Off the Block is a website that focuses on college men’s volleyball news and analysis. With its in-depth and year-round coverage of the sport, the website has become the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage. Off the Block in 2017 was presented with the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award — becoming one of the few media organizations to win the annual award for outstanding volleyball coverage.
Along with its coverage, Off the Block is responsible for coordinating and presenting numerous national and weekly awards in college men’s volleyball. It also coordinates and distributes the weekly National Media Poll and the weekly Division II National Coaches Poll.
Off the Block is an independent media organization that believes in providing all its content for free without a paywall in the effort to promote and grow the game. The website is able to sustain itself through the support of sponsors and donations from readers.
The Off the Block Team
Vinnie Lopes
Founder and Editor
Preferred pronouns: he/him/his
Vinnie created Off the Block in January 2011 and continues to serve as the editor. He has been the first to report on countless men’s volleyball stories, including the NCAA Tournament expansion. Vinnie has emerged in recent years as the nation’s leading college men’s volleyball bracketologist. Through interpreting data, Vinnie has been able to help better inform the public about the selection process of the NCAA Tournament field.
Vinnie, a graduate of Ball State University, began covering men’s volleyball for The Ball State Daily News in the 2007 season. After graduating, Vinnie continued to cover men’s volleyball — this time reporting on Purdue Fort Wayne for The News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also was a broadcast analyst for Lipscomb women’s volleyball home matches from 2014-17.
Among his awards for sports coverage, USA Volleyball presented Vinnie with the E. Douglas Boyden Media Recognition Award in 2014. Vinnie was the first college sports reporter to win the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award for newspaper volleyball reporting. In addition, he was the inaugural winner of the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award social media category in 2013 for Off the Block’s social media coverage of college men’s volleyball.
Vinnie published his first volleyball history book “The Volleyball Debate,” which examines the controversial start of the men’s volleyball program at Ball State. He currently resides in Nashville with his wife Ali and their daughter Adler.
Jonathan Bates
Associate Editor
Preferred pronouns: he/him/his
Jonathan joined Off the Block in 2014 and has become one of the most prominent college men’s volleyball reporters on the West Coast. Within the last five years, Jonathan has covered more than 100 matches for Off the Block and provided readers with video highlights of matches and insightful post-match interviews with players. He also coordinates and oversees the weekly Off the Block Division II National Media Poll.
Jonathan has established a strong social media presence with his Twitter handle @MPSF_bias where he provides live updates of matches and his random volleyball observations. His engaging social media personality also led to him coining the now popular volleyball term #CincoSets, which describes a match going to a decisive fifth game.
When not covering volleyball, Jonathan can be found shopping at Costco, working as a statistician for sports broadcasts and trolling other Off the Block staff members on the group text.
Brandon Johnson
Senior contributor
Preferred pronouns: he/him/his
Brandon joined the Off the Block team in attempt to help grow the game. As a volleyball nerd, and native of the Los Angeles area, he has been connected to the volleyball community for more than 10 years. Currently the boys’ varsity volleyball coach at West Ranch High School and a physical education teacher at Placerita Junior High, Brandon is dedicated to helping grow the men’s game, starting at the high school level. Brandon joined Off the Block because he believes in the work of the website and its dedication to provide tireless, consistent and meaningful work for men’s volleyball.
Love your blog!! Thanks for all the info.
Great articles Vinnie. I share your articles on my facebook page and my users really enjoy your work. Thanks!
Are you a player yourself, Vinnie?