By: Tiff Wells
1 – Load Management…No Problem. In the series against Tusculum where both of UH’s pin hitters (Spyros Chakas and Chaz Galloway) did not play, Head Coach Charlie Wade elected to give more court time to Louis Sakanoko and Keoni Thiim as that combo was the starting left side hitters. Night one featured Thiim with a career-high seven service aces, while Sakanoko hit for personal bests in both kills (nine) and hitting percentage (.533). In the run it back match on Sunday, Sakanoko served four of the team’s season-high 16 aces. Thiim went career with highs in kills (14), blocks (four) and hitting percentage (.722). “It’s not depth if you don’t play it” is the term we routinely hear from the coaching staff as UH fans saw 12 players saw court time on both nights. Two new players in the main passing formation, UH allowed just five service aces in the six sets played.
2 – Serving run seen and heard around the state. Who says middle blockers can’t serve? Set three on night two may have been THE best in-match service run in the volleyball career of Middle Blocker Kurt Nusterer. He entered the service box with the set tied at 3. Two Tusculum timeouts, the media timeout AND 18 serves later (which included a career-high six service aces), UH was well in control of the set at 21-4 before winning it 25-7. After receiving the standing ovation from the crowd once the service run was done, Nusterer then stayed in on serve receive and would also play some defense over the course of those last few points. UH served a season-high 16 service aces on the night.
3 – So Help Me Todd. 6th-year senior Alaka`i Todd continued the hot hitting from the previous week on the continent. It was a very efficient night one for Todd as he scored 13 kills on 17 errorless swings, en route to a career-high .765. More impressive is that it was done in just two sets played. Two nights later, Todd continued the hot hitting with eight kills on 13 swings to hit .462. With the graduation to the All-American Dimitrios Mouchlias, Todd has so far answered the bell and filled in quite nicely to give UH some offensive and defensive production from that Opposite position.
4 – Efficient offense and service game. Video game-like numbers were put up all series long. What started with a .647 (12-1-17) hitting percentage to open the first match, it ended with night two having UH hitting .733 (13-2-15). In the six sets played in the series, UH didn’t hit below .429. A season-high .586 (39-5-58) in the first matchup could have been a lot higher if not for four of the hitting errors in that third set. It was also the sixth-highest one-match hitting percentage in program history. While the offense did quite well, the serving game was just as good as the Bows recorded 26 service aces in the series to just 21 service errors. With multiple combinations as the main serve receivers and utilizing both setters, UH still managed to sideout off of first-ball contact at 86% and were only blocked twice in the series.
5 – Rosenthal gives way to Kauling. You never know when at some point in the season you’ll need the backup. Even with being a three-time All-American and a four-year starter at Lewis, grad student setter Kevin Kauling still needs match action as a Rainbow Warrior. And he got valuable time during the series by starting three of the six sets. The offense didn’t drop off at all as in the sets that Kauling started, UH hit .429, .444 and .733. And in those three sets, UH sided out very efficiently, going 31-of-36. More often than not the pin hitters were given 1-v-1 situations and routinely turned those opportunities into kills. Thankful to be healthy enough to be cleared to play after the ankle injury in pre-match warmups ahead of the season opener, Kauling provides UH valuable experience and leadership.
6 – Crowd shows for a first-time opponent. Hailing from Tennessee, the fifth-year program got to enjoy the mecca of College Men’s Volleyball for the week. Not many had heard of Tusculum University, but the Pioneers were more than thankful to play in “The Stan.” Not a ranked team, not a name team, UH still drew over 7,000 (7,086) for the two-match series against Tusculum. More than a few schools would love that number for their season total or even a month’s worth of home matches. But this program has built itself into a winner and the exciting product on the taraflex has merited the crowds it has drawn and will continue to draw. Another opportunity to see a first-time opponent comes in a couple weeks when UH hosts Missouri S&T. But first thing’s first…7-1 Stanford comes to the island for a pair of matches this Wednesday and Friday.
Photos: Jonathan Salvador
