Off the Block

Category: Ball State Cardinals

  • AVCA releases 2011 men’s volleyball All-American teams

    The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its men’s volleyball Division I-II All-American teams on Thursday.

    USC led all teams with three All-American selections — two First-Team All-Americans and a Second-Team All-American.

    The Trojans became the first team in 16 years to be ranked No. 1 from the preseason through the end of the regular season. All six of its starters also received all-conference accolades last week.

    Along with USC, Penn State and BYU had three All-American selections. The Nittany Lions and Cougars both had a First-Team All-American and two Second-Team All-Americans.

    UC Santa Barbara, Stanford and UC Irvine all had two players named All-Americans.

    A voting committee comprised of nine men’s volleyball coaches selected the All-American teams. The committee included Penn State coach Mark Pavlik, George Mason coach Fred Chao, Loyola coach Shane Davis, USC coach Bill Ferguson, Lewis coach Dan Friend, Stanford coach John Kotsy, UC Santa Barbara coach UC Santa Barbara, St. Francis coach Mike Rumbaugh and Ball State coach Joel Walton.

    Check out the players who received All-American honors this year.
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  • Conference tournament men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight

    The madness of April is officially upon us.

    Nine of the 10 conference tournament quarterfinal matches in the EIVA, MIVA and MPSF will be played tonight with the winners advancing to the semifinals while the losers’ seasons will likely be finished. These postseason matches to also feature eight of the top 10 ranked teams, including No. 2 BYU and No. 3 Stanford who are battling for the lone at-large bid to the Final Four.

    Check out the conference tournament matches to follow tonight.
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  • Aguillard, Nelson, Tavana named finalists for Blocker of the Year

    A nationwide voting committee selected Long Beach State middle attacker Antwain Aguillard, Ball State middle attacker Anders Nelson and BYU middle attacker Futi Tavana as finalists for the Off the Block Blocker of the Year.

    The Off the Block Blocker of the Year award is given to the nation’s best front-row defensive men’s volleyball player during the regular season. To be eligible for this award, a player must be on the active roster of a Division I-II men’s volleyball team.
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  • Initial look at the EIVA, MIVA and MPSF quarterfinal matches

    After four months of the regular season, the NCAA men’s volleyball postseason is final upon us.

    The EIVA, MIVA and MPSF will all begin their conference tournaments Friday and Saturday. Here is the initial look and the historical information you need to know about every conference tournament quarterfinals match before you fill out your bracket.
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  • Live chat: No. 7 Penn State vs. Ball State

    Off the Block will be in Muncie, Ind., tonight to give live coverage to the No. 7 Penn State versus Ball State non-conference match.

    Penn State enters tonight on a six match winning streak and will likely need to win if it wants remain in consideration for the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Ball State clinched the No. 3 seed for its conference tournament next week and is looking to snap a 10 match losing streak to the Nittany Lions.
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  • Top 5 men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight

    With no MPSF matches tonight, the focus of men’s volleyball is solely on the EIVA and MIVA.

    No. 7 Penn State and Ball State highlight the schedule tonight as they renew their non-conference rivalry that historically use to determine who was the best volleyball team east of the Mississippi River. In addition, Loyola is hoping to make history this weekend, while Princeton is looking to avoid history tonight.

    Check out the top five men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight.
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  • Live chat: Ball State vs. IPFW

    Off the Block is in Muncie, Ind., tonight to give live coverage of the Ball State versus IPFW match.

    The Cardinals with a victory can clinch the No. 3 seed in the MIVA Tournament, while the Mastodons are looking to stay alive for the No. 4 seed.

    The match starts at 7:30 p.m. (EST). Check out the live chat below for instant updates and to interact with other fans or pose questions for Off the Block to answer.
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  • Top 5 men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight

    It’s the aftermath tonight following a day featuring some of the biggest upsets of the season.

    After two of the top three ranked teams lost Friday, all five of the top ranked teams will be in action tonight. Highlighting the night is No. 1 USC and No. 3 Stanford both looking for wins after being upset. Outside of the MPSF, an in-state rivalry will be renewed tonight in Muncie, Ind., as Ball State looks to clinch the No. 3 seed in the MIVA Tournament.

    Check out the top five men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight
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  • Top 5 men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight

    All the conference regular season titles have been won, but everything else still remains unsettled two weeks away from the postseason tournaments.

    Six of the top 10 nationally ranked teams will play matches tonight that could have a significant implications on the seeding for the conference tournaments. Both No. 3 Stanford and No. 7 Hawai’i play nationally ranked teams as they try to position themselves to have home matches in the first round of the MPSF Tournament. In addition, Ball State looks to break a 10-year old curse and maintain the No. 3 seed for the MIVA Tournament.

    Check out the top five men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight.
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  • Top 5 men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight

    Multiple conference titles could be clinched tonight.

    No. 1 USC, No. 9 Penn State and Mount Olive can all clinch conference regular season title with victories today. Along with these teams, No. 6 Ohio State has a chance to become the first time in more than 10 years to finish the MIVA undefeated.

    Check out the top five men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight.
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