Minnesota has been chosen to host the 2004 NCAA women’s volleyball regionals Dec. 10 and 11. It marks the first time since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams that Minnesota will host the NCAA regionals.

The four sites for the NCAA regionals were predetermined by the NCAA. The other three sites will be Louisville, Washington and Wisconsin-Green Bay. All four schools will still be eligible to host the first and second rounds as well. The first and second round hosts will primarily be determined by seeds and the bid process.

Three honored

The Big Ten announced junior men’s swimmer Terry Silkaitis has been named the Big Ten swimmer of the week.

The 2003 Big Ten swimmer of the year finished the 200-yard freestyle at the Minnesota Challenge with a season-best and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:37.62, which ranks fifth nationally.

Meanwhile, Minnesota men’s tennis player Aleksey Zharinov was named the Big Ten player of the week,

Zharinov defeated Chaitu Malempati at No. 1 singles against Iowa and paired with Sion Wilkins to down Malempati and Aaron Schaechterle at No. 2 doubles.

Also, Minnesota senior sprinter Mitch Potter earned co-Big Ten track athlete of the week.

Potter captured the title in the 400-meter dash at the Husker Invitational with a time of 46.00, the fourth-fastest time in the country, the third-fastest time in Gophers history, a Devaney Track record and an NCAA automatic qualifying time.