University of Minnesota Athletics
First Day of Tournament Practices Open to Public
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The first day of NCAA Tournament Practices for all four teams in this week’s first and second rounds on Thursday, Dec. 4 are open to the public.
Minnesota will practice from 3:10 to 4:40 p.m. The Golden Gophers enter the week with a 26-6 overall record, and finished second in the Big Ten with a 16-4 conference record. Minnesota will be hosting the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. It is the first time since 2004 that the Golden Gophers have hosted an NCAA Tournament match.
Northern Iowa will have the first practice from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Panthers, who received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament out of the Missouri Valley Conference, enter the tournament with a 25-8 overall record. Northern Iowa’s Amy Sampson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) returns back to her home state to play in this week’s NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State will practice from 1:35 to 3:05 p.m. The Cyclones, who received an at-large big to the NCAA Tournament out of the Big 12 Conference, enter the tournament with a 19-12 overall. Home state product Diane Kieger (Shoreview, Minn.) returns to Minnesota to compete in this week’s NCAA Tournament.
North Dakota State will wrap things up with the final practice of the first day. The Bison will practice from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. North Dakota State received the automatic bid out of the Summit League, after finishing 24-3 in the regular-season. The Bison have four home state players returning to play in Minnesota in this week’s NCAA Tournament. Those players include Jennifer and Kelly Lopez, who are from Glyndon, Minn., Mattie Johnson (Lakeville, Minn.) and Kristen Hill (Sauk Rapids, Minn.)
First Round play will get started in Minneapolis on Friday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. Northern Iowa and Iowa State will face each other in the first match. Minnesota will host North Dakota State in the second match at 7 p.m. (or 30 minutes after the first match). All three matches can be shown live on video during the tournament.
Minnesota will practice from 3:10 to 4:40 p.m. The Golden Gophers enter the week with a 26-6 overall record, and finished second in the Big Ten with a 16-4 conference record. Minnesota will be hosting the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. It is the first time since 2004 that the Golden Gophers have hosted an NCAA Tournament match.
Northern Iowa will have the first practice from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Panthers, who received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament out of the Missouri Valley Conference, enter the tournament with a 25-8 overall record. Northern Iowa’s Amy Sampson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) returns back to her home state to play in this week’s NCAA Tournament.
Iowa State will practice from 1:35 to 3:05 p.m. The Cyclones, who received an at-large big to the NCAA Tournament out of the Big 12 Conference, enter the tournament with a 19-12 overall. Home state product Diane Kieger (Shoreview, Minn.) returns to Minnesota to compete in this week’s NCAA Tournament.
North Dakota State will wrap things up with the final practice of the first day. The Bison will practice from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. North Dakota State received the automatic bid out of the Summit League, after finishing 24-3 in the regular-season. The Bison have four home state players returning to play in Minnesota in this week’s NCAA Tournament. Those players include Jennifer and Kelly Lopez, who are from Glyndon, Minn., Mattie Johnson (Lakeville, Minn.) and Kristen Hill (Sauk Rapids, Minn.)
First Round play will get started in Minneapolis on Friday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. Northern Iowa and Iowa State will face each other in the first match. Minnesota will host North Dakota State in the second match at 7 p.m. (or 30 minutes after the first match). All three matches can be shown live on video during the tournament.
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