Coach Shoji the sky is not falling!
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:55 am
Reportedly coach Shoji prior to Tuesday’s practice told the team that every position was back up for grabs.
Bottom line, that loss to Long Beach State, exposed the Wahine’ passing…resulting in Maglio hitting at .000, and Mitchem at .296…I can’t remember when both Wahine’ middles had hit under .300. Hindsight, but if Maglio had hit .300--which is still way below her current .374%--the Wahine’ would’ve won in 4.
The last time the Wahine had near flawless passing from both starting outsides was 2009 when Danielson and Cubi-Otineru manned the left. Since then, the Wahine has had problems putting two 6-rotation starting outside hitters.
Coach must make do with what he’s got, which IHMO, is still a Final Four team...It’s still time to find the right combination…STARTING with Nikki at opposite, Emily Maglio at MB1 and Kahakai at Libero. IMHO, Nikki is the best D1 opposite, and definitely the best blocking opposite in the nation—overall B/S 1.27; conference B/S 1.76. Except for the last game, Maglio has been a rock, and Kahakai has proven to be the steadiest back-row defender…and Mitchem is still getting back to 100% game speed, flip flopping her from MB to OH will only slow her progression to 100%...ditto with Castillo having to adjust her game from middle or outside...she definitely, still is far being the best she can be because of her revolving status. At this point of the season, coach will have to make a final decision.
No pun intended to the next two BWC opponents, even with poor passing the Wahine’ win in 3. In the past, after a loss, coach have suggested “all positions are not set”. Probably, locker room talk, to help motivate…but, maybe coach can make this his starting lineup for this Friday’s game, and see how it goes.
OH: Annie Mitchem 6-3 Sr/Casey Castillo 6-3 So
Opposite: Nikki Taylor 6-4 Sr
Middle: Emily Maglio 6-3 Jr/Natasha Burns 6-4 RsFr
Setter: Norene Iosia 5-11 Fr
Libero: Savanah Kahakai 5-8 Jr
DS: Emma Smith 5-8 Fr/Kalei Greeley 6-2 Jr
DServer: Claire Anderson 5-7 Jr/Tayler Higgins 5-9 Sr
But, IMHO this should be the Lineup:
OH: Casey Castillo 6-3 So/Makenna Granato 6-0 So
Opposite: Nikki Taylor 6-4 Sr
Middle: Emily Maglio 6-3 Jr/Annie Mitchem 6-3 Sr
Setter: Norene Iosia 5-11 Fr
Libero: Savanah Kahakai 5-8 Jr
DS: Emma Smith 5-8 Fr/Kalei Greeley 6-2 Jr
DServer: Claire Anderson 5-7 Jr/Tayler Higgins 5-9 Sr
Injuries have been the Wahine’ Achilles heel for its out of conference matches (losses to Wisconsin, Kansas State, UCLA, and Washington)…now the Wahine’ Achilles heel is PASSING…if the passing is flawless (the Wahine lost to now #1 Wisconsin without Taylor and Mitchem) there is no stopping the Wahine to the NCAA National Championship game, and LOL…maybe a re-match with Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, or UCLA. Definitely, the Wahine’ will white-wash Long Beach at home.
Bottom line, that loss to Long Beach State, exposed the Wahine’ passing…resulting in Maglio hitting at .000, and Mitchem at .296…I can’t remember when both Wahine’ middles had hit under .300. Hindsight, but if Maglio had hit .300--which is still way below her current .374%--the Wahine’ would’ve won in 4.
The last time the Wahine had near flawless passing from both starting outsides was 2009 when Danielson and Cubi-Otineru manned the left. Since then, the Wahine has had problems putting two 6-rotation starting outside hitters.
Coach must make do with what he’s got, which IHMO, is still a Final Four team...It’s still time to find the right combination…STARTING with Nikki at opposite, Emily Maglio at MB1 and Kahakai at Libero. IMHO, Nikki is the best D1 opposite, and definitely the best blocking opposite in the nation—overall B/S 1.27; conference B/S 1.76. Except for the last game, Maglio has been a rock, and Kahakai has proven to be the steadiest back-row defender…and Mitchem is still getting back to 100% game speed, flip flopping her from MB to OH will only slow her progression to 100%...ditto with Castillo having to adjust her game from middle or outside...she definitely, still is far being the best she can be because of her revolving status. At this point of the season, coach will have to make a final decision.
No pun intended to the next two BWC opponents, even with poor passing the Wahine’ win in 3. In the past, after a loss, coach have suggested “all positions are not set”. Probably, locker room talk, to help motivate…but, maybe coach can make this his starting lineup for this Friday’s game, and see how it goes.
OH: Annie Mitchem 6-3 Sr/Casey Castillo 6-3 So
Opposite: Nikki Taylor 6-4 Sr
Middle: Emily Maglio 6-3 Jr/Natasha Burns 6-4 RsFr
Setter: Norene Iosia 5-11 Fr
Libero: Savanah Kahakai 5-8 Jr
DS: Emma Smith 5-8 Fr/Kalei Greeley 6-2 Jr
DServer: Claire Anderson 5-7 Jr/Tayler Higgins 5-9 Sr
But, IMHO this should be the Lineup:
OH: Casey Castillo 6-3 So/Makenna Granato 6-0 So
Opposite: Nikki Taylor 6-4 Sr
Middle: Emily Maglio 6-3 Jr/Annie Mitchem 6-3 Sr
Setter: Norene Iosia 5-11 Fr
Libero: Savanah Kahakai 5-8 Jr
DS: Emma Smith 5-8 Fr/Kalei Greeley 6-2 Jr
DServer: Claire Anderson 5-7 Jr/Tayler Higgins 5-9 Sr
Injuries have been the Wahine’ Achilles heel for its out of conference matches (losses to Wisconsin, Kansas State, UCLA, and Washington)…now the Wahine’ Achilles heel is PASSING…if the passing is flawless (the Wahine lost to now #1 Wisconsin without Taylor and Mitchem) there is no stopping the Wahine to the NCAA National Championship game, and LOL…maybe a re-match with Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, or UCLA. Definitely, the Wahine’ will white-wash Long Beach at home.