HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji conducted a live chat session on UH's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HawaiiAthletics), Wednesday, June 27. Below is a transcript of the chat.
 
DS: Welcome everyone, it's great to be here. I look forward to your questions.

Q: With the new transfers and recruits how far can this team go and what player will be the most valuable?
 
DS: It's difficult to predict how far we will go, but I'm confident it will be a solid team. It's also hard to predict which of the newcomers will be the most valuable though all will help our team at some point.
 
Q: With the graduation of Kanani Danielson, is it possible that Emily Hartong will be taking that starting outside hitter position?
 
DS: Emily Hartong will be playing on the outside this season. Whether she takes Kanani's position will be determined later.
 
Q: In the past few years, the men's and women's basketball teams have been playing doubleheaders. Is there a possibility that in the future, the Wahine volleyball team could play doubleheaders with the men's volleyball team? (Though depending on whether it's the fall or spring season, one team would be playing an exhibition)
 
DS: The men's and women's seasons are different. We play in the fall and they play in the spring. Therefore doubleheaders are not feasible.
 
Q: Besides Goodman, who is in the running for the right side position?
 
DS: All of our outside hitters are in the running for the right side position at this time. We will look at all outside hitters as potential right-siders.
 
Q: While it is bittersweet that Brittany Hewitt will not be back; a team can always lose a key member for any number of reasons, so as you know, the show must go on. That being said, Emily Hartong is such an amazing prodigy, she can start as Kanani's heir-apparent for O1, OR as Hewitt's heir-apparent at M! Do we have enough middles to field two experienced threats? Or are we going to have to thrust an able Croson into the O1 spot and look for an O1 & M2? I think Adolpho is an exciting and capable middle, but raw, just like Goodman was before she blossomed into a Middle beast her junior & senior years. The other middles are a mystery to me... what are your thoughts?
 
DS: We feel like Emily will be more valuable on the outside this year. We also feel that even though we'll be inexperienced in the middle, that out of the four middles on the roster, two will step up and be productive. Kalei Adolpho is the most obvious starter. She played valuable minutes last year. Between the other three, we'll find one to contribute.
 
Q: Who were your inspirations as a coach and where did you learn the craft?
 
DS: My first volleyball coach was very inspirational to me. His name is Dennis Berg who happens to be the father of Olympian Lindsey Berg. I learned the craft from various coaches and systems throughout my career.
 
Q: Will you begin recruiting more international players? Particularly the taller outside hitters and middles?
 
DS: We are recruiting internationally and hope it starts paying off very soon, we are always looking for the tallest and best players no matter what country they're from.
 
Q: Hope you have no plans to retire any time soon... right?
 
DS: Retirement is going to happen...just not sure when!
 
Q: Any chance your son coaches after college?
 
‎DS: Both my sons, Kawika and Erik, could become excellent coaches if they choose to go in that direction. I am hoping they choose to use their Stanford education to explore all options.
 
Q: Who do you view will be your toughest team to beat this season? And how is it that you don't seem to age?
 
DS: My stock answer for you is that the next team we play is the toughest team. But look for Stanford, UCLA and Cal to be the toughest with St. Mary's, Baylor and Long Beach State right behind. As far as not aging, hair dye does wonders (just kidding).
 
Q: Have you ever considered looking for talent in New Zealand or Australia?
 
‎DS: We look for talent all over the world but women's volleyball in NZ and Australia isn't the strongest.
 
Q: The Volleyball Olympics are awesome. Will you be able to communicate with the coaches there as to their new approaches and techniques for acquisitions for your Wahine to improve their skills?
 
DS: I know the coaches and I often ask for their advice. I've been to practice and observed our Olympic players. Anything I can pick up from those observations I try to implement with our team.
 
Q: What do you think of the recent decision of the NCAA going to a four team playoff platform?
 
‎DS: I think they should have a 64-team playoff like most of the other sports.
 
Q: When recruiting for players, not in any specific position, what is the most important characteristic of a player you look for?
 
‎DS: The most important physical characteristic we look for is a high vertical jump.
 
Q: Aloha Coach Dave! Can Kalei Adolpho be allowed to play basketball in November, for the game against defending champion Baylor and 6 ft 8 center Brittany Griner? They will need her!
 
DS: Kalei will join the basketball team when the season is over.
 
Q: Aloha Coach Dave, there are many of fans around the world of our Rainbow Wahine volleyball girls. Many from Hawai'i live in Las Vegas. Do you think the Wahine will ever have a game here in Las Vegas again? Also can you give us any word about Falyn Fanoimoana? Will she be a possible player on the UH Wahine volleyball team?
 
DS: Playing in Las Vegas is not in the near future. There is no conference tournament like the WAC had. Falyn Fanoimoana is not on our roster.
 
Q: Now that Hawai'i is leaving the WAC, do you think it will be an advantage for you to use as a tool in attracting highly talented players?
 
DS: The Big West should help our recruiting efforts because of the quality of the teams in the conference. We recruit heavily in California so this should help with a greater presence there now.
 
Q: I've been a fan of women's volleyball since Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku's days and learned later that Robyn Ah Mow played as a setter from reading an article on the building of my high school (Mckinley High School). Have you had any left hand hitters that played on the right side like Sarah Pavan (Nebraska)? And if you did or wish you had, would that by any means change your attitude towards how great of a team you will/have had?
 
DS: We have never had a left handed player impact our team. We certainly look at all players, regardless of being left or right handed. It's just a matter of time before we actually have a lefty on our roster. Lefties can be an advantage in the opposite or setter position and we'll keep looking for one.
 
Q: Who are the top players at the libero position and will you be using more defensive specialists with the loss of Kanani Danielson?
 
DS: Emily Maeda heads the list of returning defensive players. Besides Ali Longo, there are others trying to walk on as well. Someone will emerge as one of the top defensive/libero candidates. Stay tuned!
 
Q: I am interested in the competition that will take place for our middles and also our opposite hitters. Can you tell us a little about the horses in those races?
 
DS: We have four middles that will vie for playing time. Kalei Adolpho, Jade Vorster, TK Tuaniga, and transfer Stephanie Hagins. We'll see. On the outside these players will compete for PT: Emily Hartong, Jane Croson, Kaela Goodman, Tai Manu-Olevao, Ginger Long and Ashley Kastl. We'll see again
 
Q: Are there any up and coming programs that will make an impact nationally this season?
 
DS: On our schedule the underrated teams are St. Mary's, Baylor, and Cal State Northridge. We'll have to wait and see about any other teams nationally.
 
Q: What is the one key ingredient you would say separated the championship teams from those that fell a little short?
 
DS: Well you mentioned short and that is one possible area. But every time we got close it was one thing or another, not how tall we were. Every year is different and every year you have shortcomings. That's why it's hard to win the national championship.
 
Q: With the three new transfers and your 1 recruit how does this team compare to last year, and out of the four new faces who will provide the most dept for the UH Wahine this year?
 
DS: We lost 3 good players, but we're confident that we'll be good anyway. Only time will tell how far this team will go.
 
Q: What was your first impression of Emily Hartong?
 
DS: Emily is basically a quiet person but she understands that she needs to be a leader this year. She has already taken that responsibility and is running with it.
 
Q: What position is Kastl being projected at? Will she be allowed to compete at the left side?
 
DS: Ashley will be looked at on the left for sure, and she'll be given reps on the right as well. We'll have to see where she will contribute the most on this team.
 
Q: How much longer are you looking at for your career as the head coach?
 
DS: There is no time table right now.
 
Q: With Stanford and Texas having a huge recruiting class how will your team play at a high level caliber against quality teams?
 
DS: I'm not concerned with Stanford and Texas. I'm only concerned with the Wahine. We will be the best we can possibly be. All of our outsides will be looked at the right side we will utilize everybody's skills to the best of our ability.
 
Q: How are you going to rebuild since we lost Michelle then Brittany?
 
DS: We can replace Michelle Waber with incoming new players. Brittany's experience will be hard to replace, but of course we have to move on.
 
Q: How much playing time will you give Monica?
 
DS: Monica serves a valuable role for us as the backup setter and a backcourt sub when we relieve Mita from blocking.
 
Q: Out of everyone on the roster, who do you think has improved the most?
 
DS: Not sure what you mean when you talk about improvement. I will say Jade Vorster has improved tremendously during her year and a half in Hawai'i. Almost everybody gets a little better every year.
 
Q: With a plethora of outside hitters on your roster this coming season, what are your thoughts on running a 6-2?
 
DS: When using a 6-2, your setters need to be similar. That's not the case with our team, though.
 
Q: How is Croson on the right? I watched her on Youtube on some national team playing the right side against Mexico. She looked good.
 
DS: We will definitely look at her on the right. But after our last match against USC when she had 25 kills, moving her to the right might not be the best option.
 
Q: Would you consider bringing the girls to the neighbor islands for a game or two? I'm sure it'll remind the fans of the days at Klum Gym.
 
DS: We did play in Maui last Spring, but there are no plans to play a regular season match on the outer islands. It could happen in the future but only in the Spring.
 
Q: Do you think Kaela (Goodman) has grown enough into the program to play more this year? What about Ginger (Long)?
 
DS: Kaela and Ginger will have an opportunity to play more this year. They will need to improve and earn their PT.
 
Q: How has the addition of beach volleyball at UH impacted your program?
 
DS: First off, it will help our recruiting as many young girls want to play both sports. Secondly, the girls that played sand volleyball benefited greatly by playing on the sand.

DS: Thanks everyone for participating!





                                                                                                        -UH-