Off the Block

Category: College

  • UC Irvine beats professional Chinese team to open international tourney

    For the second time in the event’s three-year history, UC Irvine won a match at its preseason international tournament.

    UC Irvine swept Beijing BAIC Motor 25-22, 25-15, 29-27 on Monday in its pool-play opener at the Irvine International Volleyball Tournament.

    The Anteaters had aces late in the first and third games to close out Beijing. Setter Daniel Story had back-to-back aces in the opening game to give UC Irvine a 22-20 lead, while middle attacker Austin D’Amore had an ace in the third game to help force overtime.
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  • UC Irvine kicks off NCAA preseason with its international tournament

    UC Irvine will open the college men’s volleyball preseason Monday at its annual international tournament.

    UC Irvine will play Beijing BAIC Motor, a professional team from China, at 7 p.m. Monday in its pool-play opener at the 2011 Irvine International Volleyball Tournament.

    The Irvine International Volleyball Tournament is a six-day tournament and is the only preseason tournament that features a college men’s volleyball team playing professional teams from around the world. Six of the eight teams participating in the preseason tournament are international squads.
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  • Rutgers-Newark releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    Two matches against the defending EIVA champions Penn State and eight late-season conference matches highlights the 2012 Rutgers-Newark regular season schedule that the team released earlier this week.

    Rutgers-Newark finished last season in fourth place in the EIVA and lost in the conference tournament semifinals. The Scarlet Raiders have six starters returning for the upcoming season, including All-EIVA outside attacker Austin Pappas.

    Check out the five things to take away from Rutgers-Newark’s schedule for the 2012 season.
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  • BYU releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    Opening conference play with six matches against three of the top MPSF teams and non-conference matches versus Penn State highlights the 2012 BYU regular season schedule that the team released Tuesday.

    The Cougars ended the 2011 regular season No. 2 in the national rankings but were upset in the MPSF Tournament quarterfinals and missed the Final Four. New BYU head coach Chris McGown has six starters returning for the upcoming season, including All-American outside attackers Robb Stowell and Taylor Sander and All-American middle attacker Futi Tavana.

    Check out the five things to take away from BYU’s schedule for the 2012 season.
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  • Stanford assistant Shibuya named associate head coach for Cardinal

    A longtime Stanford assistant coach was promoted within the Cardinal coaching staff.

    The Stanford athletics department announced Friday that Ken Shibuya was named the associate head coach of the Cardinal men’s volleyball team for the upcoming season.

    Shibuya has served as an assistant coach on Stanford head coach John Kosty’s staff since 2006. In his six seasons with the Cardinal, Shibuya helped turn around the struggling program into a annual top 10 nationally ranked team and helped guide Stanford to the 2010 NCAA championship.
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  • USC releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    A rematch against the defending MPSF champions UC Santa Barbara and a non-conference match against Penn State highlights the USC 2012 regular season schedule that the team released Tuesday.

    USC finished last season ranked No. 1 in the final regular season coaches poll and reached the Final Four for the second time in the last three seasons. The Trojans have two starters returning for the upcoming season, including All-American outside attacker Tony Ciarelli.

    Check out the five things to know about Grand Canyon’s schedule for the upcoming season.
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  • Loyola head coach calls Ramblers favorites, ‘team to beat’ in MIVA

    Loyola coach Shane Davis isn’t holding back anything on how good he thinks his team will be this upcoming season — even in prepared statements.

    Davis in an athletics department news release Friday to announce Loyola’s 2012 schedule said the Ramblers would be the conference favorites and the team to beat in the MIVA for 2012 season.
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  • Loyola releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    A six-match West Coast road trip to open the season and a home match against the defending NCAA champions Ohio State highlights the Loyola 2012 regular season schedule that the team released Friday.

    Loyola ended last season No. 12 in the final coaches poll and lost in the MIVA championship match. The Ramblers have six starters returning for the upcoming season — including Mike Bunting, an All-American outside attacker and the 2011 Off the Block Fan Choice National Player of the Year.

    Check out the five things to know about Loyola’s schedule for the upcoming season.
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  • Grand Canyon releases 2012 schedule: 5 things to know about this schedule

    Two matches in Hawaii and coach Jeremy Price returning to his former school highlights the 2012 Grand Canyon regular season schedule that the team released Thursday.

    The Antelopes finished last season in last place in the MIVA and lost in the conference tournament quarterfinals. Grand Canyon has all seven starters returning for the upcoming season, including All-MIVA libero Trent Bruns

    Check out the five things to know about Grand Canyon’s schedule for the upcoming season.
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  • Former Pepperdine standout Hulse named assistant coach at Loyola

    A former Pepperdine and Rutgers-Newark men’s volleyball player will join the Loyola coaching staff for the upcoming season.

    The Loyola athletics department announced Wednesday that Mark Hulse was hired as an assistant coach for the 2012 season.

    Hulse graduated from Pepperdine in 2009 after a four-year college career and most recently was the head coach of the D1 Chicago Volleyball Club, a nationally competitive 18-year-old boys’ team.
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