With the alumni match on tap and the start of the college volleyball season beckoning with a new roster of players, UH-Hilo volleyball coach Gene Krieger has any number of reasons to be cheerful these days. ADVERTISING With the alumni
With the alumni match on tap and the start of the college volleyball season beckoning with a new roster of players, UH-Hilo volleyball coach Gene Krieger has any number of reasons to be cheerful these days.
On Wednesday, the No. 11 had the first-year coach miffed.
The Vulcans didn’t get much respect in the PacWest preseason poll and were picked to finish near the bottom of the 14-team conference,
“It irritated me,” Krieger said. “I don’t want the girls to think they’re 11th. I’ve never been 11th, and I refuse to believe any team I’m on is 11th.”
He does, however, know what the opposing PacWest coaches were thinking.
The Vulcans finished 10-15 in 2016, leading to coach Tino Reyes’ dismissal, and they lost three of their best players.
Senior outside hitter Siera Green and junior Mina Grant are the only returning starters.
“(The ranking) makes sense,” Green said. “It definitely can be used as motivation, but I don’t see it discouraging us.
“I understand it. I think we’re going to do so much better.”
Concordia, fresh off claiming their first PacWest title in their second year in the conference, drew 10 first-place votes and was the pick to repeat. The Eagles are ranked No. 22 in the AVCA preseason poll.
No Vulcans were named to the all-PacWest team that consists of outside hitters Lauren Hackett (Cal Baptist), Julianne Miller (Azusa Pacific), Rachel Flynn (Concordia), Bianca Alvarez (Notre Dame de Namur) and Aimee Steinwand (Dominican) as well as Cal Baptist setter Sydney Kralj and Dixie State libero Sid Brandon.
The weekend of activities will be highlighted by a 4 p.m. match Saturday between the older Vulcan alumni, followed by a 6 p.m. match featuring the current UH-Hilo team and the most recent Alumni players.
Preseason poll
1. Concordia (10) 189
2. California Baptist (3) 179
3. Dixie State 158
4. Azusa Pacific (1) 151
5. Point Loma 119
6. Hawaii Pacific 118
7. Dominican 105
8. Chaminade 102
9. Biola 101
10. Fresno Pacific 76
11. UH-Hilo 59
12. Notre Dame de Namur 57
13. Academy of Art 35
14. Holy Names 2
