College - Off the Block

May 7, 2011August 13, 2014

The men’s volleyball NCAA championship match to follow tonight

By the end of tonight Ohio State or UC Santa Barbara will be celebrating its first national championship in program history.

The No. 3 seed Buckeyes will play the No. 4 Gauchos seed in the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament championship match tonight in University Park, Pa, after both teams pulled upsets in the semifinals. This is fifth time UC Santa Barbara has reached the national championship match while Ohio State will make its third appearance in the 42-year history of the NCAA Tournament.

The championship match will begin at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN2.

Here’s what to know about NCAA Tournament championship match that volleyball and non-volleyball fans need to follow tonight.
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May 6, 2011August 13, 2014

Players trying out for World University Games team to scrimmage at Penn State

More than 15 current or recently graduated college men’s volleyball players will participate tonight in an inter-squad scrimmage as part of the World University Games team tryout.

The U.S. Men’s National Training Team inter-squad scrimmage will begin at 8 p.m. Friday in University Park, Pa., and is part of the week-long volleyball extravaganza in conjunction with the NCAA Tournament being played at Penn State.
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May 6, 2011August 13, 2014

Initial look at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament championship match

One match is left in the 2011 season to decide the men’s volleyball national champion.

Ohio State and UC Santa Barbara will play in the NCAA championship match at 7 p.m. Saturday in University Park, Pa. Here is an initial look and historical information you need to know heading into the championship match.
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May 6, 2011August 13, 2014

Postmatch news conference: Penn State vs. Ohio State

For the first time in 11 years, the Buckeyes are back in the national championship match.

The No. 3 seed Ohio State upset the No. 2 seed Penn State in four games in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday in University Park, Pa., to advance to the title match on Saturday.

The Buckeyes had four players with at least 10 kills as it out-hit the Nittany Lions .292 to .140. Ohio State outside attacker John Klanac finished the match a with a team-high 16 kills, while outside attacker Shawn Sangrey had 15 kills in the victory.
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May 6, 2011August 13, 2014

Postmatch news conference: USC vs. UC Santa Barbara

Fear the underdog Gauchos.

UC Santa Barbara will take its historic postseason run all the way to the national championship match as it upset USC in four games in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday in University Park, Pa.

Middle attacker Dylan Davis had a season-high 15 kills and was one of three Gauchos with at least 15 kills in the victory. UC Santa Barbara also out-hit USC .394 to. .333, including hitting .500 in the final game.
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May 6, 2011August 13, 2014

UC Santa Barbara, Ohio State advance to NCAA championship match

For the first time in their program histories, either Ohio State or UC Santa Barbara will win the men’s volleyball NCAA championship.

The Buckeyes and Gauchos advanced to the national championship match on Saturday after both teams won their NCAA Tournament semifinals matches in four games Thursday at University Park, Pa.

The No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara upset the No. 1 seed USC in the first semifinal match at Rec Hall, while the No. 2 seed Ohio State defeated the home team and No. 3 seed Penn State in the other semifinals.
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May 6, 2011August 13, 2014

Final Four live chat: No. 2 seed Penn State vs. No. 3 seed Ohio State

Off the Block will be providing live coverage to the NCAA Tournament semifinals match between the No. 2 seed Penn State and the No. 3 seed Ohio State.

Penn State (24-6, 10-0 EIVA) is playing in its 13th consecutive Final Four and is attempting to become the 12th team in men’s volleyball history to win a national championship when it is also hosting the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State (24-6, 11-1 MIVA) defeated Loyola on Saturday in the MIVA championship match to advance to the Final Four and became the first MIVA team to win four straight conference titles since Ball State in the 1960s.

The match starts at 9:20 p.m. (EST). Check out the live chat below for instant updates and to interact with other fans or pose questions for Off the Block to answer.
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May 5, 2011August 13, 2014

Final Four live chat: No. 1 seed USC vs. No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara

Off the Block will be providing live coverage to the NCAA Tournament semifinals match between the No. 1 seed USC and the No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara.

USC (23-3, 20-2 MPSF) received the lone at-large bid to the championship after winning the MPSF regular season title and being ranked No. 1 throughout the entire season. UC Santa Barbara (17-14, 11-11 MPSF) defeated three top-five ranked teams in the conference tournament, including defeating USC in the championship match Saturday, to receive the MPSF’s automatic bid to the Final Four.

The match starts at 7 p.m. (EST). Check out the live chat below for instant updates and to interact with other fans or pose questions for Off the Block to answer.
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May 5, 2011August 13, 2014

Men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament semifinal matches to follow tonight

After more than four months and 400 matches, determining the two teams in the national championship will come down to one night and two matches.

The No. 1 seed USC will try to reach its second national championship match in three years as it plays the No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara in the opening NCAA semifinals match at 7 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa. In addition, the No. 2 seed Penn State, which is hosting the NCAA Tournament, and the No. 3 seed Ohio State will renew one of the oldest men’s volleyball rivals in the other NCAA semifinals match at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Check the NCAA Tournament matches to follow tonight.
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May 5, 2011September 19, 2011

USC outside attacker Troy named AVCA National Player of the Year

The top-ranked team in the nation now official has the best player in the nation.

USC outside attacker Murphy Troy on Thursday was named the 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Men’s National Player of the Year.
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