Olympic Roundup - Sunday, August 24
August 25, 2008 | 11:57 AMUCLA Sports Information
Men's Volleyball
The U.S. men's volleyball team captured Olympic gold for the first time in 20 years on Sunday, defeating defending champion Brazil, 3-1. In two weeks of competition, the Americans were undefeated. The 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23 final handed the U.S. men their third Olympic gold medal in the sport, matching the record set by the Russians. UCLA alumnus John Speraw is an assistant coach for the U.S. team.
Men's Water Polo
The U.S. men's water polo team claimed the silver medal on Sunday, losing to two-time defending gold medalist Hungary in the gold-medal match, 14-10. Hungary powered past the Americans, outscoring Team USA by a 5-2 margin in the second half after having led, 9-8, at halftime. The Americans entered the 2008 Olympic Games ranked ninth in the world.
Former UCLA goalkeeper and current Bruin assistant coach Brandon Brooks recorded four saves in the cage. Former UCLA standout Adam Wright notched one assist.
Hungary earned its third consecutive gold medal in men's water polo, the longest such streak since Great Britain pulled off that feat in 1920. Team USA won a medal in the sport for the first time since 1988, when current U.S. men's head coach Terry Schroeder led the Americans to second-place finish in Seoul.
Medal Count
Gold - 4 (Lauren Cheney, w. soccer; Dawn Harper, track & field, 100m hurdles; Monique Henderson, track & Field, 4x400m relay; Mark Hunter, rowing, lightweight double sculls)
Gold - 4 (Lauren Cheney, w. soccer; Dawn Harper, track & field, 100m hurdles; Monique Henderson, track & Field, 4x400m relay; Mark Hunter, rowing, lightweight double sculls)
Silver - 9 (Brandon Brooks, m. water polo; Andrea Duran, softball; Tairia Flowers, softball; Natalie Golda, w. water polo; Jaime Hipp, w. water polo; Stacey Nuveman, softball; Sheena Tosta, track & field, 400m hurdles; Natasha Watley, softball; Adam Wright, m. water polo)
Bronze - 2 (Kim Vandenberg, swimming, 4x200m free relay; Tanya Harding, softball)
Note: Jillian Ellis, Guy Baker, John Speraw and Bob Alejo coached teams to medals. Ellis was an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning U.S. women's soccer team. Baker was the head coach of the silver medal-winning U.S. women's water polo team. Speraw served as an assistant coach with the gold-medal winning U.S. men's volleyball team. Alejo was the coach of beach volleyball gold medalists Todd Rogers/Phil Dalhausser. In addition, Jeanette Bolden is the head coach of the U.S. women's track and field team. Coaches are not awarded medals at the Olympic Games.
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Julie Chiu
Julie, who works with the media in Beijing, prepared for her third Olympics by studying Mandarin for two years.
Jessica Cosby
Jessica competes in the hammer throw for the U.S. Olympic team.
Andrea Duran
Andrea, Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2006, plays on the U.S. Olympic softball team.
Jillian Ellis
Jillian, head coach at UCLA, is an assistant coach for the U.S. women's soccer team.
Natalie Golda
Natalie, a UCLA alum, is a member of the U.S. water polo team.
Kimberly Kyan
Kimberly, UCLA '05, moved to Beijing on a whim two years ago and stayed for the Olympics.
Kara Lang
Kara, a student at UCLA, is a member of Canada's Olympic soccer team.
Nicolette Teo
Nicolette swims the breaststroke for the Singapore Olympic team.
Elizabeth Kivowitz Boatright-Simon
Liz is a senior media relations officer at UCLA. She is happy to be at home during the Olympics.
Kevin Roderick
Kevin is director of the UCLA Newsroom. He wishes he were in Beijing.