Bruin alum and volunteer swim coach Kim Vandenberg became the first medal-winner for UCLA at the Beijing Olympic Games, as she and the U.S. 4x200m relay team took third (7:46.33) in the final. Vandenberg swam in the preliminary round, helping the U.S. squad to the No. 2 time heading into the final. She did not swim in the medal round but receives a bronze as a member of the relay squad. It is her first Olympic medal and first Olympic competition.

 

Rain delayed the United States' game against Canada on Thursday. Prior to the rain delay, Canada was winning 1-0 in the fourth inning. Play will resume on Friday after the United States-Japan game, which begins at noon Beijing time (9 pm PT Thursday).

 

In a battle of unbeatens, the U.S. defeated Bulgaria in the last match of a contest that began on Aug. 14, 3-1 (27-29, 25-21, 25-14, 26-24) to remain atop Pool A with a 3-0 record. The victory ensures the Yanks will advance to the quarterfinals along with Poland in Pool B (3-0). On Sat., Aug. 16, the U.S. meets China. The match begins at 7 pm PT Friday. UCLA alumnus John Speraw is an assistant coach for the U.S.

 

The U.S. men's water polo team absorbed its first defeat at the 2008 Olympics, losing to Serbia, 4-2, on Thursday. Peter Varellas led the Americans, scoring both goals, and goalkeeper Merrill Moses totaled 11 stops in the cage. Former UCLA standout Adam Wright did not score on two shot attempts, and former Bruin goalkeeper Brandon Brooks did not play.

The U.S. men's water polo team continues preliminary-round play against Croatia on Friday, Aug. 15 at 9:10 p.m. (PT). The Americans have compiled a 2-1 record in preliminary matches, and Croatia has logged a 3-0 mark in the first week of action. The USA-Croatia match can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and watched on NBC-4 on Saturday, Aug. 16, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

 

Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg lost in the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament to Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson, 7-6(5), 6-4.

 

Rain postponed rowing action until Friday. Mark Hunter is competing in the semifinals of the lightweight double sculls, while Mike Altman and the U.S. crew competes in the semifinals of the lightweight fours.

 

 

Women's track and field head coach Jeanette Bolden discusses life as an asthmatic.

 

 

*The U.S. women's water polo team faces Russia on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 11:20 p.m. (PT). The USA-Russia match can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and watched on NBC-4 on Friday, Aug. 15, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A win against Russia will advance the U.S. team to the quarterfinals. A victory by Team USA combined with a win by China over Italy will send the U.S. team straight to the semifinals as the first-place competitor in Group A.

 

*The undefeated U.S. softball team faces Japan in a preliminary round game at 9 pm PT Thursday.

 

*The U.S. and Canada will meet in the quarterfinals of the women's soccer tournament at 3 am PT on Friday. The U.S. team includes forward Lauren Cheney and assistant coach Jillian Ellis. Canada is led by Kara Lang.

 

*Track and field action begins on Friday for Bruin alumni Suzy Powell Roos in the Discus and Jonathan Williams in the 400m Hurdles. Discus qualifying begins at 4:55 am PT, while the 400m hurdles begins at 6:55 am PT.

 

*Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh face Cubans Dalixia Grasset and Tamara Peraza in the elimination round of the beach volleyball tournament. Their match will take place Friday at 7 pm PT.

 

*Postponed rowing matches resume Friday, with Mark Hunter competing in the semifinals of the lightweight double sculls and Mike Altman and the U.S. crew competing in the semifinals of the lightweight fours.

 

Bronze - 1 (Kim Vandenberg, Swimming 4x200m Relay)

Women's Water Polo
The U.S. women's water polo team tied Italy, 9-9, in both teams' second preliminary-round match on Wednesday. Italy's Elisa Casanova scored a power-play goal with 22 seconds remaining to tie the top-ranked U.S. team. Former UCLA player Natalie Golda did not score any goals, registering one shot attempt in 26 minutes. Golda's former teammate, goalkeeper Jaime Hipp, did not play. The U.S. women's team is coached by former UCLA head coach Guy Baker. Following Wednesday's match, both the Americans (1-0-1) and Italians (1-0-1) learned that they are guaranteed to advance in Group A because China (1-1) upset Russia (0-2) by a 13-11 margin.

 

The United States completes preliminary match play against Russia, ranked No. 3 in the world, on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 11:20 p.m. (PT). The U.S.-Russia contest can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and will be broadcast Friday on NBC-4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

 

The U.S. beach volleyball team of former Bruin Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh advanced to the round of 16 on Wednesday with a three-set victory over Cuba's Imara Esteves Ribalta and Milagros Crespo, 21-19, 13-21, 15-12.

 

The first set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team leading by more than three points. With the U.S. squad down 13-12, they scored six of the next eight points to go up 18-15. The Cuban duo scored the next two points, but could not even things up, as Youngs recorded the set-clinching kill.

 

Youngs and Branagh led 4-2 early in the second set, but Cuba scored the next five points and didn't look back. Esteves Ribalta and Crespo's lead got to as high as nine before the eight-point victory.

 

The U.S. team trailed 4-3 early in set number three, but netted the next three points and never relinquished the lead. On match point, Youngs spiked down the game-winner to finish pool play undefeated.

 

Youngs and Branagh move on to the elimination round, which begins for them at 3 a.m. PT Friday morning against an opponent to be determined.

 

On the men's side, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, who are coached by Bob Alejo, defeated Argentina's Conde/Baracetti, 21-12, 21-13, to advance to the medal round.

 

Softball
Natasha Watley drove in the first run of Wednesday's game against Australia in the fifth inning, which proved to be the game-winner, as the United States softball team recorded its second straight no-hitter in a 3-0 victory.

 

The big hit for Watley came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on a single to left-center to score Lovie Jung. The U.S. went on to score two more in the sixth to win it by three.

 

All four Bruins on the Olympic team were in the starting lineup, with Watley at short, Andrea Duran at third, Stacey Nuveman at catcher and Tairia Mims Flowers at first. Duran was 0-for-2 with a walk, while Nuveman and Flowers were each hitless in three at-bats.

 

Former Bruin Tanya Harding started for Australia and allowed three runs, four hits and three walks in five innings with four strikeouts.

 

Bruin alum Kim Vandenberg swam the third leg of the U.S. 4x200m relay that placed first in heat two with a time of 7:52.43. Vandenberg had a split of 1:58.31. The U.S. team had the second-fastest time during the prelim rounds and will swim for gold on Thursday morning (PST). In the 200m breast, Nicolette Teo was sixth in heat two with a time of 2:34.60. She finished the race 36th overall. Amanda Beard, who is coached by UCLA head coach Cyndi Gallagher, finished sixth in heat four with a swim of 2:27.70. She finished 18th overall, just two spots shy of making the semifinal round.

 

The U.S. ended its Olympic Tournament on Wednesday after losing to Nigeria, 2-1. A red card issued to left back Michael Orozco in the third minute was too much for the U.S. to overcome, although they made a valiant effort to nearly achieved the tie they needed to advance to the quarterfinals. Marvell Wynne made his third start of the Olympic Games, and Benny Feilhaber started the second half.

 

Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg advanced to the quarterfinals in doubles after a 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Martin Damm/Pavel Vizner of the Czech Republic. Matkowski/Fyrstenberg will face Sweden's Simon Aspelin/Thomas Johansson on Thursday.

 

Photo Gallery
View photos of the Bruins in today's softball, swimming, men's soccer, women's water polo and beach volleyball action HERE.

 

 

Coming Up
The U.S. men's water polo team plays Serbia on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7:50 p.m. (PT). The preliminary-round match can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and will be broadcast Thursday on NBC-4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (tape delayed).

 

The USA Softball team continues pool play against Canada, with first pitch scheduled for 9 p.m. PT Wednesday night. 
 

The U.S. women's 4x200m free relay team competes in the finals on Thursday morning. Kim Vandenberg swam in the prelims.

 

Rowing action continues on Thursday with Mark Hunter competing in the semifinals of the lightweight double sculls. Mike Altman and the U.S. crew compete in the semifinals of the lightweight fours.

 

Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs competes in the women's gymnastics all-around finals at 8:15 pm PT. The competition will air on NBC at 11:15 pm PT.

 

Doubles play continues for Marcin Matkowski in the quarterfinal round in men's tennis.

 

The United States softball team got off to a great start to the Beijing Olympic Games, posting an 11-0, five-inning victory over Venezuela on Tuesday. Andrea Duran had a successful Olympic debut, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Natasha Watley hit her first-ever Olympic home run.

 

Watley went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs batted in, while Duran scored twice and reached in three of her four plate appearances. All four Bruins on the Olympic team were in the starting lineup for Team USA, with Watley at short, Duran at third, Stacey Nuveman at catcher and Tairia Mims Flowers at first base. Nuveman went 1-for-3 with a run scored and picked off a runner, while Flowers drew a walk in three plate appearances.

 

Duran scored the first run of the game for the U.S., leading off the second inning by getting hit by a pitch. Nuveman followed with a single to move Duran to third and Lovie Jung plated Duran to put the United States ahead 1-0. Watley extended her team's lead to 3-0 with a two-run homer to left-center.

 

In the third, Duran collected her first Olympic base hit with a single to left. She would drive in her first-ever runs one inning later with a bases-clearing double, eventually coming around to score her second run of the game.

 

The United States, three-time defending gold medalists, next faces Australia, 2004 Olympic silver medalist, at 9 p.m. PT on Tuesday. Australia lost its opening match to Japan, 4-3. Tanya Harding did not play in the game.

 

 

Mike Altman and the U.S. lightweight double sculls crew finished third in its repechage to qualify for Thursday's semifinal. Ireland won the race with a time of 6:21.79, with the Netherlands placing second with a time of 6:25.25. The U.S. recorded a time of 6:27.43.

 

 

The U.S. and Canada each booked a spot in the quarterfinals after group play but will have to face each other on Friday, Aug. 15 at 3 am PT. The game will be broadcast live on USA Network.

 

The U.S. won Group G after a 4-0 victory over New Zealand, coupled with Norway's stunning 5-1 loss against Japan. The U.S. and Norway each finished with six points, but the U.S. won the tiebreaker on goal differential. Canada finished third in Group E after a 2-1 loss to Sweden but advanced as one of the two best third-place teams in the tournament.

 

Kara Lang played all 90 minutes for the Canadians and had four shots, two on goal. Lauren Cheney did not play for the U.S.

 

 

Former UCLA standout Adam Wright registered one goal and one assist to help lift the U.S. men's water polo team past Italy, 12-11, in both teams' second preliminary contest Tuesday at the Ying Tung Natatorium. Italy nearly recovered from a 12-9 deficit in the final seconds, but an errant Italian pass during a 6-on-5 opportunity in the game's final seconds sealed the victory for the Americans. Jeffrey Powers led Team USA with three goals, and Tony Azevedo added two goals. Brandon Brooks did not play.

 

 

In first round action, the Polish doubles team of Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg defeated China's team of Xinyuan Yu and Shaoxuan Zeng, 6-3, 6-4. Mark Knowles and Devin Mullings of the Bahamas fell to the top-seeded team of Bob and Mike Bryan of the U.S., 6-2, 6-1.

 

 

The U.S. improved to 2-0 with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21) victory over Italy. The U.S. leads Group A with four points and will next face Bulgaria on Aug. 14 at 10 pm Beijing time (7 pm PT on Wednesday). UCLA alumnus John Speraw is an assistant coach for the U.S.

 

Photo Gallery
View photos of the Bruins in competition from Aug. 9-12 in the Olympic Photo Gallery

 

 

*Benny Feilhaber figures to play a bigger role in the United States' soccer game against Nigeria

*Hurdler Sheena Tosta seeks redemption after finishing fourth at the 2004 Games in Athens

*The Washington Post calls softball player Natasha Watley the Ichiro of Women's Softball

 

*The U.S. and Australia softball teams will face each other on Wednesday (9 pm PT Tuesday).

*The U.S. women's water polo team (head coach Guy Baker, Natalie Golda, Jaime Hipp) returns to the pool in a preliminary match against Italy on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 12:40 a.m. (PT). Wednesday's match can be viewed live online at NBCOlympics.com and watched on television on NBC-4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (tape delayed).

*The U.S. men’s soccer team will face Nigeria in the final game of group play on Wednesday at 2 am PT. The U.S. needs a tie or win to advance to the quarterfinals.

*Swimmer Nicolette Teo competes in the 200m Breastroke heats, while Kim Vandenberg competes in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay heats on Wednesday.

*Beach volleyball players Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh will face Cuba's Imara Esteves Ribalta and Milagros Crespo at 7 am PT.

*The U.S. men's water polo team returns to action against Serbia in its third preliminary-round match, slated to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 7:50 p.m. (PT). The U.S.-Serbia contest can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and will be broadcast Thursday on NBC-4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (tape delayed)