IN BRIEF

PRO FOOTBALL

Cowboys’ charter flight makes stop for repairs

The Dallas Cowboys’ charter flight to Miami made an unscheduled stop for repairs in New Orleans on Saturday.

“We had a hydraulic problem on our plane. We got it fixed,” team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said.

The Boeing 757 landed shortly before 3 p.m. and left about 5:45, airport spokeswoman Michelle Duffourc said.

“Some of the guys got off the plane, but a lot of them stayed on,” Dalrymple said.

Another plane was sent from Dallas-Fort Worth to New Orleans to pick up the team, American Airlines spokesman John Hotard said.

But Dalrymple said it turned out not to be needed.

The Cowboys will play the Dolphins today.

Also: Washington Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels did not practice again and was downgraded to doubtful for Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Daniels, who sprained his foot last week against Miami, said the prudent thing might be for him to sit out Monday and prepare instead for next week’s game against the New York Giants.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was fined $5,000 by the NFL for a late hit and unnecessary roughness in last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Ward hit cornerback Daven Holly from behind in the third quarter and was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul. The Steelers won, 34-7.

The Green Bay Packers placed receiver Carlyle Holiday on injured reserve because of a knee injury and signed receiver Chris Francies from the practice squad.

UNLV

Volleyball team nets victory over Utah

The UNLV volleyball team beat Utah 30-19, 25-30, 30-28, 30-25 in Mountain West Conference play at Cox Pavilion.

The Rebels (10-1, 2-0 MWC), off to the best start in program history, beat the Utes (2-7, 0-2 MWC) for the first time since 1998.

Lauren Miramontes led UNLV with 20 kills, Maria Aladjova had 18 kills and 14 digs, and Jessica Walters had 13 kills and 13 digs.

Melody Nua added 54 assists.

Also: The UNLV cross country team took 12th in the 14-team Aztec Invitational in San Diego.

Charlotte Browning finished 45th to lead the Rebels, covering the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 18 seconds.

UNLV finished with 360 points. Arkansas took the team title with 28 points, and Southern California’s Sarah Cocco won the individual title in 17 minutes, 43 seconds.

MISCELLANEOUS

Spain, Russia reach Europe basketball final

Spain beat defending champion Greece, and Russia defeated Lithuania to reach the final of the European basketball championship in Madrid, Spain.

Pau Gasol of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies scored 23 points in Spain’s 82-77 victory in the first semifinal.

In the second semi, Andrei Kirilenko had 29 points and three blocks, and Russia withstood 30 points from Ramunas Siskauskas for a 86-74 victory that put the Russians in their record 19th final.

Also: Lindsay Davenport advanced to the final of the Bali Open in her first singles tournament since having a baby in June.

Davenport cruised past Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. In today’s final, she will face second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, who defeated qualifier Sorana Cirstea, 7-5, 6-1.

Davenport, who played doubles at the Pilot Pen in late August, returned to singles play for the first time since having her son, Jagger, this summer.

Davenport double-faulted as she served for the first set, then double-faulted twice more as she surrendered her serve again at the start of the second. But she rallied and closed out the match by winning the final five games.

American cyclist Jason McCartney won a long 14th stage of the Spanish Vuelta in Villacarrillo, Spain, and Denis Menchov kept the overall lead for the fifth straight leg.

McCartney, who rides for the Discovery Channel, finished the 128.6-mile course in 5 hours, 21 minutes, 21 seconds. Swedish rider Thomas Lovkist of Francaise des Jeux was second, 28 seconds back.

The race ends Sept. 23 in Madrid.