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MTU
The Michigan Tech volleyball team has introduced two new players. Setter Lina Espejo-Ramirez is transferring in from Midland Junior College in Texas. She is originally from Bogotá, Colombia. Defensive specialist Leiya Rybicki played high school volleyball in Freeland, Michigan. Her father Mike played football and mother Lori played basketball for Michigan Tech. Her twin brothers Ben and Joe played football for the Huskies.
The Tech Nordic ski team has also announced its recruiting class. Henry Snider from Saint Paul, Minnesota, will join the men’s team. The women’s team has picked up four skiers. Johanna Craig is from Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Skylar Patten comes from Park City, Utah. Olivia Laven is an international student from Stockholm, Sweden. And, Nea Katajala will ski as an exchange student from the Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland.
Finlandia
The Finlandia University volleyball team has also added a new recruit. Joslyn Perala from Lake Linden will join the squad. Perala was the Copper Mountain Conference MVP during her senior year with the Lakes.
Chris Beyer has committed to play with the Finlandia men’s hockey team. He’s from Appleton, Wisconsin, and has played the last two seasons with the Minnesota Moose of the United States Premier Hockey League.
MLB
The baseball players union has reportedly asked team owners to provide a large number of documents to back up their projected revenue claims for a shortened 2020 season. Owners are proposing that salaries be limited to 50 percent of the league’s income. They allege that 40 percent of the revenue from those games will be lost because fans will not be allowed to attend. They’re also concerned that a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic this fall could wipe out the playoffs. That would eliminate broadcast revenue, but would not affect player salaries. Players are paid only for regular-season games.
On CNN yesterday, commissioner Rob Manfred said the league could lose $4 billion if the season is canceled completely. Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Snell said yesterday that he remains concerned that contracting the virus could have long-term health implications, and may sit the season out.
NHL
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the league is not considering canceling the remainder of its season. In a town hall meeting hosted by the San Jose Sharks yesterday, Bettman admitted that any hope for a normal conclusion to the season is gone. He said a number of “creative” options are being considered. Bettman also said the 2020-2021 season could begin as late as December.
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