Minnesota State Sports Briefs: Freshman Nelson handles first start with U well

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MINNEAPOLIS -- True freshman quarterback Phillip Nelson made his college debut for the Golden Gophers on Saturday in a familiar setting. The Mankato West product was actually born in Madison, Wisconsin and regularly attended Badgers games as he was growing up.

His father was on the roster at Wisconsin and his mom also grew up in Madison. Nelson ended up at Minnesota and made his debut at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday in a game that ended with a 38-13 Wisconsin win. Nelson was 13-for-24 for 149 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 67 yards. The Gophers are 4-3 and host Purdue on Saturday in a key Big Ten ocnference match-up at TCF Stadium.

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Three players in the NSIC have been honored as Football Players of the Week. Minnesota State-Mankato senior wide receiver Adam Thielen of Detroit Lakes is the Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Mavericks remain a perfect 8-0 on the season with a win over Winona State. His teammate Sam Brockshus of Spencer, Iowa is the Special Teams Player of the Week. The junior kicker booted three field goals in that victory. And, Sioux Falls senior linebacker Nick Bonte of Garretson, South Dakota is the league's Defensive Player of the Week.

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Bethel quarterback Erik Peterson of Orono is this week's MIAC Offensive Player of the Week. He threw for 315 yards in the Royals 41-21 win over Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday. Bethel is ranked 15th in the nation. Hamline linebacker Patrick Page of Minneapolis is the league's Defensive Player of the Week honoree. He had 17 tackles in a loss to St. Thomas. St. Olaf kicker Lucas Wainman of Oviedo, Florida is the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week after helping the Oles to a win over Carleton.

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The NSIC and MIAC have named their weekly award winners in volleyball. Minnesota State-Moorhead senior libero Katy Ness of Ada won her sixth weekly honor of the season as Defensive Player of the Week. Concordia-St. Paul junior Amanda Konetchy of Victoria won her fourth citation of the year as Setter of the Week. And, Minot State freshman outside hitter Mallory Sall of British Columbia is the Offensive Player of the Week. Bethel senior Amy Baumetz of Three Lakes, Wisconsin is the MIAC Hitter of the Week. And, Saint Benedict sophomore Taya Kockelman of Minneota is the Setter of the Week.

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University of Minnesota outside hitter Daly Santana of Corozal, Puerto Rico is this week's Big Ten Freshman Volleyball Player of the Week. She helped Minnesota to a straight set win over Wisconsin last Wednesday and a four-set victory over No. 17 Purdue on Saturday. This is her second weekly honor.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves head north to battle the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The T'wolves fell to 3-2 in the preseason following Friday's 92-81 loss in Chicago. Minnesota wraps up exhibition play against the Milwaukee Bucks in Green Bay on Friday.

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The WNBA season came to a surprising end for the defending champion Minnesota Lynx over the weekend. Minnesota entered the WNBA Finals as a heavy favorite to repeat as champions since they were matched up against a short-handed Indiana Fever team that the Lynx swept during the regular season. But, Indiana won three of four games to claim the title three-games-to-one The Fever did it without their second-leading scorer Katie Douglas, who missed the series with injury. The Lynx closed the season winning eight of their final 15 games, including the playoffs.

The Indiana Fever will hold a parade in downtown Indianapolis today to celebrate their first ever WNBA Championship. The parade will begin on Monument Circle and travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Fever beat defending champion Minnesota on Sunday to win the best-of-five series three-games-to-none.

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The Giants punched their ticket to the World Series by clobbering the Cardinals 9-0 in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series last night in San Francisco. The Giants will host the Tigers in Game One of the Fall Classic tomorrow night. The defending champion Cards blew a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

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The International Cycling Union has announced it decision to uphold Lance Armstrong's lifetime ban and to strip him of his seven Tour de France titles. Announcing the ICU's decision yesterday, group president Pat McQuaid said quote, "Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling."

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The walleye population in Mille Lacs Lake is at its lowest level in 40 years, based on a DNR survey that came up with half the number of walleyes per test net as last year. The agency's Rick Bruesewitz says they don't know why and it's too early to speculate. He says he thinks one of the issues was a bit higher mortality on some juvenile fish. Bruesewitz says over the next several months they'll be trying to find out why the walleye population dropped on Mille Lacs and also plan to talk with tribal officials.

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