Random Rabble: Election Day

Get out and vote. Seriously. You probably don't need me to remind you, but there it is, anyway.

You'll notice that I haven't spent much time dissecting the issues on this blog. I figure you're here to read about sports -- chiefly UMD hockey -- so you don't need me polluting the feed with my views on things. I do enough of that on Twitter, and if you follow me there (thanks, by the way), you can probably figure out how I'm voting on the two major amendment issues in Minnesota, as well as the presidential race. That'll be all of that.

UMD hockey returns from its off week to play at Nebraska Omaha this weekend. Games are 7pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday, due to Creighton basketball occupying the Century Link Center Omaha on Friday night.

(I've heard good things about the atmosphere in that building for hoops, so I'm going to try to go to that game and check it out for myself.)

As for UMD, this will be the first road trip in WCHA play, which means a number of healthy players will be left at home. These are never easy decisions for the coaching staff, but they're usually more troublesome this early in the season. Without having asked, I'd expect the lineup to greatly resemble what was on the ice for the Saturday night draw against Wisconsin. Yes, there was a blown lead and a lost point in that game, but I thought the team played very well and did many more good things than bad.

The UMD volleyball team plays Concordia-St. Paul Tuesday night in St. Paul. UMD has won eight straight since dropping a match to Augustana in five sets last month. Concordia has won 12 straight since UMD beat the Golden Bears in Duluth in late September. In addition, CSP hasn't lost a set at home in 13 straight matches. Incredible run.

There are tremendous implications to this match, even though it's non-conference (the match in Duluth was an NSIC match, but this one does not count in the league standings ... instead, the coaches have agreed to play each other twice this season, and I'd say it's a hell of a good move). UMD could sweep a season series from the five-time national champs, something that would only help in the all-important Central Region rankings. The Bulldogs are fifth in the rankings that came out last week, while Concordia was in first. The top eight teams make the NCAAs, and there really isn't any reason to think UMD won't make it, no matter what happens Tuesday. But the Bulldogs could do wonderful things for their seeding with a victory.

Speaking of rankings, the UMD football team is perilously close to not making the Division II playoffs. A win last Saturday over Mary -- along with a loss by Emporia State -- lifted UMD back into the top six of Super Region Three. That's huge, since six teams will make the playoffs when the field is announced Sunday. The 9-1 Bulldogs can virtually cement their spot in the tournament with a win over Northern State (6-4) Saturday. UMD hasn't missed the playoffs since 2007, and I doubt this team plans on changing that trend. Once the playoffs begin, a two-time national champion with the amount of experience the Bulldogs sport becomes dangerous no matter its seed.

UMD Teams Movin' On Up in Polls

While the UMD football team took Labor Day weekend off, the volleyball team got their season started in Omaha. The Bulldogs went 4-0 at the UNO Shootout, beating Arkansas-Fort Smith, Adams State, Northwest Missouri State, and Angelo State, and making it look relatively easy along the way.

In doing so, UMD was able to impress those who vote in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II poll. This week's edition of the poll saw UMD move up four spots from ninth to fifth this week.

Defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul is still No. 1, and while five different teams got first-place votes, no one gave UMD the nod. That makes some sense, because those most likely to give UMD a boost in the polls are probably from this area, and it's hard for them not to vote for Concordia in the top position.

The Bulldogs are in Fort Lauderdale this weekend for a tournament, and then they open the home schedule Tuesday at Romano Gym against Northern State.

The football team, meanwhile, moved up a spot in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. Top-ranked Northwest Missouri State lost last week, so both UMD and Grand Valley State -- the new No. 1 team -- moved up a spot. The now-No. 2 Bulldogs play Saturday at Upper Iowa.

The Bulldogs got two of 26 first-place votes in the poll. I saw part of Grand Valley State's 34-31 win over West Texas A&M, and the Lakers look strong again. They'll be a formidable opponent in this region when the playoffs come around, and I fully expect both UMD and Grand Valley State will be in the playoffs again.

In fact, for the foreseeable future, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Bulldogs and Lakers developed quite an impressive rivalry in Division II football.

UMD Goes Pink This Weekend

This comes from UMD. Not only is it the school's annual Homecoming this weekend, but they're also taking time to raise money for a worthy cause.

Here is the press release:

In the sea of maroon and gold UMD Homecoming Festivities this weekend, you’ll also find PINK! This Saturday (Oct. 17), the University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team is sponsoring the “Dig for the Cure!” event designed to support the search for a cure for breast cancer, in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Activities include a silent auction. The event will take place when the Bulldogs take on Northern State at 4:00 p.m. on the hardwood of Romano Gymnasium. Fans are encouraged to show their support by wearing pink clothing as part of the event and UMD students will be admitted free of charge by presenting their student identification cards.

UMD Stores raised $2000 last season for the St. Luke's Breast Center thorugh the sale of pink ribbon UMD hats, commemorative pink ribbon tees, and pink hockey jerseys. UMD Stores director, Jeff Romano, will present the check on Saturday, October 17th at 4pm, at the "Dig for the Cure" event prior to the UMD volleyball game at Romano Gym.

Last year’s fundraising event was so successful, that we’re doing it again! October is breast cancer awareness month, and UMD Stores will donate $4 from the purchase of each new commemorative pink ribbon Minnesota Duluth tee, $20 from the purchase of each pink hockey jersey, and 1/2 the purchase price of each pink ribbon hat, to the St. Luke's Regional Breast Center in Duluth.

NEW DESIGN!
Minnesota Duluth Pink Ribbon Tee -- $9.99
UMD Pink Ribbon cap -- $16.99
UMD Bulldogs Pink Hockey Jerseys: youth, $84.99 -- adult, $94.99

We'll be checking in next from the rink, preparing for UMD and Minnesota State in the WCHA opener. Word on the street is that defenseman Trent Palm may be making an early return from hip surgery this weekend. His presence would be a welcome jolt of experience on a rather young blue line.