Off the Block

Category: Division I-II

  • Postmatch news conference: Penn State vs. Ohio State

    For the first time in 11 years, the Buckeyes are back in the national championship match.

    The No. 3 seed Ohio State upset the No. 2 seed Penn State in four games in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday in University Park, Pa., to advance to the title match on Saturday.

    The Buckeyes had four players with at least 10 kills as it out-hit the Nittany Lions .292 to .140. Ohio State outside attacker John Klanac finished the match a with a team-high 16 kills, while outside attacker Shawn Sangrey had 15 kills in the victory.
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  • Postmatch news conference: USC vs. UC Santa Barbara

    Fear the underdog Gauchos.

    UC Santa Barbara will take its historic postseason run all the way to the national championship match as it upset USC in four games in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday in University Park, Pa.

    Middle attacker Dylan Davis had a season-high 15 kills and was one of three Gauchos with at least 15 kills in the victory. UC Santa Barbara also out-hit USC .394 to. .333, including hitting .500 in the final game.
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  • UC Santa Barbara, Ohio State advance to NCAA championship match

    For the first time in their program histories, either Ohio State or UC Santa Barbara will win the men’s volleyball NCAA championship.

    The Buckeyes and Gauchos advanced to the national championship match on Saturday after both teams won their NCAA Tournament semifinals matches in four games Thursday at University Park, Pa.

    The No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara upset the No. 1 seed USC in the first semifinal match at Rec Hall, while the No. 2 seed Ohio State defeated the home team and No. 3 seed Penn State in the other semifinals.
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  • Final Four live chat: No. 2 seed Penn State vs. No. 3 seed Ohio State

    Off the Block will be providing live coverage to the NCAA Tournament semifinals match between the No. 2 seed Penn State and the No. 3 seed Ohio State.

    Penn State (24-6, 10-0 EIVA) is playing in its 13th consecutive Final Four and is attempting to become the 12th team in men’s volleyball history to win a national championship when it is also hosting the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State (24-6, 11-1 MIVA) defeated Loyola on Saturday in the MIVA championship match to advance to the Final Four and became the first MIVA team to win four straight conference titles since Ball State in the 1960s.

    The match starts at 9:20 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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  • Final Four live chat: No. 1 seed USC vs. No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara

    Off the Block will be providing live coverage to the NCAA Tournament semifinals match between the No. 1 seed USC and the No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara.

    USC (23-3, 20-2 MPSF) received the lone at-large bid to the championship after winning the MPSF regular season title and being ranked No. 1 throughout the entire season. UC Santa Barbara (17-14, 11-11 MPSF) defeated three top-five ranked teams in the conference tournament, including defeating USC in the championship match Saturday, to receive the MPSF’s automatic bid to the Final Four.

    The match starts at 7 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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  • Men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament semifinal matches to follow tonight

    After more than four months and 400 matches, determining the two teams in the national championship will come down to one night and two matches.

    The No. 1 seed USC will try to reach its second national championship match in three years as it plays the No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara in the opening NCAA semifinals match at 7 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa. In addition, the No. 2 seed Penn State, which is hosting the NCAA Tournament, and the No. 3 seed Ohio State will renew one of the oldest men’s volleyball rivals in the other NCAA semifinals match at 9 p.m. Thursday.

    Check the NCAA Tournament matches to follow tonight.
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  • USC outside attacker Troy named AVCA National Player of the Year

    The top-ranked team in the nation now official has the best player in the nation.

    USC outside attacker Murphy Troy on Thursday was named the 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Men’s National Player of the Year.
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  • Q&A with USC at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament

    USC coach Bill Ferguson and senior co-captains Murphy Troy and Riley McKibbin held a news conference Wednesday to discuss their upcoming NCAA Tournament match.

    The No. 1 seed USC will play the No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa.

    The Trojans became the first team in 16 years to be ranked No. 1 from the preseason to the end of the regular season. This national semifinals match will also be a rematch of the MPSF championship match, which UC Santa Barbara won in five games Saturday.

    View an abridged version of the news conference below. (more…)

  • Q&A with UC Santa Barbara at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament

    UC Santa Barbara coach Rick McLaughlin along with outside attacker Jeff Menzel, libero Andy McGuire and middle attacker Scott Slaughter conducted a news conference Wednesday heading into their NCAA Tournament match.

    The No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara will play the No. 1 seed USC in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa.

    The Gauchos (17-14, 11-11 MPSF) defeated three top-five ranked teams in the conference tournament to become first No. 7 seed to ever in the MPSF Tournament and advance to the Final Four.

    View an abridged version of the news conference below. (more…)

  • Q&A with Penn State at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament

    Penn State coach Mark Pavlik along with outside attacker Joe Sunder, setter Edgardo Goas and libero Dennis Del Valle conducted a news conference Wednesday heading into their NCAA Tournament match.

    The No. 2 seed Penn State will play the No. 3 seed Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at 9 p.m. Thursday. The Final Four is this year is also being held on the Nittany Lions’ home year.

    View an abridged version of the news conference below. (more…)