College - Off the Block

November 15, 2011November 15, 2011

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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November 15, 2011November 15, 2011

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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November 13, 2011November 13, 2011

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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November 12, 2011November 12, 2011

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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November 11, 2011November 11, 2011

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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November 8, 2011November 8, 2011

Hawai’i releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

A difficult six-week conference stretch and playing host to its annual Outrigger Invitational highlights the 2012 Hawai’i regular season schedule that the team released Monday.

Hawai’i finished last season in fifth place in the MPSF and lost in the first round of the conference tournament. The Warriors return four starters for the upcoming season and also have incoming freshman outside attacker JP Marks, who played for the Germany Junior and Youth National teams.

Check out the five things to take away from Hawai’i’s schedule for the 2012 season.
Continue reading “Hawai’i releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule”

November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

Pepperdine releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

A rematch between two Hall of Fame coaches and non-conference matches against Lewis and Penn State highlights the 2012 Pepperdine regular season schedule that the team released Saturday.

Pepperdine finished last season in ninth place in the MPSF and missed the conference tournament for the first time in its program history. The Waves have five returning starters, including outside attacker Maurice Torres who ended 2011 in the nation’s top 10 for kills per game average.

Check out the five things to take away from Pepperdine’s schedule for the 2012 season.
Continue reading “Pepperdine releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule”

November 4, 2011November 4, 2011

D-II men’s volleyball teams ineligible for new NCAA scholarship benefits

Five Division II men’s volleyball teams, despite playing in a conference with Division I schools, would be prohibited from providing an additional $2,000 to its full-ride scholarship athletes.

The NCAA informed Off the Block via email Thursday that its newly adopted scholarship policy only applies to Division I schools, and Division II schools regardless of conference affiliations would be ineligible from giving their players the extra benefit.

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted last week to allow schools to provide full-scholarship athletes up to an extra $2,000 for cost-of-living expenses. Schools would not be required to add the benefit, but the NCAA requested that conferences consider common applications.
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November 3, 2011November 3, 2011

Princeton releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

A three-match West Coast road trip and a nine-match homestand highlights the 2012 Princeton regular season schedule that the team released Thursday.

Princeton finished last season in last place in the EIVA Tait Division and did not qualify for the conference tournament. The Tigers have seven starters returning for the upcoming season, including outside attacker Jeff Stapleton.

Check out the five things to take away from Princeton’s schedule for the 2012 season.
Continue reading “Princeton releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule”

November 3, 2011November 3, 2011

Three Hawai’i matches to be nationally televised in upcoming season

Three Hawai’i home matches at the beginning of the 2012 season will be nationally televised.

The Hawai’i athletics department announced Tuesday that its men’s volleyball team’s matches against UC San Diego and UCLA in January will air live on Fox College Sports.

Hawai’i will open its season with a two-match series against UC San Diego on Jan. 5-6 with both matches being televised. In addition, Hawai’i will play UCLA to conclude its home non-conference tournament, the Outrigger Invitational, on Jan. 14.
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