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AREA
Marsh helpsThiel to win
CLEVELAND -- Maggie Marsh, a sophomore middle hitter for the Thiel College volleyball team from Springfield High, had 16 kills and three blocks to help the Tomcats defeat Ursuline College, 30-20, 30-24, 22-30, 30-20, Wednesday night.
Erin Orahood, a senior outside hitter from Pymatuning Valley High, contributed 18 kills for Thiel (8-12).
Phantoms winsixth straight
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Youngstown Phantoms opened the Twins Cities Showcase with a 3-0 victory over the Texas Tornado Wednesday.
All 21 teams in the North American Hockey League and an all-star team from the Minnesota Junior Hockey League are competing in the four-day tournament, and the results do count in the NAHL's regular season standings.
The victory was the sixth straight for the Phantoms (6-1-1). Texas (6-1), the first-place team in the NAHL's South Division, had scored a total 35 goals in its previous six games.
"Texas is a very good club. They came into the game undefeated, but we're just playing really good defense right now and we're getting great goaltending," said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt.
Youngstown goaltender Tyler Sims (4-1-0, .955 save percentage) stopped all 43 shots he faced and registered his second shutout of the season.
The Phantoms scored first-period goals by centers Carson Strang and Tommy Kolar, then increased the advantage to 3-0 when left winger Kevin Huck added a second-period tally. The goals by Strang and Huck both came with Youngstown on a power play.
Strang leads the team in goals (five) and points (10).
They play the Springfield Spirit tonight at 7:30 p.m., the Fernie Ghostriders Friday and the Bozeman Icedogs Saturday.
NATION
Hornets' Alexanderout for six months
NEW ORLEANS -- Hornets guard Courtney Alexander ruptured his right Achilles' tendon and will miss at least six months. He was scheduled for surgery today.
Man sentenced
SALT LAKE CITY -- Vince R. Rogers, a former employee of a local power company who admitted to setting off a bomb that knocked out a power substation during the 2002 Winter Olympics, was sentenced to four years in federal prison.
Carruth, othersordered to pay
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth and three men convicted of conspiring to kill Carruth's girlfriend were ordered to pay about $5.8 million in damages to her estate.
Saundra Adams' daughter, Cherica Adams, was eight months pregnant with Carruth's child when she was shot in November 1999.
NBA realignment
NEW YORK -- The NBA plans to switch to six five-team divisions for the 2004-05 season, when the Charlotte Bobcats become the league's 30th team.
The proposal is expected to be approved formally by the board of governors, deputy commissioner Russ Granik said.
Eight teams from each conference still would make the playoffs: the winner of each division plus the teams with the next five best records in each conference.
The board also decided that the WNBA will take a four-week break during its 2004 season for the Athens Olympics.
Chandler to start
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chris Chandler will start for the Chicago Bears Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle, replacing quarterback Kordell Stewart, who has a leg injury.
Kittner namedby Falcons
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Kurt Kittner will replace Doug Johnson at quarterback when the Falcons play host to the New Orleans Saints Sunday.
Lindsay Davenportto have surgery
Three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport had surgery on her left foot in Los Angeles and will miss the rest of the season, including the WTA Championships.
Coaches agreeto code of ethics
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Division I college basketball coaches agreed to adopt a code of ethics at a meeting to discuss the various ethical problems that have plagued college basketball over the last six months. NCAA president Myles Brand also attended the meeting.
Michigan returnsmoney to NIT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan agreed to return money to the NIT because three players who helped the Wolverines win the 1997 championship had been linked to a scandal involving booster Ed Martin. Athletic director Bill Martin would not disclose how much money was returned.
Kenny Brackin serious condition
INDIANAPOLIS -- Kenny Brack remained in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit at Dallas' Parkland Memorial Hospital, according to a release from Team Rahal.
Vindicator staff/wire reports