sports in brief

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Oct 26, 2008

Local & state: Wildcats rally to defeat Baylor in five sets

The No. 13 K-State volleyball team won in five sets Saturday night against Baylor in Waco, Texas, 24-26, 20-25, 25-13, 25-17, 21- 19.

After being down 2-0, K-State rallied with the help of Rita Liliom, who had 23 kills, 11 digs and an attack percentage of .340. Nataly Korobkova also added 21 kills and hit .429.

The Wildcats moved to 18-4 overall and 8-3 in the Big 12 while Baylor is 14-7 overall and 6-5 in conference.

K-State plays at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Ahearn Field House for the first of three straight home matches. It will be televised on FSKC.

The Kansas volleyball team was swept 3-0 Saturday night against Texas A&M in College Station.

Although the Jayhawks were in double figures in digs, the offense struggled to a season-low 28 kills and lost, 25-17, 25-14, 25-23.

Kansas fell to 9-11 overall and 3-8 in the Big 12. They next play against Missouri at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Border Showdown at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.

NFL: Rooney Rule prevents Haslett from a new contract

The NFL denied the St. Louis Rams' attempt to rework a contract with coach Jim Haslett that would ensure him a job beyond this season if he won six games because of a requirement that minority candidates be interviewed for head coaching vacancies.

Team president John Shaw said Saturday in a telephone interview with The AP that the league office cited the Rooney Rule when informing the Rams earlier this week, "either Tuesday or Wednesday." The story first was reported by CBSSports.com.

Language in Haslett's contract refers to him as the head coach, not the interim coach. But Haslett's agent said his client has no problem going through the interview process and wanted to make it clear there was no intent to sneak a deal past the NFL.

The Browns have agreed to rescind Kellen Winslow's one-game suspension, but the Pro Bowl tight end will still miss Cleveland's game on Sunday.

The team said in a statement Saturday night that Winslow will return on Monday, following the Browns' game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The franchise said it has worked through its differences with Winslow and looks forward to his return.

Carolina Panthers reserve defensive tackle Darwin Walker was involved in a minor car accident Saturday and was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona.

A team spokesman said Walker was added to the injury report in case his neck stiffens overnight.

Golf: Sutherland leads after third round at Frys.com Open

Kevin Sutherland shot a 7-under 63 on Saturday to take a one- stroke lead over George McNeill after the third round of the Frys.com Open, the fifth of the PGA Tour's seven Fall Series events.

The 44-year Sutherland had a 14-under 196 total on Grayhawk's Raptor Course. McNeill followed his second-round 63 with a 66.

England's Karen Stupples holed a 35-foot birdie chip on the final hole to take a two-stroke lead in the rain-soaked Grand China Air.

Stupples had her second straight 5-under 67 in the first LPGA Tour event in China. American Laura Diaz was second. She followed her opening 63 with a 73.

Jeff Sluman moved into position for his third Champions Tour victory of the season, shooting a 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion John Cook and Mark James in the AT&T Championship.

The 51-year-old Sluman had an 11-under 131 total. Cook shot a 63, and James, the first-round leader, had a 69 on the Oak Hills course.

Sergio Garcia closed in on his first European tour victory in three years at his home course, shooting a 5-under 66 to take a four- stroke lead into the final round of the Castello Masters.

The Spaniard had a 16-under 197 total at Club de Campo Mediterraneo, where he grew up playing and where his father, Victor, is the club professional.

General: Edwards wins Nationwide, still in title run

Carl Edwards held off David Reutimann to win the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 on Saturday, keeping alive his hopes for a second straight NASCAR Nationwide Series title.

Edwards, who missed qualifying at Memphis Motorsports Park because of practice for Sunday's Sprint Cup Race in Atlanta, started 34th in his No. 60 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford, but gained ground quickly after making an early stop for fresh tires.

He took the lead from Mike Bliss on lap 69, and never trailed after that, taking his fifth Nationwide Series victory of the season and 18th of his career.

Edwards pulled within 116 points of series leader Clint Bowyer, who finished 16th.

The New Orleans Hornets have exercised one-year team options on former first-round draft picks Hilton Armstrong and Julian Wright.

The moves Saturday add a fourth season to Armstrong's contract and a third to Wright's. The moves are fairly standard in the NBA, where contracts of first-round picks are guaranteed for only two years, with teams getting options to add third and fourth years.

Armstrong, averaged 2.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 11.3 minutes in 63 games last season. Wright averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 11.2 minutes in 57 games as a rookie in 2007-08.