SiouxVolley

Since a preview thread hasn't been opened yet, thought one was needed. Don't know about the Griz, but I'm sure Griz fans and other UND people that have watched their games can fill in details. Hopefully, the defense continues to make strides and the offense keeps revving. Maybe this game is winnable.

Their locations are always packed. Their food offerings are healthier too, as that seems to be the future of fast food. The first day their open, the first 100 customers get free food forever, at least that was what I was told.

Not good. UND loses the first two set to Portland St, 25-17 and 25-23.

The offense was what I thought they would be this season. Have to cut out those turnovers though. The defense was better than expected as it's still missing Reyes and Disterhaupt. Too many lapse though. The special teams was #@%&.

Bernstine is in tight with a childhood friend guard at Gonzaga, and Bernstein even went to the Final Four for that reason. He transferred to Washington St, which isn't all that far from Spokane and Gonzaga so presumably they can hang out and give each other support for their final seasons.

If worse came to worst and UND didn't get the Big Sky autobid, a 64-team National Invitational Volleyball Tournament is scheduled now for this November, similar to the NIT's. UND would also probably host some rounds, as we get good crowds. http://www.volleyballmag.com/nivc/

Lexi Ahrens of Virginia, MN, a Middle Hitter making some waves in the AAU circuit, has already committed, but she probably won't be the blocker that Dooley has been. Blocking seemed to be UND's strong point last night, while Sac St had a court full of Merseli types. UND dropped to #50 on Massey after last night, while Sac St rose to only #71 as they had early season losses to bad teams. Need two losses by Sac St to host the Big Sky tournament, but Sac only have one more challenging game and that is Portland St. We need other Big Sky teams to vastly Improve and challenge the Hornets. Confident that UND can beat Sac St on our home court, but doesn't look like we will get a chance. The dream of going undefeated in the Big Sky is gone, and that might have been needed to host.

The worst match for hitting errors on the season it seems. But UND is still in it!

Sac St takes the third set, 25-15.

The third set has been a total disaster so far. 17-7 Sac St.

UND wins the second set 26-24! Good comeback.

Sac St has a 7 pt run to make it 21-17 in 2nd set. UND with a three pt run now.

UND loses the first set to Sac St, 20-25. Nobody seems to be there at home at Sac, but this could be a big blow to UND's home court tournament. Sac St even made a number of service errors to only one for UND.

It would probably be on the order of what St Cloud St and Mankato pay, under a mill, as goodies the UND men's team gets would not be added. NDSU doesn't have cheap sports to add on their women's side. Lax needs better facilities for late winter and the Fargo Dome field isn't big enough to play in. Swimming has a facility issue and so does tennis. The cheapest route for them is probably women's synchronized skating, but where would they perform? Gymnastics would work but there are few members. Equestrian works but that sport seems on the way out. Women's crew works but only after after the sewer ponds near NDSU melt in spring.

Kennedy and Faison were just being nice to NDSU when they go FBS, as NDSU can now have WIH free and clear of any state competition.

Faith Dooley named a player of week by the Big Sky for the second week in a row: this time is was for defensive player. She could have won for offensive player this week too, as her hitting percentage has been tremendous.

Sac St swept Portland St in Portland tonight to go 4-0 in the conference. Both teams will be challenges next weekend.

Ratelle's leadership is gravely missed, as well as his athleticism. He had a passion that was infectious, and we need that now.

That third set showcased how dominant Dooley is at this level. When she was in, UND made point runs on her attacks and blocking. But when she was out, EWU had several runs.

In the Summit League, NDSU beat Denver yesterday, so NDSU is in first place there. That is important, as if NDSU wins the Summit, they would almost assuredly get fed to Minnesota as a first round opponent. The Summit really only has NDSU and Denver capable of winning that conference, as USD has fell well off the pace this year.

Never expected to have faith in Rudolph, but did expect have great faith in the defense which as disappointed us more than Rudolph ever could. Where is the DL rush and Sacks? The DL has been not nearly touched by injuries as the LB and secondary, but they dont seem to have made noise at all.

Inched up to #42 now on Massey, just a shoeprint behind Louisville. Portland St dropped to #51. The games next week may be effectively for all the marbles at Portland St and Sac St. Sac St is just a touch above Ole Miss. Those two could be trouble especially in away games. All the other Big Sky teams are well behind them. Idaho in Moscow, N Ariz, and NColo would seem to be the only ones that on paper may gives us trouble. http://volleyballmag.com/ncaa-volleyball-092917/

They wouldn't build a 50k stadium. At most 30k and make it expandable. North Texas built one for $78 mill in 2008 dollars. Coastal just did a major expansion for $38 mill. Of course if they it has a roof that adds a lot, at least double. They can play in the Fargo Dome for later season or night games, but NDSU doesn't even have a site to build without running into the airport flight lines.

Apparently, the Big Sky has resolved the schedules for 2018 and 2019. Montana released their conference schedule, and their perpetual playing partners are now MSU & Idaho rather than MSU & EWU. Doesn't appear that any other school has released their conference schedule for those years. Montana will be playing in Grand Forks on 10/13/18 but no game is scheduled for 2019.

A Greek village north of the HPC seems to destroy the old master athletic plan. Maybe the Ray Richards Course incorporates parts of that plan now, like a new stadium. Stadiums should have developable land around it and have near interstate access. Parking there could be used for UND with an over the tracks and Demers pedestrian bridge.