Rafael Nadal proves fitness, wins Barcelona Open Rafael Nadal won the Barcelona Open for the eighth time Sunday, defeating Nicolas Almagro, 6-4, 6-3, in Spain for his fourth title of the year. This latest victory, with next month's French Open approaching, is a promising sign that Nadal is getting back to full strength from a knee injury that sidelined him since last summer "I am very happy," he said. It has been an important week for me to win here again and a great source of joy after everything I have been through. Nadal has made six straight finals since returning from his knee injury. This title, the 54th of his career, comes one week after his eight-year reign at Monte Carlo ended with a loss to top-ranked Novak Djokovic. Maria Sharapova beat Li Na, 6-4, 6-3, to successfully defend her WTA Porsche Grand Prix title at Stuttgart, Germany, in a final between the last two French Open champions. The top-seeded Russian swept to her second title of the year after winning at Indian Wells. She became the first player to retain the Stuttgart title since Lindsey Davenport in 2005. UCLA freshman Kyle McPhillips defeated Stanford freshman Krista Hardebeck, 6-1, 6-0, in the women's singles final of the Ojai Pac-12 Conference tournament, the most lopsided victory ever in the women's final. In the women's open final, Noelle Hickey beat Ashley Harkleroad, 0-6, 6-3, 6-1. Mackenzie McDonald won the men's open title by defeating Lester Cook, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1. Horschel gets first PGA Tour victory Billy Horschel shot an eight-under-par 64 in the final round of the Zurich Classic at Avondale, La., maintaining his composure through two weather delays for his first- PGA Tour victory. Inbee Park shot a bogey-free four-under 67 to win the inaugural North Texas LPGA Shootout at Irving by a stroke over Carlota Ciganda, whose chance for a first LPGA victory was wiped out in a two-hole stretch. After finishing second twice, Jeff Sluman finally won the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf with a new teammate. Sluman, a two-time runner-up with Craig Stadler at the Champions Tour's team event, partnered with Brad Faxon for a one-stroke victory at Savannah, Ga. UC Irvine received an at-large bid and will join Brigham Young, Loyola of Chicago and Penn State in the NCAA men's volleyball semifinals, which will be held at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday. The final will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Pauley and televised on ESPNU. The defending national champion and second-seeded Anteaters (23-7), making their fifth NCAA final four appearance, will play third-seeded Loyola (22-9), making its first appearance, at 6 p.m. Thursday. Top-seeded Brigham Young (25-4), also making its fifth appearance, will face fourth-seeded Penn State (23-7), in its 28th appearance in the final four at 8 p.m., in the second semifinal.