Match-point video: Lewis knocks off UC Irvine in fifth-game OT

Preseason All-American Tyler Mitchem converted on a match-winning kill attempt as No. 6/7 Lewis defeated No. 8/8 UC Irvine 25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 22-20 on Thursday in Irvine, California.

Mitchem finished with nine kills and a team-high three blocks, including a block during the 14-point overtime that set up the match-point. Continue reading “Match-point video: Lewis knocks off UC Irvine in fifth-game OT”

Audio: UC Irvine coach proud of team’s play in season-opening sweep of No. 10 Princeton

[Editor’s note: Off the Block conducted a postmatch interview with UC Irvine coach David Kniffin following the season-opening victory. Listen to the full interview embedded above.]

A new setter but still the same productive UC Irvine offense.

Redshirt freshman setter Patrick Vorenkamp making his college debut guided the offense to a .316 attack percentage as No. 8 UC Irvine swept No. 10 Princeton 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 on Sunday in Irvine, California, in the nation’s inaugural match of the 2020 season. Continue reading “Audio: UC Irvine coach proud of team’s play in season-opening sweep of No. 10 Princeton”

Eight moments that led to USC earning final at-large bid

Photo by Jonathan Bates

They may have seemed insignificant at the time but there are several moments throughout the season that contributed to USC edging out UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara for the final at-large to the NCAA Tournament.

Check out the eight moments from this season that if things went differently could have led to a different result in the at-large bid race. Continue reading “Eight moments that led to USC earning final at-large bid”

Bracketology: Team comparisons using selection committee criteria

Two weeks before the start of the college men’s volleyball postseason and the bracketology battle teams remain tight.

Off the Block crunched the numbers using the same criteria as the selection committee to show how the top teams in the nation fare against each other in the race for the two at-large bids and NCAA Tournament positioning. Continue reading “Bracketology: Team comparisons using selection committee criteria”

Bracketology: Team comparisons using selection committee criteria

Yes, Long Beach State and Hawai’i have likely locked-up the top-two seeds for the NCAA Tournament, but there are still plenty of tight races remaining one month before the bracket is unveiled.

Off the Block crunched the numbers using the same criteria as the selection committee to show how the top teams in the nation fare against each other in the race for the two at-large bids and NCAA Tournament positioning. Continue reading “Bracketology: Team comparisons using selection committee criteria”

Off the Block announces college men’s volleyball national matches of weekend

Photo courtesy of Hawai’i athletics

There are plenty of compelling matches this weekend across all levels of college men’s volleyball.

Check out the Off the Block National Matches of the Weekend for NCAA Division I-II, NCAA Division III and NAIA men’s volleyball. Continue reading “Off the Block announces college men’s volleyball national matches of weekend”

Asian tour gives UC Irvine head start to 2019 season

Photo by Jonathan Bates

Brendan Yu | Special Contributor

Following an early exit from the NCAA Tournament last season, it’s tempting to say UC Irvine is entering the 2019 season looking to rectify that loss from the previous season.

Coach David Kniffin, now entering his seventh year at the helm, said as much in the team’s postgame news conference after the season-ending loss to Ohio State, noting that it felt like “unfinished business.” Continue reading “Asian tour gives UC Irvine head start to 2019 season”