Popular ARCA driver dies in race crash

CONCORD, N.C. -- The mood in the garage area Friday told the emotional story of Blaise Alexander, a popular and promising young driver killed while racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Alexander died Thursday night when his car hit the wall head-on in the final laps of the Automobile Racing Club of America race. Although ARCA is not associated with NASCAR, it's viewed as a training ground for the big leagues and many of the cars used are discarded Winston Cup models.

That was the case with the 25-year-old Alexander, who had spent time competing in the Busch series and was well-known in the garage area. So his death saddened the NASCAR competitors, still grieving the loss of four other peers over the last 17 months.

"He was a very likable kid and he had talent," said Winston Cup driver Jimmy Spencer, who had served as a mentor to Alexander and has known his family for more than 20 years. "He came down to North Carolina to make it big in NASCAR, and I believe he was on his way to doing that."

Alexander wrecked with four laps to go in the EasyCare 100.

SEMO volleyball faces major test

Southeast Missouri State University's 36-match home winning streak in volleyball will receive a rugged challenge Sunday when a strong Southwest Missouri State squad visits Houck Field House for a 3 p.m. non-conference contest.

The Bears are 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. A year ago, SMS went 27-7, including 14-4 in the MVC.

Southeast is 7-6 overall and a first-place 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Sunday's match will be part of the Otahkians' Dig 4 Life campaign that helps raise money for breast cancer education.

Perez will return to front office

ATLANTA -- Tony Perez, the Hall of Famer who came out of the front office in May to manage the Florida Marlins, said Friday he won't return to the field in 2002.

Perez is going back to his former job as special assistant to general manager Dave Dombrowski.

"I feel OK," Perez said. "I made my decision. I feel good that I will still be with the Marlins like I was before. It's not like I'm leaving. I'm just going back upstairs."

The decision was expected with the Marlins finishing far back in the NL East and facing the prospect of another salary purge during the offseason.

Perez, 59, took over on May 28 when John Boles was fired with Marlins struggling at 22-26.

The team initially surged under its new manager, winning 19 of his first 29 to pull within two games of first in the NL East.

But Florida was swept in a five-game series at Philadelphia just before the All-Star break and never seemed to recover. With three games left, the Marlins were 75-84 and 11 games behind Atlanta.

SEMO tennis team loses to Harding

Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team dropped its opening home dual match of the fall practice season Thursday as Harding (Ark.) rolled to a 6-1 triumph.

The Otahkians won just two of the nine matches. The No. 1 doubles squad of Daniela Garcia and Adrienne Bland prevailed 8-6 while freshman Tyla Wells was the lone winner in singles as she defeated Laura Tollett 6-0, 5-7, 7-5

Harding 6 , Southeast 1

Singles

1. Pernilla Axelsson (H) def. Daniela Garcia 6-1, 6-1

2. Tyla Wells (SE) def. Laura Tollett 6-0, 5-7, 7-5

3. Eva Axelsson (H) def. Adrienne Bland 6-2, 6-0

4. Carolina Banuelos (H) def. Andrea Aldana 2-6, 6-4, 6-2

5. Daniela Corrales (H) def. Kay Ehlke 6-0, 6-2

6. Sara Campbell (H) def. Jennifer Kirk 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

1. Garcia/Bland (SE) def. P. Axelson/Tollett 8-6

2. E. Axelson/Banuelos (H) def. Wells/Aldana 8-2

3. Corrales/Campbell (H) def. Ehlke/Kirk 8-0

-- From staff, wire reports