Sports briefs: Ex-player backs up Rutgers allegations

College athletics • A former Tennessee volleyball player has written a post on her blog backing up her ex-teammates' accusations that embattled Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann abused them verbally and emotionally during her coaching tenure in the 1990s.

Erin Zammett Ruddy writes in her blog that "our intention was to see Julie go because there was no way any of us could continue at UT with her at the helm. Our intention today is not to see her suffer or to take her down in any way." She says the players are telling the truth because they were asked.

Rutgers paid $70,000 for a background check, which failed to uncover the accusations.

Belgium rocks U.S. in exhibition

Soccer • Christian Benteke scored two goals in the second half and Marouane Fellaini had another, leading Belgium to a 4-2 thrashing of the United States on Wednesday night in an international friendly the Americans hoped would get them ready for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Boasting a strong roster with 10 players from the English Premier League, Belgium broke a 1-1 tie with three goals in the second half.

Gronkowski to have back surgery

NFL • New England tight end Rob Gronkowski will have back surgery on a disk in mid-June.

A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the surgery is next month, which means he will miss the rest of offseason training activities with the Patriots.

From wire reports