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Sports in Brief: Penn State's streak hits 100

The top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team (36-0) swept California in three sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22, yesterday in Gainesville, Fla., to advance to the NCAA national semifinals and extend its winning streak to 100 matches.

The top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team (36-0) swept California in three sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22, yesterday in Gainesville, Fla., to advance to the NCAA national semifinals and extend its winning streak to 100 matches.

The Nittany Lions have the second-longest winning streak in Division I team-sports history, behind the 137 straight match wins by Miami in men's tennis from 1957 to 1964.

Megan Hodge led Penn State with 14 kills, and Alisha Glass had 35 assists and a team-high 12 digs.

The win also gave Lions coach Russ Rose his 999th career victory, heading to the national semifinals Thursday in Tampa, Fla.

WINTER SPORTS: Shaun White, the Olympic champion, won the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colo., the first key event leading to February's Vancouver Olympic Games.

Speedskater Enrico Fabris of Italy won the 5,000 meters in 6 minutes, 6.06 seconds at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns. It was the final long-track speedskating World Cup event before the Olympics.

American Chad Hedrick was sixth in 6:13.51. Teammate Shani Davis was ninth among 20 skaters in 6:15.64.

Christian Niccum and Dan Joye were fourth in a World Cup luge doubles race in Lillehammer, Norway, clinching spots on the U.S. roster for the Olympics.

BOXING: Vitali Klitschko (39-2) of Ukraine retained his WBC heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over American Kevin Johnson (22-1-1) in Bern, Switzerland.

PRO FOOTBALL: Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux insisted in a statement he will be cleared of felony marijuana charges. He was arrested during a traffic stop Thursday night and charged with possession of 11/2 ounces of marijuana.

GOLF: Michelle Wie fell short with a late charge in the season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters in the United Arab Emirates. She was the runner-up to In-Kyung Kim of South Korea, who won by 3 strokes with an 18-under 270 on the Emirates' Majlis Course.

Pablo Martin (14-under 202) had a 2-stroke lead over Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club in Malelane, South Africa.

Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly (13-under 131) shared a 1-stroke lead after the Shark Shootout's second round at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps won the 400 individual medley with ease, clocking 3 minutes, 42.53 seconds in the North Baltimore Aquatic Center Christmas Meet at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Then he took the 100 backstroke in 46.73, edging NBAC teammates Ben Hesen and Todd Patrick.

- Staff and wire reports