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Thanks to its readers Off the Block has reached a new milestone.
Off the Block on Wednesday night surpassed 1 million all-time online page views in the website’s history.
Off the Block launched in January 2011 and within the last four years has emerged as one of the nation’s leaders in college men’s volleyball coverage. The website in that time has written almost 2,000 stories about NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball ranging from match coverage to in-depth interviews with some of the top individuals in the sport.
Check out this look at the stories and content that led to Off the Block reaching 1 million all-time page views.
THE PLACE FOR COLLEGE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Off the Block in its first four years has reported on everything from NCAA Tournament expansion to coaching changes. Here’s some of the top stories from Off the Block.
Committee chairman discusses tournament seeding (May 2011)
OH-IO: Ohio State beats UCSB to win 2011 NCAA title (May 2011)
Q&A with UCLA coach Al Scates on decision to retire (May 2011)
U.S. beats Spain to reach World Championship semifinals (August 2011)
EIVA issues statement of support for Penn State volleyball (December 2011)
Servegate call overturned again (April 2012)
NCAA chairman: At-large bid may be ‘most difficult selection’ in years (April 2012)
‘Rip ‘Em, now Crow ‘Em: UC Irvine wins NCAA title (May 2012)
The challenge to grow the college men’s volleyball game (May 2012)
Decision made: Speraw leaves UC Irvine to become UCLA head coach (June 2012)
Pepperdine to vacate 2008 MPSF title because of NCAA violations (July 2012)
Harvard ends Penn State’s 5-year EIVA winning streak (February 2013)
Q&A with newly hired U.S. head coach John Speraw (March 2013)
Committee chairman: True NCAA Tournament expansion not happening (April 2013)
UC Irvine earns lone at-large bid to NCAA Tournament (April 2013)
Zot, Zot again: UC Irvine shocks BYU to win NCAA championship (May 2013)
EIVA, Conference champions to meet in 2014 NCAA play-in match (June 2013)
Q&A with Pacific AD Ted Leland about proposal to cut men’s volleyball (September 2013)
NCAA Tournament to have 2 play-in matches starting in 2014 (October 2013)
MPSF commissioner criticizes new men’s volleyball RPI (October 2013)
Off the Block to present inaugural Lloy Ball Award (December 2013)
Princeton rallies to get first win vs. Penn State since 1998 (March 2014)
Stanford, Lewis receive at-large bids to 2014 NCAA Tournament (April 2014)
Q&A with selection committee chairman about at-large bid controversy (April 2014)
Off the Block live from the 2014 NCAA Tournament (May 2014)
Still dreaming: Loyola pounds Stanford to win program’s first NCAA title (May 2014)
Off the Block releases first NCAA rally scoring era record book (July 2014)
State of the Game: Q&A with AVCA executive director Kathy DeBoer (August 2014)
Off the Block to present inaugural Bryan Ivie Award (November 2014)
RPI added to selection committee criteria for 2015 NCAA Tournament (November 2014)
Extra week added to NCAA Tournament starting in 2016 (November 2014)
Off the Block campaign raises $500 to help low-income volleyball center (December 2014)
Ball State, IPFW win inaugural Off the Block East vs. Midwest Challenge (January 2015)
Hawai’i AD proposes cutting men’s volleyball program (February 2015)
USC makes epic comeback vs. BYU (February 2015)
No. 2 Lewis beats No. 1 Loyola in MIVAgeddon (March 2015)
Q&A with committee chairman about upcoming selection process (March 2015)
Hawai’i clinches playoff home match with comeback win (March 2015)
BRACKETOLOGY
Off the Block since its inception in 2011 as provided bracketology leading up to the NCAA Tournament. The bracketology, though, has been more than guesses. Off the Block using the same criteria as the selection committee has provided its readers with the projected data that the committee members had when determining the NCAA Tournament field. Off the Block in its first four years of bracketology has accurately projected 94 percent of the teams in the NCAA Tournament and 72 percent of the teams’ NCAA Tournament seed. Check out each season’s final bracketology.
2011 Final Bracketology
2012 Final Bracketology
2013 Final Bracketology
2014 Final Bracketology
NATIONAL AWARDS
Off the Block as one of the nation’s leading media outlets in college men’s volleyball presents a variety of player and media awards each year to recognize outstanding individual performances. Each award Off the Block created was a result of there being no award like it and a need for it in college men’s volleyball. Check out the list of national awards Off the Block currently presents each season.
Lloy Ball Award
Bryan Ivie Award
Karch Kiraly Award
National Blocker of the Year
National Server of the Year
Freshmen All-American Team
Preseason All-American Team
Fan Choice National Player of the Year
National Freshman of the Week
National Player of the Month
Best Men’s Volleyball Online Coverage of the Year
Conference Reporters of the Year
MOST VIEWED STORIES ON OFF THE BLOCK
1. Stanford, Lewis receive at-large bids to 2014 NCAA Tournament
2. Off the Block announces 2013 Preseason All-American Team
3. NCAA Tournament to have 2 play-in matches starting in 2014
4. Off the Block announces 2014 Preseason All-American Team
5. The 2013 Blockys: Honoring the best and oddest in college volleyball
6. 2014 NCAA Tournament semifinals preview
7. Off the Block announces 2015 Preseason All-American Team
8. 2015 Season Preview: Every team in a sentence or two
9. BYU recruits lead U.S. to 2014 NORCECA quarterfinals
10. Off the Block/Springbak announce 2014 Freshmen All-American Team
THE VALUT
When Off the Block first launched in January 2011 there was an uncertainty in the direction to take the blog. However, it quickly became clear that Off the Block had an opportunity to fill a need by providing its readers with the latest college men’s volleyball news. Check out the first five stories editor and founder Vinnie Lopes published on Off the Block.
And we’re back and better than ever
My media poll voting philosophy
My men’s volleyball media poll ballot
The top five matches to follow this weekend
Debate for final two spots in media poll ballot