Off the Block

Tag: USC

  • George Mason releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    Non-conference matches against USC and Pepperdine and a rematch against Penn State highlights the 2012 George Mason regular season schedule that the team released Tuesday.

    The Patriots finished last season in second place in the EIVA Tait Division and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals. George Mason has four starters returning for the upcoming season, including All-EIVA outside attacker Mark Jones.

    Check out the five things to take away from George Mason’s schedule for the 2012 season.
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  • Former USC All-American Dave Yoder dies of leukemia

    A former All-American and all-conference outside attacker for USC died during the weekend.

    Dave Yoder, 46 years old, died Friday in Mission Viejo, Calif., after a lengthy battle with lymphocytic leukemia.

    Yoder was a four-year starting outside attacker at USC from 1984-87 and helped lead the Trojans to three Final Four appearances. As a senior, he was named a Second-Team All-American and to the all-conference second-team.
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  • Dunlap dominant, UCLA wins twice at home preseason tourney

    All-MPSF middle attacker Wes Dunlap had a team-high combined 27 kills as UCLA won both its matches on the final day of its preseason home tournament.

    Dunlap in the Bruins’ opening match led the team with 14 kills to help UCLA defeat UC Santa Barbara 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11 on Saturday morning at the SAC Tournament.
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  • Cal State Northridge, USC win in first day of preseason tourney

    Less than one year after finishing tied for last place in the MPSF, Cal State Northridge remains undefeated in the preseason.

    Cal State Northridge swept UC Santa Barbara 25-20, 27-25, 25-15 in the opening day of the SAC Tournament on Friday in Los Angeles.

    Outside attacker Julius Hofer had a team-high 19 kills in the victory as the Matadors improved to 7-0 in preseason play.
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  • Four MPSF teams to compete at UCLA’s preseason SAC Tourney

    Four West Coast teams will conclude their preseason this weekend at UCLA’s annual two-day fall tournament.

    UCLA, USC, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge will play at the SAC Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles.

    Each team will play one match Friday afternoon and two matches Saturday. In addition, all matches will be played at the SAC Gym, which is located on the UCLA campus just north of the John Wooden Center.
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  • Patak, Ciarelli rally US in Pan Am Games opener vs. Puerto Rico

    It wasn’t pretty at times, but the U.S. Men’s Volleyball Pan American Games Team survived an upset scare in its group-play opener.

    The United States rallied from A 2-1 deficit to win the final two games and defeat Puerto Rico 22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-13 on Monday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

    The United States (1-0, 1-0 Group B) in the decisive fifth game trailed 12-9 before going on a 6-1 run to close out the match.
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  • Northridge, UCLA cap strong preseason start at USC Fall Invite

    After finishing last season tied for last place in the MPSF, Cal State Northridge opened its preseason undefeated at the USC Fall Invitational.

    The Matadors won all four of their matches Saturday to end the two-day preseason tournament 6-0 — the only team to finish undefeated.

    Cal State Northridge defeated three teams that reached the 2011 MPSF Tournament, including the host team USC. In addition, freshman outside attacker Julius Hoefer had match-high 17 kills in a victory against Lewis.
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  • Long Beach, Northridge dominate opening day of USC Fall Invite

    Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge both remain undefeated after the opening day of the USC Fall Invitational.

    Long Beach State, which reached the MPSF Tournament semifinals last season, opened its preseason Friday with a sweep against USC and then defeated UCLA in three games. In addition, Cal State Northridge after missing the conference tournament last year, swept Lewis and Cal Baptist in its first two matches of the tournament.

    Along with Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge, USC and UCLA split their two matches Friday.
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  • Trojans to unveil new look squad at preseason USC Fall Invitational

    Opponents and fans will get their first look at a rebuilt USC team this weekend.

    After losing three All-Americans from a team that reached the Final Four last season, the Trojans will open their preseason Friday at home with the USC Fall Invitational.

    USC coach Bill Ferguson said Thursday that he expects to use multiple lineups in the Trojans’ five matches during the two-day preseason tournament at the Galen Center Pavilion.
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  • Top USC recruit Christenson to battle in preseason for starting setter

    A top freshman recruit will be on the USC roster for the upcoming season.

    USC coach Bill Ferguson said Thursday that freshman setter Micah Christenson, the 2011 Honolulu Star-Advertiser Boys Volleyball Player of the Year, will not be redshirted and could be in the starting lineup for the 2012 season.

    Christenson will compete against junior Jeff Carlson throughout the preseason for the Trojans’ starting setter position, Ferguson said.
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