Sports in Brief: Penn State women win national volleyball crown

There was determination behind the two straight aces Micha Hancock served to set up Penn State's four-set victory over scrappy Wisconsin in women's volleyball.

"I didn't want to go to five," said the setter known for her powerful lefthanded jump serve. "I didn't think anyone did."

Hancock's second ace paved the way for Deja McClendon's match point, a soft hit over the net that fell unanswered and the second-seeded Nittany Lions (34-3) defeated the Badgers, 3-1, Saturday night to win the NCAA championship in Seattle.

Ariel Scott had 21 kills in the 25-19, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23 victory. It was Penn State's sixth NCAA volleyball crown.

The Nittany Lions dogpiled as streamers rained down at Seattle's Key Arena. During the celebration, players from 12th-seeded Wisconsin (28-10) returned to the court to applaud the champions.

WINTER SPORTS Shaun White finished third at the U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colo., putting himself in strong position to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the Olympic debut of slopestyle.

Two-time overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher won the challenging giant slalom on the Gran Risa course in Italy with two solid runs, while favorite Ted Ligety finished third. Another American, Tim Jitloff, finished fifth. Bode Miller failed to advance from the first run.

HORSE RACING The final day of racing at Hollywood Park has come and gone.

The $200,000 King Glorious Stakes for 2-year-olds was the last race as the 75-year-old track in Inglewood closes for good.

The 260-acre track that hosted Seabiscuit; Triple Crown winners Citation, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed; and superstar mare Zenyatta as well as the first Breeders' Cup in 1984, will be turned into a housing and retail development starting next year.

DIVING David Boudia and Sam Dorman won the men's 3-meter synchronized title at the U.S. Diving Winter Nationals in Austin, Texas. Maren Taylor won the women's 3-meter title, and Steele Johnson took the men's 10-meter title. Anna James and Jessica Parratto won the women's 10-meter synchro title.

   BASEBALL Former major-leaguer Alex Cabrera broke a three-decade-old Venezuelan record for most home runs in a season. Cabrera hit his 21st home run, a grand slam that surpassed the tally set in 1980 by former big-league catcher Bo Diaz. - Associated Press