George Mason schedules home match vs. UC Irvine for 2019

Photo courtesy of George Mason athletics

[Editor’s note: Off the Block in collaboration with the EIVA is presenting The Top 15 EIVA Non-Conference Matches. This list spotlights the best non-conference matches scheduled for EIVA teams in 2019 and will be the first time several of these matches have been publicly announced. George Mason versus UC Irvine is ranked No. 2 on the list.]

George Mason will get a shot on its home court next season to end the 24-year drought against a likely preseason top-10 nationally ranked team. Continue reading “George Mason schedules home match vs. UC Irvine for 2019”

Charleston schedules 2019 non-conference match vs. UC Irvine

Photo by Jay Sowers

[Editor’s note: Off the Block in collaboration with the EIVA is presenting The Top 15 EIVA Non-Conference Matches. This list spotlights the best non-conference matches scheduled for EIVA teams in 2019 and will be the first time several of these matches have been publicly announced. Charleston versus UC Irvine is ranked No. 13 on the list.]

The second time traveling out west in Charleston’s program history will feature a match against a likely top-10 national ranked team. Continue reading “Charleston schedules 2019 non-conference match vs. UC Irvine”

Club team featuring eight NCAA recruits wins USA Volleyball national title

The club careers for eight incoming NCAA men’s volleyball freshmen now includes leading their program to an unprecedented fourth straight national title.

The Southern California team 949 B12 Black swept Balboa Bay 25-16, 25-21 in the Open 18 Division championship match at the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championship earlier this week in Phoenix, Arizona. Continue reading “Club team featuring eight NCAA recruits wins USA Volleyball national title”

Stanford, UC Irvine players make Canadian Junior National Team

Photo courtesy of the FIVB

Two NCAA men’s volleyball players have been selected to play for Canada as the country tries to qualify for the 2019 FIVB U21 World Championship.

UC Irvine opposite Alexandre Nsakanda and Stanford libero Justin Lui were among the players named to the Canadian Men’s Junior National Team that announced its roster earlier this week. Continue reading “Stanford, UC Irvine players make Canadian Junior National Team”

Video: Ohio State edges UC Irvine in fifth-game OT to advance to VolleyFour

Freshman opposite Jake Hanes had a match-high 22 kills and set a NCAA Tournament single-match record with eight aces as Ohio State beat UC Irvine on Tuesday.

Check out the video highlights of this NCAA Tournament first-round match filmed by Off the Block associate editor Jonathan Bates. Continue reading “Video: Ohio State edges UC Irvine in fifth-game OT to advance to VolleyFour”

Freshman Hanes delivers big for Ohio State senior class in NCAA win

Photo courtesy of The Ohio State University athletics.

Brendan Yu | Off the Block special contributor

The NCAA Tournament first round on Tuesday in the Pauley Pavilion featured a slugfest between two heavyweights in the world of men’s volleyball – UC Irvine and Ohio State – whom together have combined for seven of the last 10 national championships. But while the Anteaters held more titles than the Buckeyes (4-3), the recent success of both programs couldn’t have been more different. Continue reading “Freshman Hanes delivers big for Ohio State senior class in NCAA win”

Szerszen, Hanes propel Ohio State to epic NCAA Tournament win

Photo by Jonathan Bates

Outside attacker Nicolas Szerszen delivered at least one more memorable performance in his All-American college career.

The senior had the match-winning kill in a fifth-game overtime as Ohio State defeated UC Irvine 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 16-14 in the NCAA Tournament first round on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Continue reading “Szerszen, Hanes propel Ohio State to epic NCAA Tournament win”