Lou Nanne will lead the University of Minnesota's Athletic Facilities Fundraising Campaign in an effort to raise $190 million to fund new football and basketball practice facilities, a student-athlete academic and counseling center and other upgrades for university athletes.

The announcement was made Monday by athletic director Norwood Teague.

Nanne, a University of Minnesota graduate and Gopher Athletic Hall of Fame member, is a former executive with the Minnesota North Stars and is currently serving as senior managing director at RBC Global Asset Management Inc. in the Twin Cities.

In addition to the facilities campaign, Nanne will lead a new volunteer leadership council that will assist the university's athletic department.

"Lou's tireless and passionate support for this university are widely known and respected," said University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler in a news release. "This is further recognition of an alumnus and community leader who has continually gone above and beyond for this institution."

Minnesota schools share top hockey spot

The Gophers will take a share of the No. 1 ranking into their winter break. St. Cloud State took over the No. 1 ranking in USCHO's poll on Monday, while the Gophers held on to the top spot in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine's poll.

St. Cloud State (11-1-2) collected 33 first-place votes and 978 points in the USCHO poll, compared with the Gophers' (12-2-2) 14 first-place votes and 958 points.

This marks the first time since the 2001-02 season that the Huskies have held a No. 1 ranking in one of the Division I college hockey polls.

The teams each earned 16 first-place votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll, but the Gophers collected one more point (489) than St. Cloud State.

The Gophers' results against unranked Michigan State — a tie and shootout loss on Friday, followed up with a victory on Saturday — weren't enough for them to remain the unanimous favorite. St. Cloud State's sweep at unranked Minnesota Duluth increased the Huskies' stock.

While the Gophers go on break until Jan. 3, the Huskies host No. 10 Union this weekend.

The two Minnesota programs are scheduled to face off Jan. 24 in the first round of the inaugural North Star College Cup at Xcel Energy Center.

JASON GONZALEZ

Volleyball details set

The Gophers volleyball team will play Stanford in an NCAA regional semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday in Lexington, Ky.

The Gophers/Stanford match will be preceded by Penn State vs. Michigan State at 4 p.m.

The winners of the matches will meet at 3 p.m. Saturday. The winner of Saturday's match will advance to the NCAA Final Four.

The Gophers advanced to the regional semifinal with a victory over Colorado. Stanford (26-5) advanced with a victory over Oklahoma.