UCLA tops Penn State in women’s volleyball

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder had 15 kills and UCLA swept four-time defending national volleyball champion Penn State in the NCAA regional semifinals at Lexington, Ky., to end the Nittany Lions’ record 26-game postseason winning streak.

Aiyana Whitney had 12 kills for the eighth-seeded Nittany Lions in the 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 loss.

Kelly Reeves had 11 kills, and senior Lainey Gera led the ninth-seeded Bruins (27-6) with 15 digs. Penn State (25-8) held a 13-12 lead in the first set and a 1-0 lead in the third set but UCLA rallied in each.

In a regional semifinal match at Honolulu, Pepperdine beat Kansas State, 25-18, 25-12, 25-23. Kim Hill had 15 kills and 15 digs for the Waves, who will next play the winner of a late Friday match between USC and Hawaii.

The Nittany Lions have participated in every NCAA postseason event since 1981, but are 1-5 in tournament play against UCLA.

ETC.

McIlroy’s pursuit of money title falters

Rory McIlroy’s chance for the European money title took a hit when his ball landed in the water on 18, finishing five shots off the lead halfway through the Dubai World Championship.

McIlroy had a one-under 71 to trail Spanish leader Alvaro Quiros, who eagled the 18th for a 64.

Top-ranked Luke Donald finished with three straight birdies for a 68, tied for 12th.

The second-ranked McIlroy needs to win at Jumeirah Golf Estates and hope Donald finishes no better than ninth to claim the European money title. Donald looks to become the first to win both the European and American titles.

::

Champions Tour duo Mark Calcavecchia and Nick Price tied with the pairing of PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele at nine-under 63 to lead the Franklin Templeton Shootout at Naples, Fla.

Price shot a hole-in-one on No. 12 and a 30-footer for birdie on the last hole in the modified alternate shot format. Bradley and Steele played the final six holes at seven under.

The 2009 champions, Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker, are one back. The 12 two-man teams will play better ball on Saturday and scramble on Sunday in the $3-million event’s 23rd edition.

::

Billy Schuler scored the tying goal with 5:13 left in regulation, and North Carolina beat UCLA in penalty kicks at Hoover, Ala., to advance to the NCAA men’s soccer final.

Ben Speas scored North Carolina’s other goal in regulation and made the penalty kick that sealed the 3-1 victory in the tiebreaker. Scott Goodwin

The 13th-seeded Bruins (18-5-1) led throughout, taking a 1-0 lead on a 30-yard blast by Ryan Hollingshead midway through the first half. Kelyn Rowe also scored for UCLA.

The top-seeded Tar Heels (21-2-2) will face unseeded Charlotte (17-4-3) in Sunday’s final. The 49ers also advanced on penalty kicks, beating Creighton 4-1 after a scoreless game.

::

Canada’s Patrick Chan shrugged off the distractions and an uncharacteristic fall into the boards to win the short program Friday night in the ISU Grand Prix Final at Quebec City, Canada.

The 20-year-old from Toronto scored 86.63 points for the jazzy program marred by the hard fall into the boards on a triple toe loop. American Jeremy Abbott was second at 82.66 points, and Spain’s Javier Fernandez followed at 81.26.

Italy’s Carolina Kostner won the women’s short program, scoring 66.43 points to easily edge Japan’s Akiko Suzuki.

In ice dance, world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States led after the short dance with 76.17 points.

Russia’s Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov led the pairs competition after the short program at 71.57.

::

Ohio State asked for and received NCAA approval to exceed the limit of football coaches on staff through the Buckeyes’ bowl game.

The existing staff, under Luke Fickell, will prepare the Buckeyes on the field in the days leading up to and including their Gator Bowl game against Florida on Jan. 2. Then there is incoming coach Urban Meyer, who will handle only recruiting while hiring his own assistants.

Athletic Director Gene Smith said the split staffs were “normal in some transitions.” He added, “We are operating within allowable NCAA and Big Ten rules.”