Middles can make or break Hawaii

[seasider]

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Middles can make or break Hawaii
By Ann Miller

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 14, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 05:10 a.m. HST, Aug 14, 2012

SECOND IN A SERIES

Watching what happens in the middle, particularly at the start of this volleyball season, should be intriguing for Rainbow Wahine fans.

It might also be agonizing.

If the intrigue and unique gifts of the four relatively unknown middle blockers overcome the agony, there are serious postseason possibilities for Hawaii. Early expectations are not lofty.

"At this point, that position can't be a negative," UH head coach Dave Shoji says. "It doesn't have to be one of our strong points, but it can't be something hurting the team. Anything we get out of the middles will be a positive. Any block and any kill will be all good."

MIDDLE BLOCKER DEPTH CHART
1. Jade Vorster, 6-4 freshman
2. Kalei Adolpho, 6-1 sophomore
3. Kristiana Tuaniga, 6-1 junior
4. Stephanie Hagins, 6-4 sophomore

Associate coach Scott Wong is more optimistic, after admitting, "It ain't going to be pretty out there early.

"I hope by October the middles are going to be just like everybody else on the court, contributing in every way," he says. "Not only will we rely on them, but they will be awesome. They will help with kills and blocks and all the other stuff. You can't always say that with middles, but I think all four are competitive and make each other better."

Last season, the position was basically in flux and — surprisingly — not as effective as the previous year.

Brittany Hewitt, who led the nation in blocking in 2010, sat out huge chunks of practice and a few matches with constant ailments. Her game became erratic and her numbers, particularly on offense, dropped.

Emily Hartong's numbers rose, but she also played part-time on the outside as freshman Kalei Adolpho got a quick look.

Hartong earned second-team All-America honors as much for her versatility as her talent.

Now Hartong will go outside full-time. Hewitt, who graduated in May, chose not to return for her final year.

By the numbers, Hawaii's experience in the middle consists of a handful of starts by Adolpho and Washington State transfer Stephanie Hagins. Those two, redshirt junior Kristiana Tuaniga and redshirt freshman Jade Vorster have combined for 102 career kills and 87 blocks.

It is a starting point.

[SRJC]

This week I was closely watching the middles how would they perform after the departure of B. Hewitt.
Jade Vorster and Kalei Adolpho looked sharp.

[reignjah11]

imagine if we had hewitt along with vorster and adolpho...dang! im still though very impressed with this team especially considering all the new faces this year and how quickly they meshed together and was able to beat a great team stanford. this team will only get better as the season goes on, very exciting to see the potential of this team!

[niterunner808]