Tuesday morning practice recap 9-4
By Cindy Luis
Wahine did a lot more scrimmaging than they usually do on a Tuesday practice following an off day. Shoji said it was one of the best of the young season.
This is what I’ve written for tomorrow’s paper.
He thought Ksstl played well Sunday, giving them the most kills out of the right this salon (9). BUT he is also considering activating Manu-Olevao, which means he may move Hartong to the right.
Players seemed very focused. Spoke with Uiato and Longo after. They said they know there were mistakes, they know, and they are working on fixing them.
Longo said the passing could have been better so that Uiato could run the offense better, go to the middles more instead of high to the left.
Uiato said the passing wasn’t perfect but that her job is to make it work, whatever she is given.
They;re looking forward to UCLA but not overlooking San Diego State or Idaho.
Many of the Wahine were recruited by Sealy so there is that relationship there. And many of them played against or with the Bruins players in high school and club.
Longo’s last loss at Penn State was to UCLA in the NCAA regional semifinal.
Shoji said he always looks forward to playing UCLA. Now with Sealy there … said Sealy always has something up his sleeve. and that it will be a challenge for the Wahine Sunday.
Asked Shoji about being 5-1, was it what he thought when looking at the schedule.
He said that if he had been told, before the season started, that they’d be 5-1 at this point, that he would have taken that. But when they were 5-0, “you get a little greedy and you want that sixth one. We’re disappointed we let that one get away.”
Volleyshots
So can one assume Manu-Olevao would be a projected LS starter? or between her and Kastl? This would leave Hartong ahead of Goodman, and with Hartong’s size and blocking skills, no blocking sub anymore for Goodman.
Robin,
Goodman will still come in as a blocking sub, on occassion for Uiato, when Shoji makes his double substitution.
But if Hartong is moved to the RS Shoji won’t do his usual double sub because there is no way he’s going to take Hartong out just to put in Stauber. He’s going to want to keep Hartong on the court. And if he puts Goodman in for Uiato they won’t have a setter on the court.
rayson,
Dave can always put Stauber in for the DS, when he uses the Double Sub.
Not necessarily. Manu-Olevao can play left and right. It’s not a given they are going to activate her. If they move Hartong to the right, then the LS are Croson and Kastl.
Cindy,
Unless Olevao can beat out Kastl for that other LS position.
I still don’t understand how Penn St. let Longo get away. She is an elite player who helps those around her to play better. I am surprised that Shoji is considering activating Manu-Olevao. Thanks for the update.
Ron, as I understand the situation Longo was not on scholarship and was not offered one for her junior year. She has a scholarship at Hawaii. They might be other reasons but I think that is what Longo said about coming to Hawaii.
Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day for someone on this team. I wonder what the punishment will be.
??? Talk about cryptic!
Cindy, thanks for the update; I am so looking forward to Sunday’s match.
Did Jane get caught partying?
No, I think it has to do with that OC dancing video.
no idea about anyone being in trouble. Maybe it was Fonoimoana ‘-)
Hahaha, love it! :>D
I know who it is but she’s not a starter and has played very little so far.
I don’t know what it’s about but reading between the lines it might be about classes.
good grief. enough with the cryptic hints. it’s stephanie hagins. it’s on her PUBLIC twitter. for middle aged men, you act like a bunch of little girls.
Stalker
I like the idea of using Olevao. She could help this year so why not? And this would get her ready for next season as well when she could have a break out year.
I can see the problem Shoji is having on the RS. Kastl gives him more offense, but less blocking ability. Goodman gives him less offense, but better blocking ability. He needs the combination of both, offense and blocking, on the RS. Hartong give him that option. With that said, then what does he do on the LS to replace Hartong. Goodman cannot play the LS, strickly a RS player. That is where Kastl and Olevao come in. Which one of these two players can give him both Offense, and adequate blocking on the LS.
IMHO the Wahine should have beaten California. The Wahine just lost control of the game, it happens sometimes. Hope the Wahine will learn from it and stay focused the rest of the season. I did think California played extremerly well in the last two sets of the match.
Dragonman, thanks for the info.
Don’t know if this was on another thread, but who’s on the alumnae team that plays against the current team? Really has my interest. Don’t remember this match up before in recent years.
They haven’t has alumnae versus the current team in years. it used to be pretty common.
I think the last year they had it, Shelley Kim tore her ACL in that match. I’ve always thought that injuries sustained in this type of match kept Shoji from having it.
If Kaufman and Bown are the starting middles I don’t think UH will face a better Duo all year.
Alumnae team on tap:
Robin Ah Mow Santos Dani Mafua
Tita Ahuna Sarah Mason
Aneli Cubi-Otinero Victoria Prince
Amber Kaufman
Kanani Danielson
Mahina Eleneki
Joselyn Robins Akana
Ashley Watanabe
Alumnae tenatively expected:
Kari Anderson Ambrozich Lily Kahumoku
Brandi Brooks Liz Kaaihui Stoltzman
Nahaku Brown Kanoe Kamanao
Teisa Fotu Veronica Lima
Angelica Lundquist Chasity Nobriga
Cayley Thurlby Melissa Villaroman
Would be nice to see Lima again, she was one of my favorites! She had that Brazilian flare that was fun to watch. A great 6-rotation MB. Wish we had at least One foreign player on our roster. Half the fun of Wahine VB in the past was hearing the foreigners get interviewed.
Out of this group of Alumnae, wondering who will be playing against the Wahines. The only one I know for sure would be Kanani Danielson.
Based on this article, seems the Wahine have not learned from the previous games. Too much left-side hitting; middle not involved enough; right-side weak (no change in personnel). Also, need to involve Monica more to change the setting. Opponents begin to track Iuato’s tendencies after awhile.
It’s not that they didn’t learn but the passing dictated limited options.
If Hartong does move to right side, do you think Shoji will let her play middle back when she is back row so she can still hit from there?
Don’t see why not.
What I like about moving Hartong to the RS is that her favorite play will now come into play, the Slide.
Steve, not really. The step-out is when she is inside of the setter as a middle.
Hartong has played right. she did so last year in a couple of third sets. she also hits right once in the rotation and twice on the left. He’s looking at options.
Cindy,
I have seen Hartong run the Slide a couple of times this year, when she was on the RS. She runs toward Uiato, like she will be set inside, then veers toward the right pin, Uiato back set her to the right pin. As a RS, Hartong will be hitting twice from the Right and once from the Left. What this will do is give the Wahine more firepower, as long as Kastl can hold up her end on the LS.
that is not a step out aka slide. she is already on the right. sounds like you’re describing a back-1, much like Umlauft, Katz or Stanley hit. they also hit a lot of Ds
Cindy, whatever it is, I was just using the term Hartong used during an after match interview with OcSports. She mentioned that while playing the LS, when she is on the RS she is still able to run her favorite play, the Slide. That is in Hartong’s words.
then it will mean she will be inside of the setter, as she was when she played in the middle. the lineup will adjust to make that happen.
A step-out is when the player goes behind the setter. what you had initially described was not that.
That is what Hartong called it, the slide, during an interview on OcSports, this season.
Steve, i know what Hartong called it. It is a slide or step-out.
Go back and read what you said was a slide. the fake inside then moving to the pin. What you described is not a slide.
Cindy,
I know that, all I am saying is, that is what Hartong called it. That is why I was calling it the same thing. Just copying Hartong, sheesh.
#2 give it a rest gang. Personally I couldn’t do the slide or any of those fancy dance steps, I got two left feet.
#2 repeat post, other dissapeared.
Cindy, any report on todays practice. Wonder if Shoji resolved anything for the RS. Thanks.
Ann was at practice today. only thing I got was most of the work being done was on right-side and middle attacks.
Thanks Steve. we had the TV info last week. or maybe the week before about the OC PPV lineup.
and no, i won’t be going to practice Thursday. Ann will be there. I have another assignment.
Thanks Cindy, now I can go watch Ho’ailona, and not have to look for a practice report from you.
Yes Cindy, Steve is right. Mainly on serve receive but if the pass is right and the communication good, Hartong can take a few steps towards Uiato then go into her right, left approach flaring out towards the antenna. It can be considered a back 1 but she does the footwork of a step out maneuver.
Won’t happen, no way Hartong moves to the right….
Just saying What Shoji said was going to be looked at in Wednesday’s practice.
Good idea to consider with Hartong on the RS, need to activate Olevao to have a backup for Kastl’s move to LOH. Hartong will still hit one rotation on the LS and she has that slide that really works well on the RS. Both Kastl and Olevao have heat, and only if they both cannot perform at Shoji’s determined level will he abandon that change. This change will have the Wahine with a terminator with heat at both pins all the time.
I totally agree with you mauna, many good points you brought up.
Oh no, if Olevao doesn’t redshirt, I want her to see significant playing time, not be insurance in case Kastl doesn’t pan out. That would be a total waste of a year.
I think moving our best hitter to the right might be a bad idea.
No no no to moving Hartong on the right. She is their best go-to player right now. And the UH system says the go-to is on the left. Hartong is the kind of OH that can be a workhorse type, take a lot of swings but still able to hit above .250. Croson is inconsistent, but when she is good, she is really, really good. I say save Olevao’s year and let Kastl continue splitting time with the Good fairy on the right. And keep Maeda in the lineup. Girlfriend knows how to dig a ball.
Because Dave has already taken hard a look at his present RS players his only other option is to throw a new face into the mix and give her playing time in real competition not just practice.
If he doesn’t it is what it is.
Dave Shoji has always talked about incorporating the strategies of the men’s volleyball into the women’s game. This means emphasizing the power game, right-side attacks (think Yuval Katz), and back-row attacks. However, Shoji never had the right personnel to carry this plan to full fruition. Other women’s teams have had great success with emphasizing right-sided attacks. There was Sarah Pavan of Nebraska, Blair Brown of Penn State, and this year, there is Katie Fuller of USC. Emily Hartong can be another Pavan or Brown, but the big question is how much of a fall-off will there be on the left-side. No one now can replace Hartong’s firepower, but that is not necessary. We need someone to hit at least .250.
Its can be a nice advantage if a team has a strong left-handed RS. Thinking of quick ’1′ and ’2′ on-hand sets. Has Hawaii ever had a lefty on the RS, or even a significant hitter that was left-handed?
The few sets Emily received on the right always went down with authority. The problem with having our best hitter on the RS, however, is that you’ll still need good passing to set her. Our passing was subpar against Cal, and if we have another passing night like that, we won’t be seeing any sets to the right.
sasa, not necessarily, on off plays the only reason they went to the LS is cause that was where their firepower was. By moving Hartong to the RS, that gives the Wahine the option of going to either the LS or RS, on off plays.
Just Have Emily Hit from everywhere, she can put the ball down anywhere so why not?? I’d set her more on the step out, she’s deadly on it.
I’m starting to be convinced that we should at least give Emily a try on the right, like WH said, her step-out is deadly and she can hit from anywhere. She also would be a strong blocker against the opposing teams power hitters. The left side with Jane and Kastl would still be strong. I still feel that Olevao should red shirt unless Dave wants to season her for next years run for the championship. This year and next year our are best chances in the foreseeable future.
I feel, if Dave does move Hartong to the RS, this will be a BIG Weekend for Kastl. If she can produce on the LS, then Dave will redshirt Olevao. But if Kastl does not give Dave the kind of production he is looking for, then you will see Olevao.
Gotta remember also Hartong stuffed JOhnson a few times and Higgins had a field day out on the left for Cal. Maybe if Hartong was on the right blocking, Higgins wouldn’t have been unstoppable late in those sets.
warriorfan, you are right, as always. The question is, where do you want to put your BEST Blocker. I would think you would want to put your BEST Blocker, where most of the opposing team will be going, which is the opposing teams LS, which would be the Wahine’s RS.
Since when has Hartong been a great blocker? She used to be a middle blocker, but she was always a better attacker than blocker, like Kaufman.
Hot, I did not say Hartong is a great blocker, I said, she was the teams Best Blocker, there is a difference there.
WF, give the Cal setter credit for recognizing the mismatch Higgins had on the left. Hawaii was committing more on Johnson and Higgins was hitting over Uiato.
Now there are 2 things to look forward to this weekend. One, watching the Wahine go 3-0, and two, seeing how, quite possibly, this new lineup will work. Yippee!!!!
I use the swirl. I like the swirl. I’m comfortable with the swirl. I feel the swirl is a great capper. He uses the pinch, which I find a little presumptuous.
Or maybe its a counter-clockwise swirl… I think I need cribnotes.
ha! ha! too funny.
Now gang give it a rest. Personally I couldn’t do the slide or any of those fancy moves, got two left feet.
Sounds like Shoji is not comfortable putting Ginger Long in yet. She really needs to develop as an OH, if not, then there is no backup to Croson and Hartong (presently) especially if Kastl is playing RS.
If Goodman was the RS then Kastl would be the first off the bench at both OH and RS.
Hartong did hit a few step outs this weekend. We need to remember that the passing needs to be there for Uiato to run the step out. Last year with Danielson passing, Uiato didn’t go to Hartong as often, even though her step out is very good.
Cindy, any practice report for today. Curious what Shoji has decided on the RS or maybe nothing resolved. Thanks.
UH 2013 mens roster is up and No Sam Biscaro, im surprised.
Thought it was mentioned here last week that Biscaro wasn’t returning. Not really surprised. Nice guy who worked hard.
Outstanding article on Deitre in todays SA by Ann Miller! What a class act Deitre was and still is. So down to earth and always giving back. Good luck to her and her Aztecs except against our Wahine, of course. lol
I feel bad for how harsh i was to Biscaro last season too bad he decided to quit.
I see Emily shining on the right!! Very set she’s gotten there she has totally crushed.
Cindy, will you be attending Thursday’s practice, if so, please let us know what is going on with the RS and Middles, thank you.
Just to let all of you know, ONLY Friday’s games will be on OC16, Saturday’s and Sunday’s games will be PPV OC255 and OC256. or OCHD 1255 and 1256.
If Shoji does move Hartong to the RS, it will be interesting to see her go up against Waber.
Not necessarily. All depends on how the lineups are set up. they could completely miss each other in the front row.