By Compiled from Times wires
Published August 15, 2003
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Cuba swept the United States in the Pan American Games semifinals of women's volleyball, using a powerful attack the Americans could not match.
The highly ranked Cubans mixed up their attack, sometimes using cross-court passes to set up a spike, and other times using short sets for the kills. Regardless of the approach, they were too strong and experienced for the U.S., which sent its B team to the games.
The U.S. tied the first set 18-18, but Cuba stormed away. Though the Americans had some spurts of solid play, they were overwhelmed for much of the rest of the night.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Argentine rower Ulf Lienhard tested positive for cocaine and will be stripped of two Pan American Games medals.
Rami Zur was disqualified in the 500-meter individual kayak opening round because his boat was too light.
NHL: Smyth will return
Leading scorer Ryan Smyth re-signed a two-year contract with the Oilers, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. Smyth had a team-high 61 points in 66 games last season, getting 27 goals and 34 assists.
LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay will be on three national broadcasts this season on ESPN2. Lightning games Jan. 19 vs. Colorado, March 1 at Colorado and April 3 vs. Atlanta will be among 50 on the network. ESPN also will carry 20 games and ABC will broadcast games on five Saturdays over the second half of the season. ABC also will carry the All-Star Game and the bulk of the Stanley Cup final.
PANTHERS: Left wing Craig MacDonald and defenseman Kent Huskins signed one-year free-agent contracts.
STARS: Defenseman Richard Matvichuk was awarded a $2.2-million salary for next season in arbitration.
TENNIS: Roddick, Coria advance
Andy Roddick built momentum for the U.S. Open by fighting off a stiff challenge from unseeded James Blake to advance to the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters. He won 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
Guillermo Coria and Rainer Schuettler, both low seeds, won to advance to the quarterfinals.
ROGERS AT&T CUP: Top-ranked Kim Clijsters was upset by unseeded Lina Krasnoroutskaya 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the third round.
U.S. OPEN: Michael Chang was among eight men granted a wild-card entry to what will be his final tournament as a pro.
TRACK AND FIELD: Felix could go pro
Prep sprint phenom Allyson Felix is close to signing a million-dollar deal with a sponsor and will turn professional, thus forgoing a college career at USC, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. The 17-year-old, who graduated from L.A. Baptist of North Hills in June, spent the past four months trying to decide whether to turn professional or honor her commitment to run track at USC.
ET CETERA
SOCCER: Freddy Adu scored three goals, two in the final minutes, to lead the United States to a 6-1 victory over South Korea in at the Under-17 World Championship.
BASKETBALL: Connecticut's Diana Taurasi and Duke's Alana Beard were picked as preseason John R. Wooden Award All-Americans, along with 28 others. The Wooden Award will be presented to the nation's top female basketball player for the first time in April.
YOUTH BASEBALL: Justin Bristow homered and hit a two-run double to lead the U.S. to a 15-4 victory over Australia at World Youth Baseball Championship.
YOUTH SOFTBALL: Alyssa Lewis singled home the tying and go-ahead runs as Midway Little League from Waco, Tex., rallied to beat Naples 16-10 and capture the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore.
