Live commentator, Dave Reardon, underscores the significance of attending an in-person Warriors volleyball game for analyst perspective.
He ain't gotta explain himself to me, 'causeVinnie Lopes ain't been to a UH men's volleyball game. Guy's just never been there, ya dig? June Jones used to say about folks who didn't grasp the run-and-shoot: "He doesn't know what he doesn't know."
Lopes, founder and editor of "Off The Block," a website devoted to men's volleyball since 2011, is from Ball State — a school that eats, breathes, and lives men's volleyball. He dropped analysis for the NCAA's video national championship tournament field reveal last Sunday.
Lopes threw out comparisons, branding a player and a team like Taylor Swift and the Beatles when it comes to fan hype. Sure, it's a stretch, but creative hype's a useful tool in sports commentary, and Lopes definitely knows his stuff when it comes to his chosen game.
Men's volleyball's still growing across much of the continent. It's probably gonna hit its zenith somewhere between flag football and pickleball. But if you catch a match in person, prepare to be hooked — just like they said about hockey for decades.
Long Beach State freshman Moni Nikolov, a 6-foot-8 setter with an explosive serve, gets his fair share of attention. And rightly so, considering his star-studded team is ranked No. 1 and bagged the top seed in the NCAAs. But something tells me Lopes missed seeing a certain four-ace bombardment on Saturday night here at UH. That's when the Beach's serve receive, fronted by libero 'Eleu Choy, was sheer magic.
UH coach Charlie Wade said it was the difference between winning and losing. Hitting a baseball may be the hardest thing in sports, but preventing Nikolov's missiles from reaching the floor just might challenge that claim.
"Yeah, like a cutter," Choy chuckled softly.
Choy speaks highly of everyone — Nikolov, his opponents, his teammates. He didn't mind Lopes overlooking UH's serve-receive or passionate fan base, just focusing on playing his best for his brothers and letting the love for volleyball shine in Hawaii. It's a special thing, volleyball in Hawaii — almost like a state pride and joy.
If Lopes hasn't seen 10,000 fans at a UH game yet, he's missing out. It's a different vibe in Hawaii when it comes to college volleyball. Fans are passionate, loyal, and undeniably proud of their Warriors. They've got a rich volleyball history, and that passion shows.
Lopes is cool about the UH stuff, but he needs to see and feel that passionate energy to truly understand the magic of men's volleyball in Hawaii.
Oh, and Lopes might want to do some research on that Long Beach State coach Alan Knipe. He's right when he says Hawaii has an advantage playing these big matches at home, especially the conference championship. But UH fans have the right to be disappointed, considering the team lost two out of three to the Beach, including the conference title. But it's a nice chip for the Hawaii players to keep in their pockets as they challenge other teams in the NCAA tournament.
Back in the '90s, the UH teams that filled the house had a front man, Yuval Katz. But these Warriors have something different — depth and teamwork. Rosenthal and Choy keep the team in check, strong and focused, even when unfairly targeted by opponents.
Lopes gushed over the crowd sizes and the atmosphere in other venues. Well, he needs to see 10,000 fans to truly understand the passion of men's volleyball in Hawaii.
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- Vinnie Lopes, the founder and editor of "Off The Block," a website dedicated to men's volleyball since 2011, might want to learn more about the passionate volleyball culture in Hawaii.
- Although men's volleyball is still growing across much of the continent, catching a live college volleyball game in Hawaii is a unique experience, with fans showcasing a strong passion and pride for their Warriors.
- At the UH men's volleyball games, you might find crowds as large as 10,000 people, demonstrating a distinct level of enthusiasm that Lopes, who hasn't experienced a UH game, might be missing out on.
- Hawaiian college volleyball carries a rich history, and the atmosphere at games is a testament to the cultivation of local talent, such as libero 'Eleu Choy and the rest of the UH team, who recently faced strong competition like Long Beach State in the conference championship.
