For the second consecutive season, the St. Paul Saints were named the American Association Organization of the Year as selected by the league's managers and media members.

The Saints excelled at the box office and on the diamond. The Saints drew 413,482 over 49 dates, an average of 8,438 fans per game at CHS Field.

On the field, the Saints won their second consecutive North Division title, finishing 61-39.

Etc.

• The No. 3 Gophers volleyball team will play at Iowa at 6 p.m. Friday and then head to No. 2 Nebraska for a 1 p.m. match on Saturday. The Hawkeyes (15-5, 5-3 Big Ten) are a much improved team over last season when there were 2-18 in conference matches. Minnesota (14-3, 6-2) is 73-11 all-time against Iowa.

• The No. 2 Gophers women's hockey team (5-1, 3-1 WCHA) opens a weekend series against Ohio State (3-2-1, 1-2-1) at 5 p.m. Friday in Columbus. Minnesota is 67-8-3 all-time against the Buckeyes and is currently on a 40-game unbeaten streak (38-0-2), including six wins last season, when the Gophers outscored them 40-7.

• The Gophers' softball team plays a doubleheader against St. Cloud State on Friday at Cowles Stadium, starting at 5 p.m.

• Gophers men's tennis players won four singles matches and four doubles matches on the first day of the ITA Central Region Championships in Stillwater, Okla. Felix Corwin and Matic Spec, and Marino Alpeza and Stefan Milicevic reached the round of 16 in doubles.