OH-IO: Buckeyes beat Gauchos in 5 games to win 2011 national championship

For the first time in its program history, Ohio State is the national champions.

Ohio State defeated UC Santa Barbara 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 15-9 in the men’s volleyball NCAA championship match on Saturday in University Park, Pa., to become the first Midwest school to win the national title.
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Live chat: Ohio State vs. UC Santa Barbara championship match

Off the Block will be providing live coverage to the NCAA Tournament championship match between the No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara.

Ohio State (25-6, 11-1 MIVA) defeated Penn State in the semifinals and is seeking to become the first MIVA team to legally win a NCAA championship. UC Santa Barbara (18-14, 11-11 MPSF) upset top-ranked USC in its semifinals match and if it won tonight would become the first team with more than 12 losses to win the national title.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Q&A with Ohio State at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament

Ohio State men’s volleyball coach Pete Hanson, along with setter Steven Kehoe and middle attacker Kevin Heine held a news conference Wednesday to discuss its upcoming NCAA Tournament match.

The No. 3 seed Ohio State will play the No. 2 seed Penn State in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at 9 p.m. Thursday in University Park, Pa.

The Buckeyes (24-6, 11-1 MIVA) reached their four consecutive NCAA Tournament after winning the MIVA championship, but have failed advance beyond the semifinals during that stretch.

View an abridged version of the news conference below. Continue reading “Q&A with Ohio State at the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament”

Top 5 storylines to follow during the men’s volleyball NCAA Tournament

Almost 24 hours away from the men’s volleyball Final Four and the anticipation is continuing to grow.

The four-team NCAA Tournament will be played at Penn State with the No. 1 seed USC playing the No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara in the opening semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday. In addition, the host school and No. 2 seed Penn State will play the No. 3 seed Ohio State in the second semifinals match at 9 p.m. Thursday.

The winners of these two matches will play in the national championship on Saturday.

Check out the top five storylines to follow during the NCAA Tournament.
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