This year, at the 2016 Summer Olympics, 36 past, current and future UCLA athletes will compete in Rio de Janeiro. Each day, the Daily Bruin will wrap up the different events with Bruin highlights, key performances and upcoming events.
Men’s volleyball
USA vs. France
It looked like Team USA wasn’t going to get the win it needed.
In the opening set, the French held a commanding 17-10 lead thanks to some powerful kills and superb digs. With a loss in the match, the Americans, headed by current UCLA men’s volleyball coach John Speraw, would have a slim chance of advancing to the quarterfinals.
But the tide changed after Team USA strung together five straight points, bringing them within reach. After an 8-3 run to win the set at 25-22, the Americans had all the momentum.
The two teams split the second and third set before Team USA clinched the match, taking the fourth set 25-22. The Americans claimed their second straight victory in the Olympics after starting group play 0-2.
Team USA had fewer kills and more errors than France but was able to counter the French’s strong play with late rallies in three of the four sets.
Penn State alumni Matt Anderson and Aaron Russell led the team in kills with 14 and 15 respectively. Both players also led the team in blocks with three apiece.
The Americans are seeking a return to the knockout stage for the fourth consecutive Olympic Games. Speraw and company currently hold six points in group play, tied for second in Pool A with France and Brazil.
In the final match of the group stage, Team USA faces Mexico on Monday with a quarterfinal berth on the line. Mexico has yet to win a match, clinching just one set combined in its three contests.
Written by Kyle Cardoza, Daily Bruin reporter.
Women’s water polo
Hungary vs. USA
Even on a bad day, the Americans are tough to beat in the pool.
It wasn’t its best performance of the Olympics thus far, but Team USA still managed to record a convincing 11-6 victory against Hungary in its final group stage match Saturday afternoon.
The aggressive, fluid offense the Americans showcased in their first two games was not present early on. They converted on just two of eight attempts in the first quarter and entered the second quarter in a tie for the first time in Rio.
Team USA has boasted a sky-high shot percentage so far – the team shot over 50 percent in its first two contests – but was less efficient against the stringent Hungarian defense. The Americans scored on 34 percent of their shots, still higher than each of their three opponents in group play.
Incoming UCLA freshman Maddie Musselman has been one of the bright spots for Team USA. The attacker added four goals for the Americans Saturday, bringing her total to nine for the games. Musselman is one of the nation’s top recruits and will vie for a starting spot on the 2017 Bruin squad.
UCLA graduate Courtney Mathewson also notched a pair of goals in the game. Mathewson is the oldest American on the team at 30 years old.
Stanford alumna Maggie Steffens netted four goals for the second-straight game, including one from long distance in the first quarter. The 5-foot-9 attacker has arguably been the most valuable on the American squad so far, scoring 10 goals on 14 attempts in group play.
Team USA will look to continue its undefeated run in Rio Monday against host Brazil in the quarterfinal. The Americans have made the semifinal in each Olympic Games since women’s water polo was added in 2000. Brazil finished winless in the group stage, getting outscored 33-13 by its opponents.
Written by Kyle Cardoza, Daily Bruin reporter.
Badminton
Mixed doubles – Arends/Piek (Netherlands) vs. Chew/Subandhi (USA)
UCLA alumna Jamie Subandhi and her partner Philip Chew played their closest game yet, but still fell to 0-3 in pool play Saturday.
The U.S. and the Netherlands both entered this match with 0-2 records, having both dropped matches to Japan and South Korea earlier this week. The Netherlands defeated team USA in straight sets: 21-15 and 21-19.
Game two was the closest game Subhandhi and Chew have played in Rio. The Americans played to a 13-13 tie before the Dutch pulled ahead and closed out the game by two.
The former three-time UCLA Badminton Club president and her partner will not advance to the next round after failing to win a match in pool play.
Written by David Gottlieb, assistant Sports editor.