NW Briefs: UW, FSN reach a new deal

FSN Northwest and the University of Washington announced an extension of their partnership with a new, six-year agreement that gives FSN exclusive rights to all event and ancillary programming for the football and men's basketball programs.

The partnership will work toward getting all the games on television, but there is no guarantee or provision for women's basketball, softball or baseball. The UW will try other avenues to get those sports televised.

Rowers on U.S. team

Sammamish High School senior Jennifer Cromwell, Lake Stevens High School senior Adrienne Mecham and Marysville-Pilchuck High School senior Sara Gribler were named by USRowing to the U.S. Junior National Rowing Team for the second consecutive year.

The local rowers are among eight from area high schools and 29 from across the country who will represent the United States at the FISA World Rowing Junior Championships, Aug. 2-5 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Other local rowers to earn spots on the U.S. team were Lakeside School senior Hayley Johnson, Seattle Prep junior Katelin Kelly, Holy Names junior Michaela Strand and Vashon Island High School junior Tom Kicinski. Holy Names junior Lindsay Meyer earned a spot on the team in June by winning the U.S. trials in the women's single sculls.

Volleyball on tap

Megan Thigpen, the Associated Press Class 4A State Player of the Year, heads a strong cast of 2006 high-school seniors in the 21st annual Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association All-State series today at Fife High School.

Thigpen, an outside hitter from Mead of Spokane, led the Panthers to their third consecutive state title last fall.

Sixty-one players will represent five enrollment classifications. The Class 1A/B match starts at 4 p.m., with the 3A/2A match at 6 and the 4A match at 8, in an East vs. West format.

All players were all-league selections as seniors. Selah's Meggie Graf, the 3A Player of the Year, and Pomeroy's Sarah Bates, the 2A Player of the Year, are participating.

Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children 5 and under are free.

Biffle coming home

NASCAR Nextel driver Greg Biffle will have a day in his honor in his hometown of Camas on Tuesday.

Biffle will be on hand, along with his No. 16 car, and there will be a street-dedication ceremony in his honor. Biffle is also expected to be available for autographs.

Notes

• North Carolina left-hander Andrew Miller, who led his team to the championship round of the College World Series, won the third annual Roger Clemens Award that honors the top pitcher in college baseball. Among the finalists was Washington right-hander Tim Lincecum.

• Former Everett Silvertips defenseman Shaun Heshka has signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Heshka became the sixth player in Silvertips history to sign an NHL contract.

Compiled from Matt Massey, The Associated Press and team reports.