Off the Block

Author: vinnielopes

  • USA loses in five games to Korea, to await World Championship fate

    The U.S. Youth Boys’ National Team will have to wait to find out its semifinal fate at the World Championship.

    No. 9 United States lost to the previously winless No. 19 Korea 25-20, 20-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-11 in its consolation second-round pool-play finale on Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    The loss temporary puts the United States (2-4, 1-2 Pool H, 3 points) in a three-way tie for second place in Pool H with Korea (1-5, 1-2 Pool H, 3 points) and No. 2 Russia (3-2, 1-1 Pool H, 3 points). The top two teams in Pool H following the three-match consolation second round will advance to the semifinals for ninth-place.
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  • 5 storylines for men’s volleyball fans to follow this NCAA women’s volleyball season

    With the start of the NCAA women’s volleyball season today, it means the men’s volleyball season is about four months away from beginning.

    It’s still the offseason, but men’s and women’s volleyball do not exist completely separate of each other — and there are plenty of tie-ins for the college men’s volleyball fan to follow during the 2011 women’s volleyball season.

    Check out the top five storylines for the college men’s volleyball fan to follow this women’s volleyball season.
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  • Youth World Championship volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Korea

    The U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team has a chance on the final day of second-round play to clinch a spot in the semifinals for ninth place at the World Championship.

    Less than 24 hours after upsetting No. 2 Russia, No. 9 United States will play No. 19 Korea in its consolation second-round pool-play finale at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. EST) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    The United States enters today in third place in Pool H, while Korea is in last place. The top two teams in Pool H following the three-match consolation second round will advance to play for a ninth-place finish in the 16-team international tournament.
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  • Pepperdine recruit Tarantino directs USA to upset victory against No. 2 Russia

    With the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team at match-point in the fifth game, it was fitting that outside attacker Matthew Tarantino got the final kill to upset No. 2 Russia.

    Tarantino had a match-high 19 kills as the No. 9 United States defeated Russia 25-20, 20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13 in its World Championship consolation second-round pool-play match Thursday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    The victory keeps the United States (2-3, 1-1 Pool H, 2 points) alive for a chance to finish the international tournament in ninth place. It was also the highest ranked team any U.S. junior or youth team has defeated in tournament-play this year.
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  • UCLA releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    The final regular season schedule in Hall of Fame coach Al Scates’ 50-year tenure at UCLA was released Wednesday.

    The only coach in UCLA men’s volleyball history announced in May that he would retire at the end the 2012 season. Sactes and the Bruins enter the upcoming season with six returning starters after finishing last season in eighth place in the MPSF and losing in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

    Check out the five things to take away from UCLA’s schedule for the 2012 season.
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  • Youth World Championship volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Russia

    The chances of the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team finishing outside the bottom four places at World Championship largely depends to it being able to defeat one of the world’s top ranked teams.

    No. 9 United States will continue its consolation second-round pool-play with a match agianst No. 2 Russia on Thursday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    The United States after losing its second-round Pool H opener must defeat Russia to remain alive for a ninth to 12th place finish at the World Championship. The top two teams in Pool H following the three-match consolation second round will advance to play for a ninth-place finish in the 16-team international tournament.
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  • No. 9 USA can’t upset No. 4 Iran, loses 2nd-round opener at World Championship

    The troubles for the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team at the World Championship have continued into the second round.

    No. 9 United States committed 29 errors as it lost to No. 4 Iran 25-21, 22-25, 25-16, 25-18 in its consolation bracket second-round opener on Wednesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    Along with committing 10 less than errors than the United States (1-3, 0-1 Pool H), Iran out-blocked the United States 14-8 in the victory.
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  • Former Gaucho All-American Gorman to be enshrined into UCSB Hall of Fame

    A two-time All-American for the UC Santa Barbara men’s volleyball team was selected for the school’s athletics hall of fame.

    The UC Santa Barbara athletics department announced Monday that Mike Gorman will be a member of the 2012 class inducted into the UCSB Hall of Fame.

    Gorman in the final two years of his college career was a First-Team All-American in 1982 and a Second-Team All-American in 1983. As a junior, he also helped lead the Gauchos to a second place finish in the Southern California Intercollegiate Volleyball Association — the school’s best finish in the conference during the 1980s.
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  • Youth World Championship volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Iran

    After two days off, the United States will resume play at the World Championship in the consolation bracket.

    No. 9 United States will play No. 4 Iran in its consolation second round pool-play opener Wednesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    The United States, Iran, No. 2 Russia and No. 19 Korea are in the consolation Pool H after all four teams failed to advance to the second round. The two top teams in Pool H following the three-match consolation second round will advance to play for a ninth-place finish in the 16-team international tournament.
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  • Conference Carolinas school Erskine adds men’s volleyball for 2013 season

    A new team will join the Conference Carolinas for the 2013 season.

    Erskine College announced Monday that it will add men’s volleyball as an intercollegiate sport for the 2012-13 school year and the team will compete in the Division II conference for its inaugural season.

    Erskine, a Christian liberal arts college located in South Carolina, was already a member of the Conference Carolinas. The school will have 14 teams playing in the conference for the 2011-12 school year.
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