Off the Block

Tag: Penn State

  • Finalists selected for inaugural Off the Block Fan Choice Offseason Award

    UPDATE: Click here to vote in the online poll that is now open.

    Eight college men’s volleyball players have been selected as finalists for the 2011 Off the Block Fan Choice Offseason Award.

    The Offseason Award recognizes the best performances from current NCAA men’s volleyball players in international tournaments during the summer and gives volleyball fans from around the nation the chance to determine who was the best player.

    Off the Block selected the finalists for this inaugural award, which includes UCLA middle attacker Thomas Amberg, USC setter Micah Christenson, UC Irvine outside attacker Carson Clark, UC Santa Barbara middle attacker Dylan Davis, UCLA outside attacker Gonzalo Quiroga, Penn State middle attacker Aaron Russell, BYU outside attacker Taylor Sander and Pepperdine outside attacker Matthew Tarantino.
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  • 5 storylines for men’s volleyball fans to follow this NCAA women’s volleyball season

    With the start of the NCAA women’s volleyball season today, it means the men’s volleyball season is about four months away from beginning.

    It’s still the offseason, but men’s and women’s volleyball do not exist completely separate of each other — and there are plenty of tie-ins for the college men’s volleyball fan to follow during the 2011 women’s volleyball season.

    Check out the top five storylines for the college men’s volleyball fan to follow this women’s volleyball season.
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  • Sacred Heart releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about the schedule

    The first schedule for a team in the new-look EIVA is out as Sacred Heart announced its 2012 regular season schedule earlier this week.

    Sacred Heart, along with the other seven EIVA teams, will play 14 conference matches — a four match increase from last season.

    The Pioneers last season finished in third place in the EIVA Hay Division and failed to qualify for the EIVA Tournament. Sacred Heart have four starters returning, including outside attacker Enzo Mackenzie who was named to the Second-Team All-EIVA as a freshman.

    Check out the five things to take away from Sacred Heart’s schedule for the 2012 season.
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  • UCLA, Lewis, Springfield in, Penn State out for 2012 Outrigger Invitational

    One of the biggest men’s volleyball non-conference tournaments will have a different look from previous seasons in 2012.

    Hawai’i coach Charlie Wade said Thursday that UCLA, Lewis and Springfield College will play in the 2012 Outrigger Invitational in January. It is the first time in the 17-year history of the Hawai’i home tournament that Springfield College will play in it and the first time for Lewis since 2005.

    “There is no shortage of teams that want to come out here and play in Hawaii,” Wade said. “It’s going to be fun to play them, and it’s going to be fun for our fans to see some nice teams come out that they don’t normally get to see.”
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  • Long Beach State releases its 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about the schedule

    A six-match and seven-match homestand highlights Long Beach State’s 2012 schedule as the team Thursday released its 29-match regular season schedule for the upcoming season.

    The 49ers finished last season in sixth place in the MPSF and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals. Long Beach State, which was ranked in the top 10 of the final coaches poll, returns three starters from the 2011 season, including All-MPSF Freshman outside attacker Taylor Crabb.

    Check out the five things to take away from Long Beach State’s schedule for the 2012 season.
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  • 11 incoming freshmen win USA Volleyball junior national championship

    Eleven incoming Division I-II freshmen men’s volleyball players ended their junior careers as national champions.

    Balboa Bay 18 Quiksilver swept Santa Monica Beach Club 25-17, 25-23 to win the 18-Open Division championship at the 2011 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships on Saturday in Minneapolis.

    Balboa Bay, a volleyball club located in Southern California, went undefeated and lost one set in its 11 matches during the four-day tournament. Eleven of the 12 players on the Balboa Bay roster had committed to a Division I-II men’s volleyball team prior to the national tournament.
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  • U.S. Men’s Junior National Team roster announced for 2011 World Championship

    Fifteen current college men’s volleyball players will play for the United States in the World Championship.

    USA Volleyball announced Monday its U.S. Men’s Junior National Team 12-player roster and seven alternates for the 2011 FIVB Men’s Junior (U-21) World Championship in Brazil.

    “Most of our players have played a major role on their collegiate teams and that experience should carry over quite well for us,” head coach John Hawks said in statement released Monday. “I feel like we are not going to be physically outmatched by anyone. This year’s team has tremendous depth and we can start a wide variety of lineups and still maintain a high level of cohesion on the court.”
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  • EIVA to reduce conference tournament to 4 teams starting next season

    The EIVA Tournament will be more difficult for teams to make starting in 2012.

    The EIVA voted at its annual league meeting to reduce its conference tournament from seven to four teams next season.

    “This puts an emphasis on the regular season,” Penn State coach Mark Pavlik said. “You got to be at your best through the EIVA regular season schedule to be in the top four and hopefully that creates competition among the eight teams.”
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  • Off the Block Fan Choice Player of the Year: Round 3

    Off the Block created the bracket and seeded 64 of the best Division I-II men’s volleyball players. Now it’s up to you determine who should be the Off the Block Fan Choice Player of the Year.

    After the first and second round, 16 players remain in the only national player of the year award that is completely determined by the fans.

    The online voting for the eight second-round matches will end at 11 p.m. Friday. The winners will advance to the regional finals Saturday.

    Check out the third-round online ballots below and vote for the players who you think should move to the next round.
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  • Off the Block Fan Choice Player of the Year: Round 2

    Off the Block created the bracket and seeded 64 of the best college men’s volleyball players. Now it’s up to you determine who should be the Off the Block Fan Choice Player of the Year.

    After the first round, 32 players remain in the only national player of the year award that is completely determined by the fans.

    The online voting for the 16 second-round matches will end at 11 p.m. Thursday. The winners will advance to the third round Friday.

    Check out the second-round online ballots below and vote for the players who you think should move to the next round.

    [Editor’s note: The poll results for the second round matches Murphy Troy vs. Joshua Walker and Joe Sander vs. Jay Petty are not appearing for some people when viewing this page. Walker defeated Troy 147-132 and Sander defeated Petty 144-37.]

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