Post-Game Quotes - Hawaii vs Washington
Hawai'i vs. Washington 12/6/2014
NCAA Second Round
Alaska Airlines Arena
Head Coach Dave Shoji
Opening Statement:
I just wanted to say something about these two ladies (Sarah Mendoza and Kalei Adolpho), I thought they played the best volleyball of their careers tonight. They just gave it their all and have a lot of heart. So proud of them, they've just come a long way since they started in the program. Just can't say enough about them. That's what you need, is senior leadership and we had it all year. These two provided a lot of that so I'm really proud of them and they both had great matches tonight. Well we faced a great team and I thought we played very very well. We played great defense, we kept coming up with digs - we just couldn't convert enough to win the match. We played a great second game and they just wore us down. They're just too big, strong and fast, and they played great defense as well, and blocked. I thought we might get them to think about things after we won game two, but they've been through a pretty tough conference and it really didn't faze them to lose a game. They're a great team and they just wore us down.
How would you compare Washington to the other big schools you played during the preseason?
Well we played UCLA, Oregon, and Arizona State... And none of them really could beat Washington. They're just too strong, and they've really got no weakness. And their system is really good, and Jim is a good coach. There is just no weak spot...there is Vansant, but then the other five that are hitting are capable of getting kills all the time. There is no place where you can pick on them. They'll just move it around. They're very balanced, and it didn't hurt to have a third right-sider and a third setter in there, they just continue on to play like they were first string. They have a lot of depth and a lot of balance, and they are big and well coached. They're just a great team.
Sarah Mendoza
What were you seeing off of Vansant that allowed you to get a lot of your digs on her??
Well we prepared a lot with video for them before this match. And I think preparation is always a key thing. I've been playing against her since I've been in 7th grade, so I know she has gotten a lot better but her tendencies are pretty much the same.
Kalei Adolpho
What was it like playing in front of this crowd?
Here, the crowd is really into it, and they're going against you but that is just a different type of motivation. And I think the team did really well at handling that.
On the team mindset coming back from set two..
That we could beat them, that the set was kind of a confidence builder for us.
On your hitting tonight..
A lot of the credit goes to Sarah (Mendoza) in back, she was just picking up everything. Like you said, Tayler (Higgins) was just having confidence in me and giving me the ball.
