Off the Block

Category: MIVA

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

    Ohio State men’s volleyball coach Pete Hanson, along with setter Steven Kehoe and middle attacker Kevin Heine held a news conference Wednesday to discuss its upcoming NCAA Tournament match.

    The No. 3 seed Ohio State will play the No. 2 seed Penn State in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at 9 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa.

    The Buckeyes (24-6, 11-1 MIVA) reached their four consecutive NCAA Tournament after winning the MIVA championship, but have failed advance beyond the semifinals during that stretch.

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

  • NCAA volleyball chairman discusses tournament seeding

    UC Santa Barbara being the No. 4 seed was a simple matter of the numbers for NCAA men’s volleyball committee chairman Bob Krimmel.

    The NCAA released its four-team men’s volleyball championship tournament bracket Sunday pitting UC Santa Barbara against the No. 1 seed USC in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday. It’s one of the few times in the tournament’s 41-year history that two West Coast schools will play each other in the opening round.
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  • Initial look at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament semifinals

    After four months of regular season matches and conference tournaments, the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament is upon us.

    The NCAA announced the four-team tournament field and semifinals pairings Sunday afternoon. Here is an initial look and historical information you need to know heading into the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday at Penn State.
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  • Gauchos crash the party, win MPSF title to receive automatic bid to Final Four

    The Gauchos have upset all the way to crashing the Final Four party.

    The No. 7 seed UC Santa Barbara as it defeated No. 1 USC 20-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 16-14 on Saturday to win the MPSF championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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  • Ohio State rallies to win fourth straight MIVA title, advances to Final Four

    Ohio State was able to overcome an early deficit to win its record fourth consecutive conference title and advance to the Final Four.

    Ohio State defeated Loyola 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-17 in the MIVA Tournament championship match on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, to receive conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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  • Conference championship men’s volleyball matches to follow tonight

    After four months of conference matches, it comes down to tonight to determine who gets the three automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.

    The EIVA, MIVA and MPSF championship matches will be play tonight with the winners advance to the Final Four next week. While all the No. 1 seeds remain in the three tournaments, several teams are looking to crash the Final Four, including Loyola and UC Santa Barbara.

    Check out the conference tournament championship matches to follow tonight.
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  • 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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