YSU

YSU

Volleyball extends
win streak

YOUNGSTOWN — YSU’s (10-10, 4-5 Horizon League) volleyball team used a balanced offensive attack to extend its winning streak to four matches with a 31-29, 33-35, 30-21, 34-32 win over Wright State (8-13, 5-4 Horizon).

Senior Jessica Fraley and junior Ebony Barbosa each posted double-doubles with 23 kills and 22 digs and 23 kills and 17 digs, respectively, to lead the Penguins.

Fraley also finished with a.309 hitting percentage and added five blocks.

Sophomore Ruth Boscajon collected 22 kills with a .386 hitting percentage while junior Karla Everhart set a four-game record with a career-high 76 assists.

LOCAL

Correction

CANTON — Alyssa Tom is from Poland High School, not Canfield High, as was reported in the Friday edition of The Vindicator. She is playing in the Division II girls district tennis tournament semifinals today at 9 a.m. at Weis Park

NATION

Letter-of-intent
program to change

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA will take over the national letter-of-intent program, beginning Monday.

The national governing body made the announcement Friday.

In the past, the program has been administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and the Southeastern Conference.

The NCAA said it will not change the process between institutions and recruits or schools and their conferences, but that questions regarding letters of intent will go through the NCAA eligibility center.

By giving the NCAA control, there could be additional changes such as the possibility of adding an early signing period in football.

The CCA had administered the program since 1964.

Chicago Marathon
director defends stand

CHICAGO — Five days after the warmest Chicago Marathon in history, the race director defended his decision to end the event early amid brutal heat and humidity that sent scores to hospitals.

In a letter posted on the marathon’s Web site Friday, executive race director Carey Pinkowski said his call was “the single most difficult decision I have ever made as race director.

“While that was a frustration to many, I stand behind the decision to end the race early — it was a necessary safety measure,” the letter said.

Organizers ended the 30th annual race about 31⁄2 hours after its start because of fears of heat exhaustion. A 35-year-old Michigan man who had a heart disorder died, although the Cook County medical examiner’s office ruled he didn’t die from the heat.

The day’s results left Pinkowski’s staff “disappointed as well” and organizers planned to review details and feedback as they consider future races, the letter said.

“Rest assured that we take the day’s events — and your comments — seriously,” he said.

The letter did not specifically address widespread criticism that organizers didn’t provide enough water or Gatorade to keep runners hydrated as temperatures soared into the 80s.

In the days after the race, organizers insisted they adjusted their plans for the heat and boosted the number of drink servings at the race’s 15 aid stations to 1.8 million from 1.6 million, as well as adding misting areas, extra ice and water-soaked sponges for the 35,000 runners.

Beckham out tonight

CARSON, Calif. — David Beckham will miss the Los Angeles Galaxy’s home game against Toronto FC tonight despite resuming training with his team.

Beckham also has been left off England’s roster for European qualifiers against Estonia on Saturday at Wembley and against Russia on Wednesday night in Moscow.

The midfielder has not played since spraining his right knee in the SuperLiga tournament final Aug. 29. He had already been playing on a sprained left ankle that he injured in June, a month before joining the team.

Beckham has practiced twice with the team since resuming training last week, but he sat out Friday.

“He did quite a bit yesterday,” Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said. “He’s just sore from what he did bodywise. He really hasn’t worked out much. It’s not his knee or ankle. His knee and ankle are feeling good.”

“He feels confident that the pain is starting to fade,” the coach said. “Just by talking with him, he feels a lot more confident that any movement he does, he feels OK with.”

“Getting on the big field and getting in a proper game is totally different from training,” Yallop said. “We’re waiting to make sure that he’s close to 100 percent.”

Beckham has played 308 minutes while starting four games.

Vindicator staff/wire reports