Tommies reach NCAA volleyball semifinals for first time

Kelly Foley had 10 kills and seven blocks and Jill Greenfield added 12 digs, eight kills and five aces as No. 8-ranked St. Thomas won 3-0 over Clarkson (N.Y.) in Thursday's quarterfinals at the NCAA Division III volleyball championships in Holland, Mich.

The Tommies' set scores were 25-13, 27-25, 25-20. In the third set, a late 5-0 run by St. Thomas built a 23-16 lead and helped the Tommies eliminate unranked Clarkson (31-7).

St. Thomas (38-1) tied a MIAC record for most victories in a season and ran its winning streak to 33. Coach Thanh Pham's team will plays either Elmhurst or Salisbury at 5 p.m. Friday in the national semifinals -- a first in program history.

The Tommies, who hit .241 in the match, had lost 3-0 decisions in the national quarterfinals in 2010 and 2011.

Paige Brimeyer had eight kills for St. Thomas and had no errors. Katie Maher had 23 assists and Kaiti Wachter 18 digs.

Charity fight card setMinnesota middleweights Caleb Truax and Cerresso Fort will headline the "Knock Out Hunger" boxing card Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

Truax (19-1), of Osseo, will fight Michael Walker (19-16), while Fort (13-0), of St. Paul, will face Brandon Baue (12-6). Each fight is scheduled for eight rounds.

Tickets are $30 at the door or $25 in advance through www.ofights.com.

69 days for CanterburyThe Minnesota Racing Commission on Thursday approved a 69-day racing season for Canterbury Park next summer, beginning May 17 and running through Sept. 14.

The season will be the longest since the Shakopee track held 69 racing days in 2006. It will include thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, with purses increased by 25 percent over those paid during a 62-day season in 2012.

Canterbury signed an agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community last summer that will add $75 million in purse money over 10 years, making the 2013 purses nearly double the $116,000 per day paid by the track in 2011.

Post times next year will remain at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

The Gophers will return home to face No. 24 Boise State at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Sports Pavilion.

Etc.• The Minnesota Swarm will hold an open tryout Nov. 29 at the Toronto Rock Practice Facility in Oakville, Ontario. The daylong session will feature a few dozen players and will give undrafted rookies and free agents a chance to earn a spot on the Swarm's 40-man roster. The Swarm's main camp starts the next day. The team will play the Colorado Mammoth on Dec. 1 in an exhibition game.