Ocean Race Sailor Is Swept Overboard, Dies

A Dutch crewman in the Volvo Ocean Race died early Thursday after being swept overboard in heavy Atlantic seas, race organizers said.

Crew mates aboard the ABN AMRO TWO yacht pulled helmsman and sail trimmer Hans Horrevoets, 32, from the ocean but he failed to regain consciousness.

The yacht was sailing in 16-foot waves and 35-mph winds when Horrevoets was thrown overboard some 1,300 miles off Land’s End, England, the team said.

The other nine crew members immediately turned the boat around, took down its sails and began a search-and-rescue effort. Horrevoets was located and lifted back on board.

“We are all devastated,” said ABN AMRO TWO skipper Sebastien Josse.

The Dutch team said the yacht was no longer racing, but was sailing to finish the seventh leg in Portsmouth, England, and would later decide whether to keep competing.

Despite efforts to resuscitate him under the direction of medical advisors from Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Horrevoets failed to regain consciousness.

The team said Horrevoets was trimming the spinnaker sheet when the yacht’s bow dug into a wave, throwing him into the water.

TENNIS

Ancic Upsets Blake at Hamburg Masters

Fifth-seeded James Blake served for the match twice before losing, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), to Mario Ancic in the third round of the Hamburg Masters in Germany.

Ancic advanced to the quarterfinals of the French Open warmup, where he will play fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko.

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Second-seeded Kim Clijsters lost her chance to reclaim the WTA Tour’s No. 1 ranking when she lost to Dinara Safina, 6-4, 7-6 (2), in the third round of the Italian Open at Rome.

The second-ranked Clijsters would have moved past Amelie Mauresmo if she had won the title this week. Mauresmo was a late withdrawal because of illness.

Former top-ranked players Venus Williams and Martina Hingis also advanced to the quarterfinals.

The ninth-seeded Williams beat sixth-seeded Patty Schnyder, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1, and Hingis defeated eighth-seeded Francesca Schiavone, 6-0, 7-5.

MOTOR RACING

Jarrett’s Crew Chief Must Serve Suspension

An appeals committee in Charlotte, N.C., upheld Richard “Slugger” Labbe’s suspension, sidelining Dale Jarrett’s crew chief for the next four weeks.

NASCAR said that Labbe illegally mounted the sway bar on Jarrett’s car two weeks ago in Richmond, Va. He was also fined $25,000, and Jarrett and car owner Robert Yates were each docked 25 points in their respective standings.

Labbe appealed the severity of the penalty, arguing that he was not blatantly cheating but rather exploiting a loophole he believes he found in NASCAR’s rule book.

Labbe will begin serving his suspension this week and will not be cleared to return to competition until the June 18 Michigan 400.

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Sam Hornish Jr. keeps posting fast laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The two-time Indy Racing League champion has posted the fastest times in every session but one.

Hornish beat a strong challenge for Thursday’s fast lap from Marlboro Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves with a lap of 224.941 mph. Two-time 500 winner Castroneves was close behind at 224.437.

COLLEGE TENNIS

USC Women Reach NCAA Quarterfinals

The third-seeded USC women’s team ended Virginia Commonwealth’s 29-match winning streak and advanced to the NCAA Division I quarterfinals with a 4-1 victory over the Rams (29-1) at Stanford.

The Trojans (20-3) clinched the victory at No. 5 singles when Carine Vermeulen defeated Vera Petrashevitch, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

UCLA (15-7) lost to Florida, 4-3.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

May-Treanor, Walsh Seek 50th Victory

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh will try for career victory No. 50 when the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Santa Barbara Open kicks off today at West Beach.

May-Treanor and Walsh, the 2004 Olympic gold medalists and top-seeded team in Santa Barbara, have won the first two AVP events this season, bringing their career totals to 28 AVP events and 21 international events. Their 49 victories are 19 more than any other American team. Linda Hanley and Nina Matthies had 30.

-- Peter Yoon

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Ohio State’s Tressel Agrees to New Deal

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel will be paid almost $2.4 million this season as part of a new seven-year contract. Tressel has yet to sign the contract, Ohio State spokesman Steve Snapp said, adding that Tressel and Ohio State officials have agreed in principle to the deal.

MISCELLANY

Albert Belle Arrested on Stalking Charge

Albert Belle was arrested on a new stalking charge for allegedly making phone calls to a woman he already was charged with harassing.

The 39-year-old former major league star was arrested by Scottsdale, Ariz., police at his home Wednesday after they investigated new allegations that he made calls to his ex-girlfriend.

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Former world champion Ana Guevara of Mexico will not run in the Adidas Track Classic Sunday at the Home Depot Center because of an infected tooth.

Guevara, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, was scheduled to run in the women’s 400 meters against 2004 Olympic gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter.

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Mission Hills Alemany High is expected to introduce Dean Herrington as its new football coach today, according to multiple sources. Herrington, the architect of Newhall Hart’s highly successful passing attack, has served as the offensive coordinator the last four seasons at College of the Canyons.