Off the Block

Category: Division I-II

  • Puerto Rico sweep of Canada gives USA quarterfinals berth

    Less than six hours before its group-play finale, the United States has clinched a spot in the Pan American Games quarterfinals thanks to Puerto Rico.

    Puerto Rico swept Canada 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 on Wednesday afternoon, which secured the U.S. Men’s Volleyball Pan American Games Team a top-three finish in Group B and a quarterfinals berth.

    The United States (1-1, 1-1 Group B, 5 pts.) entered the final day of the three-match group-play round in second place in its four-team group after losing to Canada on Tuesday.
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  • Pan Am Games volleyball match to follow today: USA vs. Brazil

    A nationally televised audience will be able to see if the United States can clinch a spot in the Pan American Games quarterfinals on the final day of group-play.

    With the match airing live on ESPN2, the U.S. Men’s Volleyball Pan American Games Team will play first-place Brazil in its group-play finale at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. EST) on Wednesday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

    The United States is in second place in the four-team Group B. The first-place team in each group will receive a bye to the semifinals, while the second and third place teams will compete in the quarterfinals.
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  • USA to wait on quarterfinals berth, drops marathon match to Canada

    A match that featured two overtimes and took almost three hours to complete has now pushed the United States closer towards the brink of elimination from the Pan American Games.

    The U.S. Men’s Volleyball Pan American Games Team lost to Canada 21-25, 25-23, 37-39, 35-33, 15-12 on Tuesday in Guadalajara, Mexico and failed to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals entering the final day of group play.

    With this loss, the United States (1-1, 1-1 Group B, 5 points) remains in second place in Group B and is still likely to clinch a quarterfinals berth. However, it will have to defeat first-place Brazil in its group-play finale or get some help to be assured a spot in the quarterfinals.
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  • 13 schools below NCAA national average in latest GSR report

    More than half of Division I men’s volleyball teams are below the national average for student-athletes who entered college in 2004 and earned their degrees within six years.

    Nine of the 22 men’s volleyball teams scored higher than the national average of 82 percent in the latest single-year Graduation Success Rates that the NCAA released Tuesday.

    The Graduation Success Rates measures the percentage of student-athletes in each class who graduate from college within six years. It also includes several factors not featured in the federal graduation rate, such as transfers and students who enroll during the middle of the school year, to give a more accurate assessment of academic success.
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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. The process of applying for a medical marijuana card in Florida involves visiting qualified physicians like DocMJ who can evaluate your condition especially when you also have to deal with injuries.

    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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  • Lewis names its All-MIVA middles captains for 2012 season

    The Flyers’ two all-conference middle attackers will be team captains this upcoming season.

    Lewis announced Sunday via the team’s Facebook fan page that seniors Matt Gallik and Aaron Flick were selected as captains for the 2012 season.
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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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