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Pan Am Games volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Canada

One day after rallying to win its group-play opener, the United States has a chance Tuesday to clinch a spot in the Pan American Games quarterfinals.

The U.S. Men’s Volleyball Pan American Games Team will continue group play at the international tournament with a match against Canada on Tuesday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The United States enters the second of its three group-play matches in second place in Group B. The first-place team in each of the two groups will receive a bye into the semifinals, while the second and third place teams will compete in the quarterfinals.
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Patak, Ciarelli rally US in Pan Am Games opener vs. Puerto Rico

It wasn’t pretty at times, but the U.S. Men’s Volleyball Pan American Games Team survived an upset scare in its group-play opener.

The United States rallied from A 2-1 deficit to win the final two games and defeat Puerto Rico 22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-13 on Monday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The United States (1-0, 1-0 Group B) in the decisive fifth game trailed 12-9 before going on a 6-1 run to close out the match.
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Pan Am Games volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Puerto Rico

The United States will begin its attempt to capture the country’s first men’s volleyball gold medal at the Pan American Games in more than 20 years.

The U.S. Men’s Pan American Games Volleyball Team will open the international tournament with a pool-play match against Puerto Rico on Monday.

The Pan American Games is a multi-sport competition held every four years for North and South America countries. It is the largest multi-sport event besides the Olympics.
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UCLA continues to roll in preseason, sweeps alumni match

UCLA outside attacker Matt Hanley had a match-high 11 kills as the Bruins swept its alumni squad 25-22, 25-22, 25-15 in an exhibition match Saturday at the John Wooden Center.

Hanley finished the match with a .600 attack percentage and added a match-high two aces. The redshirt sophomore started four matches for the Bruins last year and had 40 total kills during the regular season.

Along with Hanley, outside attackers Ryal Jagd and Kene Izuchukwu each had five kills in the victory.
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Long Beach State vs. Stanford rematch highlights preseason tourney

Six months after Long Beach State upset Stanford in the conference tournament, the two teams will have a preseason rematch.

Long Beach State and Stanford will play a full best-of-five game exhibition match Saturday at the Walter Pyramid as part of the preseason LBSU Fall Tournament.

“It is 100 percent exhibition matches this weekend and they don’t go on our record, but you ask any of our players and they want to win them too,” Long Beach State interim head coach Andy Read said.
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BYU All-American Tavana out indefinitely with undisclosed injury

BYU could be without its All-American middle attacker for a significant portion of the upcoming season.

The BYU athletics department informed Off the Block Tuesday that Futi Tavana had surgery this summer to repair an undisclosed injury and is out indefinitely.

Tavana, a senior, was a First-Team All-American last season after finishing the regular season first in the MPSF and second in the nation with a 1.50 blocks per game average. He also won the inaugural Off the Block Blocker of the Year award, which is given to the nation’s best front-row defensive player.
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Pepperdine hires former All-American Hakala as assistant coach

A former All-American and professional European champion will be part of the Pepperdine coaching staff this upcoming season.

Pepperdine men’s volleyball head coach Marv Dunphy announced Friday that he hired Lauri Hakala to be an assistant coach for the 2012 season.

Hakala, a native of Finland, played outside attacker for Hawai’i from 2005-07 and was named a First-Team All-American outside attacker in 2006. In addition, as a senior Hakala averaged 4.35 kills per game — the fifth best single-season average in the Warriors’ program history.
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Northridge, UCLA cap strong preseason start at USC Fall Invite

After finishing last season tied for last place in the MPSF, Cal State Northridge opened its preseason undefeated at the USC Fall Invitational.

The Matadors won all four of their matches Saturday to end the two-day preseason tournament 6-0 — the only team to finish undefeated.

Cal State Northridge defeated three teams that reached the 2011 MPSF Tournament, including the host team USC. In addition, freshman outside attacker Julius Hoefer had match-high 17 kills in a victory against Lewis.
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Long Beach, Northridge dominate opening day of USC Fall Invite

Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge both remain undefeated after the opening day of the USC Fall Invitational.

Long Beach State, which reached the MPSF Tournament semifinals last season, opened its preseason Friday with a sweep against USC and then defeated UCLA in three games. In addition, Cal State Northridge after missing the conference tournament last year, swept Lewis and Cal Baptist in its first two matches of the tournament.

Along with Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge, USC and UCLA split their two matches Friday.
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