Hawaii vs UCLA

Outrigger Warrior Invitational

UCLA Bruins
2014 Record: (2-1) (0-0)
Top Players: Gonzalo Quiroga, Robert Page, Steve O'Dell
Head Coach: John Speraw
Series Record: 22-60 (UCLA)
Last Meeting: Feb. 16, 2013 (3-2 UH)

Coverage:
Televised: OCSports
Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics

Prediction:
This will be a big match for both teams. It will prove that Hawaii can continue to compete with the top teams. For the match, I predict Hawaii in four. Despite the smaller crowds compared to the Wahine games, UH has home court advantage. Also the Warriors have so much depth that anyone will be able to compete. For All-Tournament Team predictions: Sinisa Zarkovic (Hawaii), Jace Olsen/Brook Sedore (Hawaii), Robert Page (UCLA), Gonzalo Quiroga (UCLA), Andrew Lutz (Ohio State), Aaron Russell (Penn State). The MVP will come from whichever team wins so it could either be Zarkovic or Page.

Set One: 25-19 (UCLA)

It was a pretty tough set for Hawaii. UCLA's serve got UH out of system a lot making the sets very predictable and the UCLA got their block up. However there were a few out of system plays where Hawaii got lucky to hit off the block. The only reserve that got to play was Timmer who came in to serve and he had a great dig.

Set Two: 25-14 (Hawaii)

What a turnaround by the Warriors. Sedore sat out the second set as he was replaced by freshman Hendrik Mol. That was a bold and smart move by head coach Charlie Wade as UCLA doesn't have much scouting report on Mol. But Mol had five kills with no errors and hit .556 with two digs and two blocks. Hawaii had its largest lead against any team this season with an 11 point lead. Reserve Franciskovic came in as a blocking sub and Timmer had his annual against UCLA serving. Timmer had an ace and great serves that put UCLA out of system and Hawaii's strong block put the ball away.

NOTE: 2014-15 recruit Kekoa Pukahi is in attendance from California

Set Three: 25-19 (UCLA)

Hawaii had a lead at 15-12 however UCLA had serves that Hawaii couldn't handle. When the passing got bad, the sets were pretty tight setting up hits straight into the block. Also not all the hitters were able to be set with the bad passing. Hopefully they clean it up and come back from down 2-1. Timmer was the only sub but he served in the net.

Set Four: 25-16 (UCLA)

Passing continued to struggle and multiple hitting errors caused Hawaii to fall behind. I am a little surprised that Wade didn't sub Sedore back in when Mol had around four hitting errors in the first ten points. Once it got late in the set, the team looked really down and had no energy. UCLA was hitting really well and they dug extremely well.

Review

The team still shows potential but it is still a good thing they lost to show what they need to improve on. That may be connections and the passing. Kanatake did well defensively however the block wasn't helping him in the end as it was hard for him to read the ball. Hopefully Sedore can come back and earn his spot back. West has matured so much that he seems like a whole different player and he said it himself that this will be his last season.

Notes:

-Recruit Pukahi got to go in the huddle after the match and hear Milan Zakovic give a speech to the team

-The All-Tournament Team awards were tikis and the first place award was a giant tiki

-In the pregame show, they asked players what their favorite food was. Timmer said sushi, Zarkovic said chicken katsu, Sedore said anything, Wade said t-bone.

All-Tournament Team

Gonzalo Quiroga - UCLA

Steve O'Dell - UCLA

Robart Page - UCLA (MOP)

Sinisa Zarkovic - Hawaii

Nick West - Hawaii

Nick Gorrell - Penn State

Driss Guessous - Ohio State

Outrigger Invitational Final Standings

1. UCLA (3-0)

2. Hawaii (2-1)

3. Penn State (1-2)

4. Ohio State (0-3)

Next Up:

Long Beach State 49ers

1/16/14: 7pm HT (MPSF Conference Play)

Stauber Confirmed A Bruin

Yesterday Cindy Luis of Volley Shots posted (here) that Monica Stauber (Newport Beach, CA) will be a Bruin. We have all heard that Stauber was going to transfer in January but we did not know where. Then around the spring time there were rumors saying she was going to Santa Clara which was true. But with the unexpected departure of UCLA's setter Rebecca Strehlow, it opened up a spot for Stauber. So instead of Monica becoming a Bronco, she will be a Bruin. It does make sense since UCLA Head Coach Mike Sealy did recruit her to Hawaii.

Another confirmation is here where she is listed on the updated 2013 roster. There are two other setters listed on the roster, Megan Moenoa and Jordan Robbins. Moenoa has started multiple matches in the 2012 season so she has an advantage over Stauber at the moment. I believe Robbins is a walk-on so Stauber should be above her in the depth chart.

Good luck to Monica! Many Hawaii fans loved you and we can't wait to see you in Hawaii in September!

Other News

-Future sand recruit Kendra Koelsch was listed under Laguna Beach Volleyball Club's college commitment list. She is a 6'1" opposite/setter on her indoor team.
-Alumni Clay Stanley has been seen in Hawaii over the past two weeks and that is because of his recent marriage. He got married a few days ago and before that recently had surgery on his knee. Congrats to Clay!

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.