Oregon halts Penn State’s volleyball run

Oregon halts Penn State’s volleyball run

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

Liz Brenner had 17 kills and 17 digs to help fifth-seeded Oregon sweep the final three sets and upset top-seeded Penn State on Thursday night in the NCAA women’s volleyball semifinals.

The Ducks (30-4) won 21-25, 30-28, 25-22, 25-19 to advance to the title game tonight against third-seeded Texas, a five-set winner over unseeded Michigan.

Nia Grant, a graduate of Howland High School, competed in the match for Penn State.

Alaina Bergsma and Katherine Fischer each had 16 kills for the Ducks, who are appearing in their first Final Four.

The Ducks ended the Nittany Lions’ bid to win their fifth national title in six years.

Fairhaven swimmers advance to state meet

columbus

Members of the Fairhaven Special Olympics team will compete today in the Ohio Special Olympics state aquatic meet.

Action is slated at Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.

Members of the Fairhaven team are Kathy Kinney of McDonald; Randy Levelle of Bristolville; Tammy Barnes of Warren; Stephanie Wargo of Newton Falls; Roger Hughley of Brookfield and Jeanette Johnson of Niles.

They are coached by Joe Sliman.

Canfield Holiday Duals Wrestling tournament

canfield

Seven high schools will compete today in the Canfield Holiday Duals Wrestling tournament.

In the field will be Saint Paris Graham, Revere, Richmond (MI), Rootstown, Southeast, Tallmadge and Canfield.

Saint Paris Graham has won 12 OHSAA Div. II state championships and Richmond has four Michigan Div. III state team titles.

Action begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Canfield High School gym.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report winter prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred.

Armstrong doctor says he never saw him dope

DOHA, Qatar

Lance Armstrong’s former physician Michele Ferrari says he never saw the American cyclist doping.

The Italian tells Al Jazeera English that “I’ve never seen, I never heard something about that. He never asked me for information about doping.”

In its extensive report that resulted in Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency traced more than $1 million in payments from Armstrong to Ferrari from 1996 to 2006. It detailed how Ferrari told Armstrong and others to dope with EPO and blood transfusions.

FIFA approves 2018 World Cup stadiums

TOKYO

FIFA approved stadiums for the opening match, semifinals and final of the 2018 Soccer World Cup in Russia.

Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will hold the opening match, one semifinal and the final. World Cup Stadium in St. Petersburg will host the other semifinal.

The executive committee of soccer’s governing body Friday also advocated having a defibrillator at every stadium. The decision follows the collapse of Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba at an FA Cup match March 17. The midfielder’s heart stopped for 78 minutes. A cardiologist sitting among Tottenham fans left his seat to treat him and helped saved his life.

Lady Lahaina captures Big A feature race

NEW YORK

Royal Lahaina drew off to a six-length victory over Belle Gallantey on Friday in the $67,620 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old delivered one of three victories on the day for jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Rick Dutrow. Royal Lahaina won for the third time in 17 races.

Vindicator staff/wire reports