Hawaii vs Ohio State

Outrigger Warrior Invitational

Ohio State Buckeyes

2014 Record: (0-0) (0-0)

Top Players: Andrew Lutz, Michael Henchy, Peter Heinen

Head Coach:

Series Record: 3-1 (UH)

Last Meeting: Jan. 10, 2013 (3-2 tOSU)

Coverage:

Televised: OCSports

Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics

Set One: 25-22 (Hawaii)

Starters were the players that I predicted a few days ago: Olsen, Zarkovic, Sedore, Ramos, West, Averill, Kanatake. Hawaii made the real plays that set and Ohio State showed that they were young as they couldn't control the ball as well as UH. Iain McKellar and Jennings Franciskovic came in towards the end of the set with McKellar getting two kills on two swings and Franciskovic getting two assists. Johann Timmer also came in as a serving sub but served in the net.

Set Two: 25-21 (Hawaii)

This set really gave the feeling that it is mens volleyball. It was pretty slow and there was a lot of errors. However Hawaii did toy with the Ohio State passing line by mixing up their serves. Ohio State improved in their back row defense. Hawaii showed that they can really run the middle and have great results when they are set. Zarkovic and Olsen still struggled with their hitting although Sedore, West, and Averill were good enough to stay in it. The same reserves came in (Timmer, McKellar, Franciskovic) but in the third set we will probably see one or more new reserves in.

Set Three: 25-21 (Hawaii)

It was a little more exciting that set two. There was a few different plays that Siki ran where he can on an inside set and hit a B ball from the back row. The blocking for UH picked up a little bit but Ohio State was the overall better blocking team. The best play of the match was the one that set up match point as the great defense for Hawaii ping-ponged the ball back over the net along with the play with Olsen's three great digs. Franciskovic was the only same reserve to come in however freshman Kupono Fey came in. He was given high remarks about his progress in camp and in his first collegiate swing he got a kill.

Overall Review:

After watching this match, I was pretty impressed with the Warriors brought on the court tonight. They definitely have the potential to be a top team however they had a few sloppy plays but it is the beginning of the season. Sedore really stuck out as the go-to guy and he showed maturity on the court. West also showed maturity opposed to how he used to act the last two years. Siki looked like he was fooling around a little bit too much with his celebrations and his erant fake pass. Kanatake showed a lot of confidence compared to his freshman season and his speed and lateral movement has improved. Averill has worked hard in the off season and he was disappointed with his play during the exhibition matches but proved how he can be tonight. 

Next Up:

Penn State Nittany Lions

1/10/14: 7pm HT (Outrigger Invitational Day 2)

2014 Outrigger Invitational Revealed

Photo from Hawaii Athletics

The 2014 Outrigger Invitational tournament for the men's team was announced on the Off the Block blog today. It will be a repeat from last year with Ohio State, Penn State, and UCLA all returning. Last years tournament was filled with very entertaining matches where five out of six matches went to five sets.

Wade said he is trying to schedule matches before the Outrigger Invitational which may include some Canadian colleges. They will be exhibition matches and they are matches to help prepare for the MPSF.

Maybe one of these colleges will be the one where Stephen Maar goes. For those who don't know who Stephen Maar is, Maar was a 6'9" opposite from Aurora, Canada who made a verbal commitment to the University of Hawaii after being told he would be given a whole scholarship. A few weeks before signing, he then decommitted to stay in Canada for college. Everyone thought he would be Hawaii's next Umlauft but that never happened.

For the Outrigger Invitational, for now I predict UCLA winning it again (they won the past three years) with Hawaii in second, Penn State in third, and Ohio State in fourth.