SPORTS digest

YSU’s Thompson earns Horizon honor

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State senior libero Nikki Thompson has been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week.

Thompson set two school records in the final match of her Penguins career. She posted 26 digs in a three-set victory at UIC on Saturday, which was the most by a YSU player in the rally scoring era. That brought her yearly total to 510, which broke the school record she previously set in 2014.

This was the third time in her career that Thompson was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week. She also earned the honor on Sept. 2 and Oct. 13 of last year.

YSU’s Varcolla makes all-freshman team

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State outside hitter Sarah Varcolla has been named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team.

Varcolla, a native of New Philadelphia, led the conference with 40 aces, and she ranked third among all Horizon League freshmen in kills with 236.

She reached double digits in kills on 10 occasions, and five of those came in Horizon League play. The freshman posted at least three aces eight times, including her collegiate debut when she tied the school record with seven against Bradley.

Varcolla’s 236 kills were the 10th-most ever by a YSU freshman, and her 40 aces were the third-most in the class.

Correction

The score of the New England Patriots’ 27-26 victory over the New York Giants was incorrect on page B1 of Monday’s edition.

Maplewood’s Dahmen commits to YSU

MECCA

Tristan Dahmen, Maplewood’s 2014 and 2015 Ohio cross country state champion for Division III, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Youngstown State.

Last spring, Dahmen was Ohio’s 3200 meter champion.

The Rockets won the cross country championship in 2014 and earlier this month.

Boardman’s Keller finishes fourth

RICHMOND, Va.

Boardman High School golfer Ken Keller finished tied for fourth in last weekend’s College Prep event at Independence Golf Course.

Keller shot a 151, one stroke behind Kurtis Grant, Colin Caporal and Alston Newsom who tied for first.

McDowell captures OHL in playoff

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico

Graeme McDowell ended one of his worst years with one of his best shots. He hit an approach to 3 feet for a birdie on the 18th hole Monday to win the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in a three-man playoff.

McDowell closed with a 66 to finish at 18-under 266 which he thought would be only good enough for second place.

Russell Knox, coming off his first win last week in Shanghai at the HSBC Champions, had a one-shot lead playing the 18th hole until he pulled his tee shot into a bunker, came up short of the green and missed a 12-foot par putt.

Jason Bohn saved par on the final hole to join the playoff.

The playoff lasted one hole thanks to McDowell’s shot.

Saints fire Ryan

METAIRIE, La.

Saints coach Sean Payton says Rob Ryan has been fired as defensive coordinator and senior defensive assistant Dennis Allen will assume Ryan’s duties.

The move, announced Monday night on Payton’s weekly radio show on WWL-AM, comes a day after the Saints allowed 526 yards in a 47-14 loss to the Washington Redskins. The Saints rank last in the NFL in yards allowed per game with 424.7, yards allowed per play with 6.7 and points allowed per game with 31.5.

Injuries have hampered the unit lately, but New Orleans has ranked consistently low defensively for a season and a half, having finished last year ranked 31st.

Ryan was hired in 2013 and his unit ranked fourth that season, but has struggled since.

Staff/wire report