Category: Division I-II

#9/9 Penn State (2-1, 0-0 EIVA) vs. #13 USC (3-3, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 11:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video, Online Radio

#6/6 UC Irvine (5-1, 0-0 Big West) vs. Benedictine-AZ (2-0)
Match vitals: 11:00 a.m. in Phoenix, AZ
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats

Belmont Abbey (1-1) at Lincoln-Memorial (1-2)
Match vitals: 1:00 p.m. in Harrogate, TN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

#3/3 Ohio State (3-1, 0-0 MIVA) at #2/2 UCLA (6-0, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 1:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video, Online Radio

Alderson-Broaddus (0-4) at Lees McRae (1-2, 0-0 Conf. Carolinas)
Match vitals: 2:00 p.m. in Banner Elk, NC
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

North Greenville (2-3, 0-0 Conf. Carolinas) at Charleston (2-0, 0-0 EIVA)
Match vitals: 2:00 p.m. in Charleston, WV
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Queens (1-3) at Limestone (0-5, 0-0 Conf. Carolinas)
Match vitals: 4:00 p.m. in Gaffney, SC
Follow live: Live Stats, Online Video

#6/6 UC Irvine (5-1, 0-0 Big West) at #12 Grand Canyon (6-1, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 6:00 p.m. in Phoenix, AZ
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

UC Santa Barbara (2-1, 0-0 Big West) at #10/10 Pepperdine (1-1, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 6:00 p.m. in Malibu, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

#14 St. Francis (4-3, 0-0 EIVA) at #7/8 Loyola-Chicago 3-2. 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Chicago, IL
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Quincy (2-0, 0-0 MIVA) at Lindenwood (3-1, 0-1 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles, MO
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Benedictine-IL (2-0) at #11 Lewis (2-3, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Romeoville, IL
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

#1/1 Long Beach State (6-0, 0-0 Big West) at Stanford (1-5, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Stanford, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Concordia-Irvine (2-0, 0-0 MPSF) at UC San Diego (4-1, 0-0 Big West)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in La Jolla, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Harvard (0-1, 0-0 EIVA) at #15 Ball State (3-2, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. in Muncie, IN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video, Online Radio

Barton (0-4, 0-0 Conf. Carolinas) at #4/5 BYU (5-1, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 8:00 p.m. in Provo, UT
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Sacred Heart (0-1, 0-0 EIVA) at Fort Wayne (5-0, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 8:00 p.m. in Fort Wayne, IN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video, Online Radio

Brandon Johnson | Off the Block special contributor

Match Info
– AVCA Men’s Volleyball Showcase Tournament
– Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
– Ohio State def USC 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21)

The #3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes opened up the 2018 AVCA Showcase Tournament with a convincing four set win over the USC Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Set scores were 25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21.

Nicolas Szerszen led the way with 17 kills, three aces and six digs, as the Buckeyes shook off a lackluster third set to pick up an important neutral court victory. Pauley Pavilion will be the host site of the NCAA Championship in early May. Ohio State will return to action on Saturday to face host UCLA to close out the tournament.

“We are a pretty young team this year”, Szerszen said. “We are trying to find ourselves right now…I thought today was a good win.”

Sanil Thomas, in his first year as the starting setter for OSU, handed out 44 assists and led the Buckeyes to a .327 hitting efficiency. Blake Leeson shook off his first hitting error of the season to finish with seven kills (.500) to go along with five blocks. Jake Hanes came off the bench and fired back-to-back aces to end the match.

Jack Wyett had a huge match for the Trojans, firing 18 kills and hitting .424. Ryan Moss chipped in 12 kills and Chris Hall dished out 39 assists.

Match Info
– AVCA Men’s Volleyball Showcase Tournament
– Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
– UCLA def Penn State 3-1 (25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 22-22)

Behind the strong play of setter Micah Ma’a and dominant middle attacking, the host UCLA Bruins closed out Penn State in four sets in the nightcap of the 2018 AVCA Showcase Tournament. Set Scores were 25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22.

Ma’a racked 42 assists and six digs while setting the Bruins to a .359 hitting efficiency. Middle Blockers Daenan Gyimah (eight kills) and Oliver Martin (seven kills) combined for 15 kills and one error on 20 swings (.700).

Despite the win against a top 10 opponent, Ma’a is looking forward to the closing match of the showcase. “What’s there not to be excited about?” Ma’a said. “Those guys (Ohio State) are the defending National Champions, and we will never forget how they knocked us out [in 2016].”

The Buckeyes knocked off UCLA in the 2016 National Semifinals on the way to the first of their back-to-back national championships.

“That’s who you train for”, Ma’a added. “You go through everyone one game at a time, but it is nice to see their name coming up soon.”

Aidan Albrecht led Penn State with 13 kills, but the Nittany Lions hit just .186 for the match and we out blocked 11.5 to 4 by their counterparts.

Penn State will continue play at the AVCA Showcase when they take on USC on Saturday. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m. PST. Ohio State and UCLA will follow immediately after. Both matches will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks.

Brandon Johnson is a special contributor for Off the Block. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of Off the Block.

North Greenville (1-3, 0-0 Conference Carolinas) at Bluefield (3-2)
Match vitals: 5:00 p.m. in Bluefield, VA
Follow live: Online Video

NJIT (0-5, 0-0 EIVA) vs. #6/6 UC Irvine (4-1, 0-0 Big West)
Match vitals: 6:00 p.m. in Phoenix, AZ
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats

Concordia-Irvine (1-0, 0-0 MPSF) vs #8/7 CSUN (5-0, 0-0 Big West)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Northridge, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Harvard (0-0, 0-0 EIVA) at Fort Wayne (4-0, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Fort Wayne, IN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video, Online Radio

Grand View (1-0) at #7/8 Loyola-Chicago (2-2, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Chicago, IL
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats

Coker (2-1) at Queens (1-2)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Charlotte, NC
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

#14 St. Francis (4-2. 0-0 EIVA) at #11 Lewis (1-3, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Romeoville, IL
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Alderson-Broaddus (0-2) at Lincoln-Memorial (0-2)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Harrogate, TN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Park (0-0) at Quincy (1-0, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Quincy, IL
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Mount Olive (1-2, 0-0 Conf. Carolinas) at George Mason (1-4, 0-0 EIVA)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Fairfax, VA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Barton (0-3, 0-0 Conf. Carolinas) at #4/5 BYU (4-1. 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in Provo, UT
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

UC Santa Cruz (6-0) at UC San Diego (3-1. 0-0 Big West)
Match vitals: 7:00 p.m. in La Jolla, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Sacred Heart (0-0, 0-0 EIVA) at #15 Ball St. (2-2. 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. in Muncie, IN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

Huge thanks go out to Off the Block Blog Associate Editor, Jonathan Bates, and Special Contributor, Brandon Johnson, for grabbing these six videos from the AVCA Showcase on UCLA’s campus on Thursday night.

Ohio State MB Blake Leeson

Ohio State OH Nicolas Szerzen

Ohio Head Coach Pete Hanson

UCLA Setter Micah Ma’a

Penn State Head Coach Mark Pavlik

Motor MVB’s Wade Garard

Non-Conference Matches
#2/2 UCLA def. #9/9 Penn State, 3-1 (25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22)
#3/3 Ohio State def. #13 USC, 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21)
#12 Grand Canyon def. NJIT, 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-14)
King def. Alderson-Broaddus. 3-0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-17)

Conference Matches
McKendree def. Lindenwood, 3-0 (25-19. 25-22. 25-17)

Offensive Player of the Night
Ohio State OH Nicolas Szerzen hit .529 on the night (17-2-29) with 3 aces and even 6 digs to boot in the Buckeyes’ win over USC.

Defensive Player of the Night
We could have gone with Lindenwood Libero, Ryan Vorderer, but the nod goes to UCLA OH JT Hatch who had 7 digs (tie for team high) and 5 blocks.

Check out all the matches today involving NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams and how to follow them live.

Match of the Day
#9/9 Penn State (2-0, 0-0 EIVA) vs. #2/2 UCLA (5-0, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video, Online Radio
What to know: A top 10 matchup highlights day one of the 2018 AVCA Men’s Volleyball Showcase as the Nittany Lions travel to Los Angeles to take on the Bruins. Penn State is off to a hot start behind the strong play of redshirt sophomore setter Luke Braswell. Braswell is averaging 9.86 assists per set and has guided the Nittany Lions to a .522 hitting efficiency. Calvin Mende has been nearly unstoppable through three two matches, collecting 23 kills on 35 swings with just one error (.629). Jalen Penrose has moved to the middle blocker position this season and has responded nicely, hitting .600 in the team’s two wins. UCLA enters the match with a perfect 5-0 record behind the setting of Micah Ma’a, as the Bruins have returned to a more traditional 5-1 offense. As a team, the Bruins are hitting .347 on the season and have 42 team aces. Splitting time between libero and outside hitter, J.T. Hatch is hitting .459 on 30 kills to go along with 1.82 digs per set.

#3/3 Ohio State (2-1, 0-0 MIVA) vs. #13 USC (3-2, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 5:00 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live Stats, Online Video

NJIT (0-5, 0-0 EIVA) vs. #12 Grand Canyon (5-2, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 6 p.m. in Phoenix, AZ
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live stats, Online video

McKendree (2-4, 0-0 MIVA) vs. Lindenwood (3-0, 0-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in St. Charles, MO
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live stats, Online video

Alderson-Broaddus (0-2) vs. King (1-2, 0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Bristol, TN
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live stats, Online video

Non-Conference Matches
#8/7 CSUN def. Stanford, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 26-14)

Player of the Night
Sophomore OH Ksawery Tomsia led CSUN in kills (12), aces (5), and digs (5).

Brandon Johnson | Off the Block special contributor

Four of the most decorated programs in men’s volleyball history will meet in Los Angeles this week as the 2018 AVCA Men’s Volleyball Showcase takes place at Pauley Pavilion. #9 Penn State, #3 Ohio State and #13 USC will join host #2 UCLA for matches on Thursday and Saturday.

The action kicks off on Thursday as Ohio State (2-1) and USC (3-2) meet at 5 p.m. PST. Penn State (2-0) will face off against UCLA (4-0) with a scheduled start time of 8 p.m. PST. Each match will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

On Saturday, USC will take on Penn State at 11 a.m. PST, followed directly by Ohio State against UCLA.

In total, the four programs have combined for 28 out of the 46 national championships ever awarded in the sport, including the last two by the Buckeyes.

The Teams:
Penn State
Penn State comes into the showcase having won their first two matches against Mount Olive and Alderson-Broaddus. The Nittany Lion’s hot start is largely attributed to the play of setter Luke Braswell. Braswell is averaging 9.86 assists per set and has guided the Nittany Lions to a .522 hitting efficiency. In addition, Calvin Mende is hitting .629 on the young season, collecting 23 kills with just one error.

Ohio State
Despite graduating Christy Blough, Miles Johnson, Driss Guessous and Gabriel Domecus, the two-time defending champions have their sights set on a third straight title. Blake Leeson (.630) and Nicolas Szerszen (.423) are off to hot starts and the Buckeyes are hitting .347 as a team.

USC
The Trojans jumped out to a quick 3-0 start to the season, but have come back to earth dropping their last two matches to Hawaii and U.C. Irvine. Setter Gert Lisha is averaging 9.85 assists per set, while Gianluca Grasso has collected 4.82 kills per set to go along with nine aces. Jack Wyett collected double-digit kills in four of the team’s first five matches.

UCLA
Setter Micah Ma’a has led the Bruins to a perfect start through three matches as the Bruins are hitting .357 as a team. In addition, the Bruins have 42 team aces already. Daenan Gyimah is hitting .429 in the early going and has 10 of the team’s aces. UCLA rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat U.C. Irvine on January 10th for early top-5 victory.

Each Team’s X Factor:
Jalen Penrose, Penn State
The uber-athletic Penrose has found consistent playing time early in the 2018 season as a middle blocker. He has responded well so far to the transition, hitting .600 through two matches.

Sam Lewis, USC
The freshman sensation burst onto the scene opening night against Princeton with an 11 kill on 14 errorless swing night (.786). He has yet to slow down and it currently hitting .625 on the season.

Sanil Thomas, Ohio State
In his first year as the full-time setter, Thomas is averaging 10.67 assists per set while leading the Buckeyes to a .347 hitting percentage.

J.T. Hatch, UCLA
Hatch has taken on a dual role this year, dividing his playing time between libero and outside hitter. He is currently averaging 2.11 digs per set while also collecting eight kills on 14 errorless swings (.571).

Pauley Pavilion will also be the host of the NCAA Championship May 3-5

Brandon Johnson is a special contributor for Off the Block. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of Off the Block.

CSUN (4-0, 0-0 Big West) at Stanford (1-4, 0-0 MPSF)
Match vitals: 6 p.m. in Stanford, CA
Follow live: In-Match Tweets, Live stats, Online video

All ten voters selected Long Beach State as their top team on their ballot in the first Off the Block/Springbak media poll of 2018. The 49ers are fresh off a successful Midwest road trip, where they defeated Lewis and Loyola. The 49ers will visit the Farm this weekend to take on Stanford.

UCLA is off to a 5-0 start, and beat out out Ohio State for the 2nd spot in the media poll by two points. The Bruins rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat UC Irvine on January 10th.
Ohio State is third, after losing to BYU in #CincoSets in Columbus, this past Saturday. Both the Bruins and Buckeyes will face off on Saturday in Westwood as part of the AVCA Men’s College Showcase Tournament.

BYU beat out Hawai’i for the fourth spot in the media, on the strength of their road victory over Ohio State. The Cougars’ lone blemish is a five set home loss to Loyola-Chicago.
Hawaii takes the fifth spot as the Rainbow Warriors are 6-0, including five sweeps.

Rounding out the top 10 are UC Irvine, Loyola, CSUN, Penn State, and Pepperdine.

Also receiving votes were Lewis, Grand Canyon, Lindenwood, St. Francis, and Stanford.

The Week 3 media poll will be released next Tuesday, January 23.

The Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Media Poll is the only rankings in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball solely determined by media members. The 10 teams receiving the most votes are ranked in the National Media Poll, while other schools earning votes but finishing outside of the top 10 are considered teams receiving votes.

Off the Block is a website that started in January 2011 and has become the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage. Springbak, Inc. is the official sponsor of the National Media Poll and produces high performance footwear used by professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and U.S. Olympic teams and the top college teams in the nation.

OFF THE BLOCK/SPRINGBAK, INC. NATIONAL MEDIA POLL (Week 2)
1. Long Beach State — 100 (10) points
2. UCLA — 79 points
3. Ohio State – 77 points
4. BYU – 68 points
5. Hawai’i — 67 points
6. UC Irvine — 59 points
7. Loyola-Chicago — 36 points
8. CSUN — 29 points
9. Penn State — 13 points
10. Pepperdine — 12 points
Others receiving votes: Lewis 5; Grand Canyon 2; Lindenwood 1; St. Francis 1; and Stanford 1