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The strength of Samson was too much for any NAIA mascot to overcome.
Samson the Lion (Vanguard) received more than 500 votes to beat Champ the Cougar (St. Xavier) in the championship round on Tuesday to win the inaugural Off the Block/Frisco Mo NAIA Men’s Volleyball Mascot Challenge.
This event recognized some of the best mascots in NAIA men’s volleyball and let fans determine the champion through online voting on the Off the Block website. The mascot challenge at the start had a 12-mascot tournament field with both Samson and Champ going undefeated in the round-robin stage to reach the semifinals and then the finals.
Samson in the two-day championship round received 70.34 percent of the 843 votes cast.
Along with the championship title, Vanguard will receive a $50 donation from Off the Block that will go towards helping Samson attend a men’s volleyball match during the 2021 season.
Samson garnered a combined 1,700 votes throughout the week-long tournament. Similar to the championship round, he received more 500 votes in the semifinals to beat Troll (Trinity Christina) and advance to the finals.
Vanguard in 2020 ended its inaugural men’s volleyball season at No. 8 in the national coaches poll and had an upset victory against the NCAA Division III powerhouse Springfield.
This was one of two mascot challenges that Off the Block has organized this year. Cosmo (BYU) won the 2020 Off the Block/TallSlim Tees Mascot Challenge for NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams.
Off the Block is a national award winning website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.
Frisco Mo, the official sponsor of this mascot challenge, is an online store committed to producing volleyball apparel and decor that is unique and emphasizes the fun of volleyball.