Hawaii's Kanoe Kamana'o is one of three top setters at the AVCA/NACWAA Showcase.
Wahine are
set to go
UH opens the season against
top-ranked Nebraska on Friday
The T-shirt says it all:
"Wear Red. Be Loud."
And this week at the Qwest Center, it will be loud.
AVCA/NACWAA
|
It will be red.
Very, very red.
Nebraska fans do love their Huskers. Football may come first in the hearts of the heartland, but women's volleyball has a strong pulse.
Husker Power has never needed an excuse to support the home team. But this week, Nebraska is ranked No. 1 heading into its match with No. 4 Hawaii in the AVCA/NACWAA Showcase.
The hype started early. Nebraska sold out the 4,030-seat Coliseum for all 13 of its home matches nine days after tickets went on sale. That included 66 courtside seats at $2,500 a pop (parking and catered meal included).
They had more than 10,000 for a pep rally last Friday. Saturday's Red-White scrimmage was a near-sellout with the 1995 NCAA championship team and retired coach Terry Pettit honored.
There is little doubt that of the 8,000 tickets sold for this event, the majority belong to the Husker Nation. It's just a 60-mile drive up from the campus in Lincoln but -- just as in Hawaii -- this is the state's team.
"The two best places to play volleyball are Nebraska and Hawaii," Husker coach John Cook said. "Every time we've come to Hawaii, we're treated so well. It reminds me a lot of Lincoln.
"And this week, four very good teams get to play in a great arena. There's a lot of buzz about this tournament. It's a first-class, big-time event and very significant for the sport of volleyball. What other sport do you see four of the top five teams playing each other the first week of the season? But it certainly feels like it got here awfully fast. I'd be surprised if anyone feels like they're ready."
True to its name, this event will showcase some of the premier players in the country. Three of the top setters are here in Hawaii's Kanoe Kamana'o, Penn State's Sam Tortorello and Stanford's Bryn Kehoe.
Kamana'o and Tortorello are two of the All-Americans who'll be on the court. The others are Hawaii's Victoria Prince, Nebraska's Melissa Elmer, Jennifer Saleaumua and Sarah Pavan.
A number of highly touted freshmen likely will launch their careers. Defending national champion Stanford has the national high school player of the year in Cynthia Barboza and a very athletic Foluke Akinradewo; Penn State has a pair of 6-3 middles in Nicole Fawcett and Christa Harmotto; hitter Jordan Larson had a match-high 13 kills in Nebraska's Red-White scrimmage; and hitter Jamie Houston, Hawaii's lone freshman recruit, could see playing time.
The Rainbow Wahine warmed up in a circle at a practice this month.
"Two teams are probably more set with their lineups, Hawaii and Nebraska, but it's a chance for all of us to see where we're at and where we're going.
"Going 0-2 ... it matters. There will be a domino thing in the poll. It's better not to lose, but if you're afraid of losing then you shouldn't play in a tournament like this."
"Someone is going to be 0-2 ... I just hope it's not us," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "That 0-2 team isn't going to be a bad team, and you can't count that team out (of the NCAA title race).
"It won't be devastating for any of these teams to go 0-2. They'll just pick it up next week. In some ways, 0-2 might be a good thing. Whoever it is will be very motivated."
Shoji pointed to Stanford's title run last season, in which the Cardinal finished second in the Pac-10 behind Washington then got hot. NCAA tournament MVP Ogonna Nnamani put together six incredible performances to lead Stanford to the championship and a 30-6 record.
"On paper, Stanford wasn't the best team last year, but they played well at the right time and won," Shoji said. "On paper, Nebraska looks to be the best team here, but it's so early. You won't be able to really judge from these two matches.
"If we win, it's because we're ahead of people at this point based on who we have back. You've just got to go out and perform."
A look at the teams, based on preseason ranking:
No. 1 Nebraska (30-2, 20-0 Big 12): The Huskers return six starters, including All-Americans Melissa Elmers (6-2, Sr., MB) and Sarah Pavan (6-5, So., Opp), last season's AVCA Freshman of the Year. Also back is Jennifer Saleaumua (5-11, Sr., OH-L), the conference's co-defensive player of the year.
Working her way into the starting lineup is Jordan Larson (6-2, Fr., OH), the preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Her progress may dictate how soon Nebraska has to go back to Tracy Stalls (6-4, So., OH), not fully recovered from knee surgery.
The big question will be at setter, where Nebraska has three outstanding athletes: last year's starter, Dani Busboom (5-11, Jr.); Michigan State transfer Maggie Griffin (6-0, So.); and Rachel Holloway (5-10, Fr.). Coach John Cook likely will use a two-setter offense, with Busboom and Griffin seeing action this week and Holloway resting after a summer spent with the U.S. youth national team.
"I think we're a better team than we were in spring," Cook said of the 3-2 victory over Hawaii in March. "And we have five freshmen who have upped the bar.
"Dani is playing the best she ever has and that's what good competition will do. We're still in evaluation mode and trying to do the best thing that will bring us the most success. Not necessarily by Friday but down the road."
No. 3 Stanford (30-6, 15-3 Pac-10): The Cardinal lost four-time All-American Ogonna Nnamani, their statistical and emotional leader. How quickly they can regroup will be the question.
Stanford returns five starters from the title team, including Kristin Richards (6-0, Jr., OH) and Bryn Kehoe (5-11, So., S).
"We have good players, how good we don't know," Stanford coach John Dunning said. "We don't have the right to be great yet."
But the Cardinal have potential greatness in the making in freshmen Cynthia Barboza (6-0, OH) and Foluke Akinradewo (6-2, MB). They will be tested by a veteran Penn State team.
"We know we'll have to raise our level of play," Dunning said. "Russ (Penn State coach Rose) always has his team prepared. I have a lot of respect for them. If you lose to Penn State, it's not a loss to hang your head."
No. 4 Hawaii (30-1, 13-0 WAC): The Rainbow Wahine did everything last season except win their last match. That loss to Wisconsin in the regional semifinal has haunted and motivated Hawaii since December.
All seven starters are back, including All-Americans Victoria Prince (6-0, Sr., MB) and Kanoe Kamana'o (5-8, Jr., S). Competition has been fierce at the other spots, with the biggest battle at left-side hitter.
An ankle injury to Tara Hittle (6-2, So., OH) has opened the door for Oregon transfer Sarah Mason (6-3, Jr., OH). That likely will be the only personnel change Friday, with Susie Boogaard (6-2, Sr.) moving to the right side, Alicia Arnott (6-0, Jr.) anchored on the left, Juliana Sanders (6-2, So.) in the middle and Ashley Watanabe (5-6, Sr.) back at libero.
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said he is concerned with Nebraska's height (eight players 6-2 or taller).
"They're big at every position," Shoji said. "Their physical-ness concerns me. We hope we will be able to hit around and through the block.
"I'm looking at this as a neutral site. It's a big arena and we're used to that. They may have more pressure playing in front of their fans. But it will be very red."
No. 5 Penn State (29-3, 18-2 Big Ten): It's the last go-round for All-American setter Sam Tortorello (5-11, Sr.), who is surrounded by talented, familiar faces. Back are last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Kate Price (6-2, So., OH), Melissa Walbridge (6-3, So., MB) and defensive standout Kaleena Walters (5-8, Sr., L) -- the latter is 273 digs shy of the school record.
"I'm not that familiar with their personnel," Shoji said, "but Russ (Rose) is a good coach, they have excellent players and they will be good."
Rose, in his 26th season in Happy Valley, is 828-151 (.846), No. 2 behind Shoji (870-150-1, .853), the winningest active coach in the country. This week is a homecoming for Rose, who was an assistant coach at Nebraska while working on his master's degree (1978-79).
Kamana'o sits out
Hawaii junior All-America setter Kanoe Kamana'o sat out yesterday's practice, resting a sprained toe. Junior reserve Cayley Thurlby set the first team in the Rainbow Wahine's final home practice before Friday's season opener against No. 1 Nebraska. |
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