The more chances you play in real-game situations the better, particularly for a team still searching for its identity.
It’s how No. 6 Hawaii sees this week’s Hawaiian Airlines Classic: three more chances to get better, and get better at who the Rainbow Wahine are becoming.
Coming off Sunday’s huge victory over then-No. 6 Stanford, Hawaii is happy with its 3-0 start. But continued perfection — at least in regards to season record — means remembering what was done against the Cardinal and working on both the good and the bad.
"We can always keep improving," Wahine junior setter Mita Uiato said after Tuesday morning’s practice. "There’s always things you could have taken care of, and those were the small things that we know we need to work on.
"I would grade us a B-plus at the end (of the Stanford match). And I am happy with how it went, how I set the match."
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC At Stan Sheriff Center FRIDAY >> Baylor (3-0) vs. No. 25 California (1-1), 5 p.m. >> San Francisco (3-1) vs. No. 6 Hawaii (3-0), 7 p.m. SATURDAY >> San Francisco vs. California, 5 p.m. >> Baylor vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m. SUNDAY >> Baylor vs. San Francisco, 3 p.m. >> California vs. Hawaii, 5 p.m. >> TV: OC Sports, Ch. 16 >> RADIO: KKEA, 1420-AM |
One key was recognizing how the Cardinal were focused on stopping Hawaii’s two left-side guns: junior Emily Hartong and sophomore Jane Croson. That opened up the potential for the middle attack, and solid passing allowed Uiato to use both freshman Jade Vorster (nine kills, no errors, 19 swings) and sophomore Kalei Adolpho (five kills, three errors, 14 attempts).
"When I started to set the middle, (Stanford) had to be more honest with their block)," Uiato said. "I could have gone to the middles more, but I’m pretty happy overall."
So are head coach Dave Shoji and assistant Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, the latter a former All-America setter for the Wahine. When Shoji used a double substitute, putting sophomore Monica Stauber in for Uiato, it gave Uiato a chance for a different perspective on the Cardinal block and some in-match coaching, as well as to catch her breath.
"Mita was working hard on every play and it gave her a break," Shoji said. "I have no complaints about the way she set the match. There’s always room for second-guessing a setter’s choices, but she’s doing it on the fly."
"I’m happy with how she set," Ah Mow-Santos said. "And she got better as it went on."
If there is one thing the Wahine are working on, it’s finding a permanent right-side hitter. Both junior Kaela Goodman and junior transfer Ashley Kastl were used, but the production from the position was not enough, Shoji said.
In three matches, Goodman totaled 11 kills and two errors on 32 attempts, and Kastl had six kills, two errors and 20 swings. By comparison, Hartong and Croson combined to average 31 kills on 78 attempts.
The lack of a right-side attack was a combination of things, including having confidence to set the right side and matching up against the opponent’s best blocker.
"There were times when Kaela (the 6-foot-1 Goodman) was going up against 6-6 (Stanford’s Hayley Spelman)," Uiato said. "And some of it was our left sides were doing so well, I went to them."
"We have to have an upgrade at the position," Shoji said. "Either Kaela or Ashley will have to get better. We’re back competing for that spot at practice (today) and Thursday to determine who will start Friday.
"We feel good about where were are, but we feel like we can get better.
"There can’t be any letdown on our part. All the teams coming in are pretty good, and Cal still has players who made the final four a few years ago. They lost Saturday (in five sets at San Diego State), but they had some injuries. I’m expecting them to be at full strength. Cal is going to be Cal."