 Texas A&M (H) lost to #20 Baylor 2-3
#25 Northern Iowa (H) def. Indiana State 3-0

By Cindy Luis

A good win in their return to the Sheriff Center. Fresno State is improved and just might make the WAC tournament. That’s going to be an interesting race for those last three spots. Boise State at 5-6, Fresno State at 5-7, Utah State at 5-8, Nevada 4-7, LaTech 4-9.

Funniest moment tonight … one where Shoji actually said, ‘my bad.’ Lee was in as a DS, set in front of the 3-meter line and Shoji yelled to her not to do an overhand set … which would have been illegal if she had been the libero. You could hear him from across the court where I was sitting. Then you saw him laughing after the play was over. Asked him after the match if he forgot that Lee wasn’t the libero and he said there is a rule that he never says ‘My bad.’ but he said he had to say it to Lee after that.

FSU coach was pretty realistic about tonight’s match. She knew they had to serve tougher to keep hawaii maybe a bit off balance. They didn’t. 11 SEs and countless service overpasses. Asked her if she were Shoji, what would she work on. To no surprise, she said ball control. Said Hawaii’s offense is clearly the most dominant part of their game. and that if they can get their blocking more refined, they can beat anybody.

An off night for Cubi-Otineru (5-4-16) but FSU was stacking the block on her. Nice  to see Ferrell get some strong swings (4-1-11) and Hewitt continues to improve (6=1=7 and 3 BA). Kaufman’s hang time is unreal. And she went halfway across the court to take off on one play. You would have thought she was doing a high jump approach.

By Cindy Luis

Normal starting lineup for UH. including Ferrell left front.

Hawaii up 11-7. TO Fresno State. stat monitor not working. can tell you Danielson has three kills.

FSU is playing as scrappy as the other night. Danielson continues to bail Hawaii out, has 6 kills. UH up 19-15. TO FSU.

Hawaii not looking great but they win 25-19. Hawaii hit .281, FSU .100.

By Cindy Luis

ompliments of RichKern.com

#1 Penn State def. Wisconsin 3-0

#4 Washington (H) def #5 Stanford 3-0 25-21, 25-23, 25-19
#5 Illinois (H) def. #15 Michigan 3-1
#7 UCLA def. No. 17 USC 3-2
#9 Florida (H) def. Georgia 3-0
#11 Kentucky (H) def. Alabama 3-1
#12 Minnesota (H) def. Indiana 3-0
#12 Minnesota (H) def. Indiana 3-0
#13 California def.  #24 Washington State, 3-1
#14 Oregon (H) lost to #18 Arizona, 3-1
#15 Michigan lost to #5 Illinois 1-3
#16 Florida State (H) def. Duke 3-2
#
#19 LSU def. Ole Miss 3-0
#21 Saint Louis def. Charlotte 3-0

#25 Northern Iowa (H) def. Illinois State 3-0

By Cindy Luis

Here’s the release from UH. For complete schedule, check www.HawaiiAthletics.com

The University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team, under first-year head coach Charlie Wade will host 17 matches beginning with the season-opening Outrigger Hotels Invitational.

The 16^th annual Outrigger Hotels Invitational runs Jan. 7-9 at the Stan Sheriff Center and features USC, Penn State, and Ohio State, all three of which participated in last year’s NCAA Championship. USC finished as runner-up to national champion UC Irvine. Hawai‘i opens the tourney with Ohio State (Jan. 7), followed by Penn State (Jan. 8), and USC (Jan. 9).

The Warriors will host two-match series with MPSF foes UC Irvine (Jan. 29-30), UCLA (Feb. 4-5), Brigham Young (Feb. 26-27), Long BeachState (March 19-20), and UC San Diego (April 2-3). UH’s road league matches include series with Stanford (Jan. 15-16), Pacific (Jan. 19-20), Cal State Northridge (March 5-6), USC (March 8-9), Pepperdine (March 26-27), and UC Santa Barbara (April 16-17).

In addition to the league matches, Hawai‘i will host non-conference matches against Alberta (Feb. 12-13) and Hope International (Feb. 18-19) at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The MPSF Tournament begins with first round matches, April 24, followed by the semifinals and finals set for April 29 and May 1. Stanford will host this year’s NCAA Championships, May 6 and 8, at Maples Pavilion.

Wade begins his first season with the Warriors after taking over for longtime coach Mike Wilton. Wade inherits a team which returns six starters, including seniors Matthew Rawson, Steven Grgas, and Ric Cervantes, junior Joshua Walker and Nejc Zemljak, and sophomores Steven Hunt and Gus Tuaniga.

The Warriors open fall camp this month and will play exhibition matches against Stanford and British Columbia (Nov. 25 and 27) at Klum Gym.

By Cindy Luis

Walked into Gym I and watching practice is morning were two All-Americans … Suzanne Eagye Cox and Lily Kahumoku (drawing a blank on her married name). Lily was leaving tonight for Europe but Eagye and husband Tim, here for their 20th wedding anniversary and Tim’s 30th reunion for Moanalua, will be here for Friday’s and Sunday’s matches.

Suzy’s daughter is a sophomore in high school, taller than her mom (6-3) and playing volleyball. potential recruit, probably not on anyone’s radar. being home schooled in Tennessee but Suzy’s has been coaching her in club.

Another potential with Hawaii ties would be Tony Maroney’s daughter. Tony, former UH bkb player, is 7-1 … Daughter is 13 and already 6-3. The Maroneys are in New York but Tony said he was bringing the family out for vacation. suggested he send daughter to Wahine camp.

AND three of Hawaii’s four incoming players will be here this weekend. The only one not coming is … I think but don’t quote me … Waber because she already had an ‘official visit’ this year and they’re limited to 1. All four expected to sign Wednesday.