Gophers and Tommies earn NCAA Volleyball bids

(Minneapolis, MN/Minnesota News Network) — The 18th-ranked Golden Gopher volleyball team earned a bid to the N-C-A-A Tournament and will be hosting the opening round games at Maturi Pavilion. Minnesota will face Fairfield in first round action on Friday. St. Thomas also collected a bid to the tourney and will face Iowa State in the opening round in Minneapolis on Friday. The Golden Gophers are 22-9 this season, while Fairfield is 25-5. The 21-9 Tommies will face the 22-7 Cyclones at 4:30 P-M on Friday at Maturi Pavilion, with the Gophers and Stags set to take place at 7 P-M. The Friday winners will advance to the second round to face each other at 7 P-M at Maturi Pavilion. The Saturday winner will advance to the Sweet 16.