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Several new initiatives and awards were unveiled this week as part of the second annual off the Block Announcement Week.
Check out the highlights from Announcement Week and what new features to expect from Off the Block with the 2015 NCAA men’s volleyball season about to start in less than two months.
The Assist campaign
Off the Block launched its first philanthropic event to help grow the sport of volleyball in low-income areas around the award. The Assist is a crowd-funding campaign with the goal of raising enough money to provide 50 volleyballs and other volleyball equipment essentials to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt volleyball training center in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. Click here to read more about The Assist and to find out how to contribute to this cause.
Off the Block East vs. Midwest Challenge
Off the Block announced that Ball State, IPFW, Penn State and St. Francis will be part of the inaugural Off the Block East vs. Midwest Challenge in January. This new non-conference event was created in an effort to celebrate and honor the MIVA and EIVA — the nation’s two oldest college men’s volleyball conferences. Click here to read more about the upcoming Off the Block East vs. Midwest Challenge.
Bryan Ivie Award
Off the Block in the upcoming season will present the inaugural Bryan Ivie Award to the best opposite in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The Bryan Ivie Award — named after the two-time National Player of the Year recipient and USC All-American Bryan Ivie — will be the first national position-based award in college men’s volleyball history given to an opposite. Click here to read more about the Bryan Ivie Award.
National Outside Attacker of the Year award
Off the Block starting in 2015 will present the inaugural National Outside Attacker of the Year award. The new college men’s volleyball honor will be awarded to the best NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball outside attacker during the regular season. In addition, this award will be officially renamed in the upcoming weeks to honor a former standout outside attacker in college men’s volleyball history. Click here to read more about the National Award of the Year award.
Spike the Decibel Meter Challenge
The loudest college men’s volleyball crowd in be recognized and rewarded with Off the Block’s latest fan contest. The Spike the Decibel Meter Challenge is a new contest that will use decibel meters to measure what team has the loudest crowd during a men’s volleyball regular season home match. In addition, the men’s volleyball team that submits the highest decibel reading will earn a small financial donation for their program. Click here to read more about the Spike the Decibel Meter Challenge.