NCAA Men's Volleyball Opening Weekend Highlights
NCAA Men's Volleyball Opening Weekend Highlights
It's the first full weekend of NCAA men's volleyball competition. Ohio State versus UCLA highlights the schedule, but matches are taking place all across the country.
Men's college volleyball season is here! A few programs kicked off their 2017 competition with matches over the weekend and earlier this week, but the real action starts Thursday. Four major preseason tournaments are taking place across the country, with a handful of single-match highlights sprinkled in as well.
Here's what you need to know.
The biggest matches of the opening weekend of NCAA DI-II men's volleyball competition will take place in St. John Arena on the campus of Ohio State University, and of those four matches, the highlight is sure to be No. 1 Ohio State versus No. 3 UCLA (Saturday, Jan. 7, at 6 PM ET).
The reigning national champion Buckeyes only lost one impact player from their 2016 squad, outside hitter Christian Franceschi, and explosive freshman Reese Devilbliss seems ready to step up and fill his shoes. UCLA graduated none of its starters from last year, a season in which it made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.
The strength of the field at the 23rd annual Outrigger Invitational is not quite what it's been in years past; however, all four teams in attendance will likely benefit from playing key out-of-conference matches. No. 7 Hawaii will face-off against AVCA No. 15 Ball State Saturday, January 7, at 7 PM HT (12 AM ET), in what should be the most competitive match of the tournament.
Top-10 ranked Long Beach State and Stanford headline the largest tournament of opening weekend, along with host team UC Santa Barbara, which ranks 12th in the AVCA preseason poll. None of the ranked teams will play each other this weekend, however. Instead, we'll see plenty of East Coast/West Coast battles and get a feel for the strength of the MIVA, EIVA, and Conference Carolinas conferences.
Although not the strongest competition of opening weekend, the CBU Invitational is the only tournament this weekend streaming every single match, so this is a good opportunity to get your men's volleyball fix.
Two of the strongest teams in their respective conferences will face off in Romeoville, Illinois, to open their seasons. Lewis came in at No. 2 in the MIVA preseason poll, behind only defending champion Ohio State and has one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. BYU topped the MPSF preseason poll, despite ranking behind UCLA in the AVCA preseason poll and boasts a deep roster with a combination of veterans and newcomers.
After easily dispatching Ohio State last week, Canadian powerhouse McMaster is visiting other top American programs. This week, the Mauraders will stop at Concordia-Irvine before heading north to play No. 5 Pepperdine two nights in a row. See if Pepperdine can do what Ohio State could not and at least take a set off of McMaster.
Watch Episode One here.
Watch Episode One here.
Here's what you need to know.
AVCA Showcase: Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge at Ohio State
Teams attending: Ohio State, Penn State, UCLA, USCThe biggest matches of the opening weekend of NCAA DI-II men's volleyball competition will take place in St. John Arena on the campus of Ohio State University, and of those four matches, the highlight is sure to be No. 1 Ohio State versus No. 3 UCLA (Saturday, Jan. 7, at 6 PM ET).
The reigning national champion Buckeyes only lost one impact player from their 2016 squad, outside hitter Christian Franceschi, and explosive freshman Reese Devilbliss seems ready to step up and fill his shoes. UCLA graduated none of its starters from last year, a season in which it made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.
Outrigger Invitational at Hawaii
Teams attending: Hawaii, Princeton, Ball State, ErskineThe strength of the field at the 23rd annual Outrigger Invitational is not quite what it's been in years past; however, all four teams in attendance will likely benefit from playing key out-of-conference matches. No. 7 Hawaii will face-off against AVCA No. 15 Ball State Saturday, January 7, at 7 PM HT (12 AM ET), in what should be the most competitive match of the tournament.
UCSB ASICS Invitational at UC Santa Barbara
Teams attending: UCSB, CSUN, IPFW, Long Beach State, McKendree, Mount Olive, Quincy, Saint Francis, StanfordTop-10 ranked Long Beach State and Stanford headline the largest tournament of opening weekend, along with host team UC Santa Barbara, which ranks 12th in the AVCA preseason poll. None of the ranked teams will play each other this weekend, however. Instead, we'll see plenty of East Coast/West Coast battles and get a feel for the strength of the MIVA, EIVA, and Conference Carolinas conferences.
CBU Ayers Hotel Invitational at Cal Baptist
Teams attending: Cal Baptist, Saint Francis, Concordia-Irvine, LindenwoodAlthough not the strongest competition of opening weekend, the CBU Invitational is the only tournament this weekend streaming every single match, so this is a good opportunity to get your men's volleyball fix.
Additional Highlights
BYU at Lewis
Saturday, Jan. 7, at 8 PM ETTwo of the strongest teams in their respective conferences will face off in Romeoville, Illinois, to open their seasons. Lewis came in at No. 2 in the MIVA preseason poll, behind only defending champion Ohio State and has one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. BYU topped the MPSF preseason poll, despite ranking behind UCLA in the AVCA preseason poll and boasts a deep roster with a combination of veterans and newcomers.
McMaster at Pepperdine
Thursday, Jan. 5, at 5 PM ET, and Friday, Jan. 6, at 10 PM ETAfter easily dispatching Ohio State last week, Canadian powerhouse McMaster is visiting other top American programs. This week, the Mauraders will stop at Concordia-Irvine before heading north to play No. 5 Pepperdine two nights in a row. See if Pepperdine can do what Ohio State could not and at least take a set off of McMaster.
Complete Opening Weekend Schedule
Thursday, Jan. 5
| Team A | Team B | Time | Location | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine | McMaster | 5 PM ET | Malibu, California | WCC Sports Stream |
| Loyola-Chicago | NJIT | 8 PM ET | Chicago, Illinois | |
| Princeton | Ball State | 9 PM ET | Honolulu, Hawaii | |
| UCSD | UC Irvine | 10 PM ET | Irvine, California | |
| Hawaii | Erskine | 12 AM ET | Honolulu, Hawaii |
Friday, Jan. 6
| Team A | Team B | Time | Location | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach State | IPFW | 1 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| UCSB | McKendree | 1 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| CSUN | Quincy | 1 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Mount Olive | Stanford | 1 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Saint Francis | Concordia | 1 PM ET | Riverside, California | CBU Live Stream |
| Lindenwood | Cal Baptist | 3:30 PM ET | Riverside, California | CBU Live Stream |
| Penn State | UCLA | 5 PM ET | Columbus, Ohio | |
| Ohio State | USC | 7 PM ET | Columbus, Ohio | Buckeye Vision |
| Belmont Abbey | George Mason | 7 PM ET | Belmont, North Carolina | |
| North Greenville | Lincoln Memorial | 7 PM ET | Tigerville, South Carolina | |
| Lewis | BYU | 8 PM ET | Romeoville, Illinois | Lewis Live Stream |
| Concordia | Lindenwood | 8 PM ET | Riverside, California | CBU Live Stream |
| Erskine | Ball State | 9 PM ET | Honolulu, Hawaii | |
| Long Beach State | McKendree | 10 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Pepperdine | McMaster | 10 PM ET | Malibu, California | WCC Sports Live Stream |
| UC Irvine | Grand Canyon | 10 PM ET | Irvine, California | |
| Quincy | Stanford | 10 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| UCSB | Mount Olive | 10 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| CSUN | IPFW | 10 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Princeton | Hawaii | 12 AM ET | Honolulu, Hawaii |
Saturday, Jan. 7
| Team A | Team B | Time | Location | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel (Ga.) | Lincoln Memorial | 11 AM ET | Franklin Springs, Georgia | |
| Lindenwood | Saint Francis | 12 PM ET | Riverside, California | CBU Live Stream |
| Emmanuel (Ga.) | Rust | 1 PM ET | Franklin Springs, Georgia | |
| Mount Olive | CSUN | 2 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Penn State | USC | 3 PM ET | Columbus, Ohio | BTN2Go |
| Cal Baptist | Concordia | 3:30 PM ET | Riverside, California | CBU Live Stream |
| McKendree | Stanford | 4:30 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Ohio State | UCLA | 6 PM ET | Columbus, Ohio | BTN |
| Long Beach State | Quincy | 7 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Limestone | George Mason | 7 PM ET | Gaffney, South Carolina | |
| UC San Diego | Grand Canyon | 8 PM ET | La Jolla, California | UCSD Live Stream |
| Loyola-Chicago | BYU | 8 PM ET | Chicago, Illinois | ESPN3 |
| Lewis | NJIT | 8 PM ET | Romeoville, Illinois | Lewis Live Stream |
| Princeton | Erskine | 9 PM ET | Honolulu, Hawaii | |
| USCB | IPFW | 10 PM ET | Santa Barbara, California | |
| Hawaii | Ball State | 12 AM ET | Honolulu, Hawaii |
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