Off the Block

Author: vinnielopes

  • World Championship men’s volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Japan

    The equation for the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team is simple entering its final pool-play match: win and it moves into the second round of the World Championship.

    One day after losing to the defending champions Brazil to drop into a tie for second place in Pool A, No. 9 United States will play first-place No. 13 Japan on Wednesday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The top two teams in each of the four World Championship pool at the end the three pool-play matches will advance to the second round.
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  • USA on brink of elimination from World Championship, loses to Brazil in 4 games

    The defending World Championship champions regained its swagger and in the process put the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team one match away from elimination.

    No. 6 Brazil defeated No. 9 United States 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19 to move into a tie for second place with the United States in Pool A on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.

    The top two teams in each pool following the three-match pool-play round will advance to the World Championship second round. With its victory, Brazil (1-1, 1-1 Pool A) holds the head-to-head tie-breaker over the United States (1-1, 1-1 Pool A) for the final spot into the next round.
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  • USA Volleyball reveals roster for 2011 World University Games

    Five current college men’s volleyball players and seven recent graduates will represent the United States at the World University Games.

    USA Volleyball announced Monday its 12-player roster and six alternates for the 2011 World University Games on Aug. 12-23 in Shenzhen, China.

    “The team motto is ‘The Tradition Continues,’” head coach Gordon Mayforth said in a statement released Monday. “The USA has had a long tradition of doing well at this event. When you read the players and names on the list, I think we should expect to be in the mix.”
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  • World Championship men’s volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Brazil

    The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team will play its toughest opponent in pool play with a chance to advance to the second round of the World Championships.

    After winning its pool-play opener in three games Monday, the No. 9 United States will play No. 6 Brazil on Tuesday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The United States and Brazil are among the four teams in Pool A. The top two teams in Pool A following the three pool-play matches will advance to the second round.
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  • France leaves Rutgers-Newark, returns to NYU as assistant coach

    After spending four years as the Rutgers-Newark head coach, Karl France is returning to NYU.

    The Division III school announced Monday that it has hired France for the second time in his career to be an assistant coach on the NYU men’s volleyball team.

    “I am very happy to be back working with Coach [Jose] Pina,” France said in a statement released Monday. “We work well together and have had success in the past. I feel that with the added excitement of a NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship and a solid nucleus returning, the sky is the limit for NYU men’s volleyball.”
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  • BYU’s Sander leads U.S. in sweep against Bulgaria at World Championship

    Playing in his first World Championship match, U.S. and BYU All-American outside attacker Taylor Sander was quick to make a name for himself

    Sander had a match-high 11 kills as the No. 9 U.S. Men’s Junior National Team swept No. 15 Bulgaria 25-22, 25-18, 25-21 in its pool-play opener Monday at the World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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  • World Championship men’s volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Bulgaria

    The U.S. Men’s Junior National Team’s goal of capturing its first medal in the 34-year history of the World Championship officially begins this afternoon.

    No. 9 United States will play its pool-play opener against No. 15 Bulgaria on Monday in Brazil.

    Along with playing Bulgaria, the United States will play the two other teams in Pool A — No. 7 Brazil and No. 13 Japan — later this week. The top two teams in Pool A following the three pool-play matches will advance to the quarterfinals.
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  • 49ers outside attacker Crabb named U.S. captain for World Championship

    There will be a new Captain America at the biggest international men’s junior volleyball tournament.

    Long Beach State outside attacker Taylor Crabb was selected as the captain of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team for the 2011 World Championship tournament that starts Monday.

    This is the second year Crabb has played for the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team and competed at the international level.
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  • Former All-American Seiffert returns to Long Beach State as assistant coach

    A former All-American and member of the last Long Beach State team to win a NCAA championship will join the 49ers coaching staff.

    Long Beach State announced Tuesday that Chris Seiffert was hired as an assistant coach for the 2012 season.

    Seiffert, a three-time All-American setter, played at Long Beach State from 1997-2000 and as a junior helped lead the 49ers to the 1999 championship. More than a decade since the end of his college career, he remains second all-time in school history with a 17.08 career assists per game average.
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  • Q&A with new BYU head coach Chris McGown

    Chris McGown can’t help but have a little flashback every time he enters his BYU coaching office.

    As a teenager McGown would run into the same office every week to visit his father, Carl McGown the BYU men’s volleyball head coach. Almost 25 years later it is now the son working out that office — and just like his father working to coach BYU to a NCAA championship.

    The Cougars in June hired McGown, an assistant coach with the BYU women’s volleyball team, to become the new head coach of the BYU men’s volleyball team.
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