The 2013 Blockys: Honoring the best and oddest in college volleyball

About two weeks since the 2013 season ended, and the college men’s volleyball withdrawal has set in.

In an attempt to help battle this withdrawal and put a wrap on the season, Off the Block is presenting the second-annual Blockys. The Blockys are Off the Block editor Vinnie Lopes’ awards recognizing the good, the bad, the goofy and the odd from the recent college volleyball season.

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Committee chairman: NCAA Tourney play-in match won’t affect MPSF

Don’t expect any MPSF teams to play in the soon-to-be created men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament play-in match any time in the upcoming seasons.

NCAA men’s volleyball committee chairman Brian Santiago said at the recent MPSF league meeting that the new play-in match featuring two conference champions “will not directly impact MPSF teams,” according to the minutes released from the meeting.
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7 college recruits selected to initial roster for U.S. Youth National Team

Seven incoming college men’s volleyball freshman recruits are among the players being considered to represent the United States at the one of the world’s biggest international tournament this summer.

USA Volleyball announced Monday that seven high school seniors were among the 17 players selected to the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Training Team for the upcoming FIVB U-19 Youth World Championship.
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Half of D I-II schools get higher attendance for men’s than women’s volleyball

It was an even split among colleges with both men’s and women’s volleyball teams for the program that had the higher home attendance during the most recent season.

Nineteen of the nation’s 38 schools with both a NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball team and women’s volleyball team drew a bigger home attendance average for men’s volleyball, according to attendance numbers collected from athletics departments during the 2012-13 school year.
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BYU finishes 2013 season with nation’s top home attendance

For the second consecutive year, BYU ends the season leading the nation in home attendance.

The Cougars led all NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams with a 3,019 home match attendance average — beating all other schools by more than 300 people per match.
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Top 5 college men’s volleyball storylines to follow this offseason

The eight-month offseason is here, but the news doesn’t stop for college men’s volleyball.

From a possible play-in match being created for the NCAA Tournament to every team trying to compile its ideal schedule for the upcoming season, there are numerous storylines to track before the 2014 season begins in January.

Check out the top five offseason college men’s volleyball storylines to follow during the next eight months.
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Top 13 things to take away from the 2013 college men’s volleyball season

The 2013 college men’s volleyball season is over and could not have been more memorable.

Everything from UC Irvine winning its second consecutive NCAA championship on Saturday to massive regular season upsets and individual performances highlighted the four-month season.

Check out the top 13 performances, matches and events that will be remembered about the 2013 season.
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Video: Reaction, analysis to UC Irvine winning NCAA championship

For the first time 17 years, a team has won back-to-back men’s volleyball NCAA championships.

The No. 2 seed UC Irvine swept the No. 1 seed BYU on Saturday in Los Angeles to win its second consecutive national championship and the program’s fourth title in the last seven years. Off the Block editor Vinnie Lopes breaks down the NCAA Tournament championship and results of the champions means for both the Anteaters and Cougars. Continue reading