Off The Block Fan Choice Player of the Year

Announcement

Off The Block has announced the 64-player tournament for the Fan Choice Player of the Year. Nominees in this include Warriors Taylor Averill and Brook Sedore, local products Micah Christensen (USC), Henry Cassiday (USC), and Taylor Crabb (LBSU).

There are four different region (Sinjin Smith, Aldis Berzins, Mick Haley, Dusty Dvorak) with 16 players and each player received a seed. Averill is the No.3 seed in the Aldis Berzins Region and Sedore is No.8 seed in the Mick Haley Region.

First Round Match-Ups have begun for the Sinjin Smith and Mick Haley Region. (6:30 PM HT)

First Round Voting (Sedore)

Check this post later for more updates throughout the tournament

[Update]: Sedore and Averill both fall in the First Round

Vote @HawaiiWVB for #BWCTop10

This is not a national accolade or anything but help vote for Hawaii Volleyball and Dave Shoji as one of the Top 10 moments of 2013.

http://on.fb.me/1kWEQx6

The voting takes place on the Big West Facebook page. You can vote for these events by liking and/or sharing the photo of the event you want. Each like is counted as one vote and each share is worth three votes.

The event for Dave Shoji is his 1,107th win making him the winningest coach in DI Women's Volleyball history.

The other event that includes the Wahine volleyball team and also has Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. This moment was when all three teams shared the Big West title as tri-champions for the first time in Big West history.

If you are a UH fan in general, you could help by voting for the other moments that had UH events in it. That included Kelly Majam (Softball) being nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year, Kaia Parnaby (Softball) smashing the wins and strikeouts record, the Wahine water polo team winning the Big West conference and tournament, Monika Eggens (Water Polo) being named first team All-American and breaking the goal record.

Results:
Six events coming from the University of Hawaii made the Big West Top 10.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152170626572743.1073741855.105295017742&type=3

Dave Shoji breaks record for most wins

Hawaii opens season upsetting No.1 Texas

Friday Night Recap (Warriors and Wahine)

Wahine Sweep

Recap | Box Score

The Rainbow Wahine completed the season sweep against Cal Poly tonight 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-19) in San Luis Obispo. Going back on the road for the first time since the back-to-back road loses at Northridge and Davis left a few fans worried about this road trip.

But the Wahine improved its passing and set distribution to contribute to this win. Freshman opposite Nikki Taylor led the Bows with 12 kills and had five digs in her first match playing all the way around for an entire match. She also received her first career ace along with three blocks. Sophomore outside Tai Manu-Olevau also had 11 kills and two good blocks. After Emily Hartong has been taking a majority of the swings this season, tonight was more evenly spread out as Taylor and Manu-Olevau had 24 swings each and Hartong had less with 22. On the night Hartong had nine kills, 11 digs, and an ace which she received after switching to a standing float serve for the first time this season. Senior libero Ali Longo had a match high 12 digs and junior defensive specialist Sarah Mendoza had three digs in her new spot at middle back.

The team travels to Santa Barbara to take on the Gauchos and get revenge for their lose in Honolulu last month. There is no live stream for this event (according to Bigwest.tv) but there is live stats and audio available on ESPN1420 with commentary from Tiff Wells. [EDIT] Bigwest.tv has updated the Saturday matches for volleyball and lists a live stream for Hawaii vs. UCSB.

Warrior Road Trip

The Warriors entered in their first fall tournament before the upcoming 2014 season in Southern California. This tournament features ten MPSF teams and two others and is hosted by USC. Matches started today and UH was supposed to be represented with two teams to compete against opponents. But senior setter Joby Ramos sprained his ankle leaving the only other setter, freshman Jennings Franciskovic to run the offense and now only one team was available to represent UH. Head coach Charlie Wade called in on ESPN1420 this morning saying that they had to reschedule everything now that there would only be one Hawaii team. I am sure he wanted two teams to get all the players a chance to get in and have some playing experience.

The schedule for Friday was with matches against USC and UCLA. Men's volleyball blog "Off the Block" posted results from the preseason tournament but with no scores. However the UCLA Men's Volleyball twitter posted a few score updates throughout the match but did not mention any UH players that played. HBA alumni Michael Fisher ('13) played against UH in this match. I believe the layout for today was all matches will go to three sets, no matter what the outcome was of the first and second set. The first two sets were to 25 and the third to 15. [EDIT] USC posted the results on there athletics page.

Friday Scores:
- USC defeats Hawaii (2-1) 25-20, 20-25, 15-11
- UCLA defeats Hawaii (2-1) 25-17, 25-20, 10-15

The schedule for the Saturday matches is this:
- Hawaii vs. Pepperdine (1:15 PM PT/11:15 AM HT)
- Hawaii vs. UCSB (3:00 PM PT/1:00 PM HT)

Don't Forget to Vote
Everyone go out and vote for Emily Hartong for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award. Voting ends December 9th and she has been at the top of the voting this whole time and is competing at the top.

Vote Here

Updates

Sorry for not posting recently, been pretty busy lately.

Wahine:

Recap | Box Score

The Wahine swept the anteaters of UC Irvine last night (25-22, 25-16, 25-23) in a match that followed back to back loses for the Bows. The incredible plays of senior libero Ali Longo helped keep them in the game as she had a match high 18 digs and had three aces. We did see a lot better connection between senior setter Mita Uiato and redshirt sophomore middle Jade Vorster. Despite Vorster's hitting percentage on the night (.284), she had quality swings and brought a smile back on her face that we have not seen for a while. The rematch between Hawaii and Long Beach State starts tonight at 7 HT.

On Thursday (10/31), Emily Hartong was one of ten players across the country to be named a finalists for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award. She is the second Wahine Volleyball player to receive the award since it started in 2010. The first Wahine Kanani Danielson won the award in 2011. This award recognizes the senior that represents more than just a volleyball player but the player that is all around great in and out of the classroom. The winner is partially determined by the amount of votes received in the online voting system where fans can vote as well. The winner will be announced during the National Semifinals in Seattle, Washington. (Release from Kanani's Award) So go vote for the all around Emily Hartong! (Vote Here)

Warriors:

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Athletics Instagram

Back Row: Iain McKellar (RFr.), Jace Olsen (Sr.), Johann Timmer (Sr.?), Nick West (Sr.) , Brook Sedore (Jr.) , Davis Holt (Jr.)
Middle Row: Head Coach Charlie Wade, Garrett Komisarek (RJr.), Kolby Kanatake (So.), Joby Ramos (Sr.) Drew Durni (RFr.), Dane Keckin (Fr.) Assistant Coach Jeff Hall
Front Row: Jennings Franciskovic (Fr.), Taylor Averill (RJr..), Sinisa Zarkovic (So.), Kupono Fey (Fr.), Nesi Bechard (Fr.), Hendrik Mol (Fr.), Zach Radner (RFr.)

Roster

The roster has been updated with new headshots of the players. The only thing left to complete the roster is add the info on the five freshman. But this is most likely a mistake but the roster has Johann Timmer as a senior. It could mean he is graduating early but I doubt that so it is probably a mistake.

Catching Up

It has been a while since I posted something so here is some things Hawaii volleyball fans have learned over the past few months!

Wahine Volleyball

• 2013 Schedule was officially released (May 15, 2013)
• Dave Shoji officially announces that Jane Croson will not return to the team
• Three new 2014-15 recruits
• Savannah Kahakai (5'8" Libero from Honolulu, HI)-Farrington HS
• Gianna Guinasso (5'9" Libero from Huntington Beach, CA)
• Emily Maglio (6'2" Middle from Coquitlam, Canada)

Warrior Volleyball

• JP Marks will not return to the team since he signed a pro contract
• Vote Sinisa "Siki" Zarkovic for Off the Block Fan Player of the Year!
• Vote Brook Sedore for Off the Block Fan Player of the Year!
• 2013-14 recruit Jennings Franciskovic named AVCA First Team Boy's High School Senior All-American
• Three new 2014-15 recruits
• Larry "Tui" Tuileta (6'3" Outside from Honolulu, HI)-Punahou HS
• Luke Owens (6'7" Middle from Kailua, HI)-Kalaheo HS
• Kama Paio (UNK Libero from Kamuela, HI)-Hawaii Prep

Sand Volleyball

• Failed to make AVCA Nationals
• Four new 2013-14 recruits
• London Chow (5'6" from Palm Springs, CA)
• Kelsi Delgado (5'10" from Carlsbad, CA)
• Mikayla Tucker (5'9" from Placerville, CA) Transfer from Fresno Pacific
• Karissa Cook (5'11" from Santa Cruz, CA) Transfer from Stanford
• Two new 2014-15 recruits
• Kendra Koelsch (6'1 from Huntington Beach, CA)
• Gianna Guinasso (5'9" from Huntington Beach, CA)
• Will play both indoors and sand