Check out a breakdown of the UCLA sports stories you might have missed this week.
Speraw and the U.S. qualify for Rio 2016
The U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team, led by head coach John Speraw, qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by winning the FIVB World Cup this week. Speraw, the UCLA men’s volleyball head coach, and the U.S. went 10-1 to tie Italy and Poland for first place, with the Americans winning the tiebreaker.
The World Cup was the first qualifying event for the Olympics. Three months ago, Speraw said that he was focused on qualifying at the earliest opportunity so that he wouldn’t have to balance both the collegiate season and international tournaments simultaneously.
Former UCLA assistant coach Andrea Becker serves as a consultant coach for the U.S. team.
Men’s tennis players continue SoCal pro tournaments
Bruin tennis players continued in the Costa Mesa Pro Classic Thursday. Both junior Mackie McDonald and sophomore Martin Redlicki lost in singles in the second round to a pair of Virginia players.
The nation’s No. 2 college player Ryan Shane defeated No. 3 McDonald in straight sets 6-4, 7-5. No. 57 Redlicki fell to No. 27 Collin Altamirano 6-4, 6-4.
McDonald and Redlicki are still in the tournament playing doubles together. The tournament lasts until Sept. 27.
Alison Lee involved in controversy at Solheim Cup
Former UCLA women’s golfer Alison Lee made national headlines at the 2015 Solheim Cup after picking up the ball on the 17th green, thinking that her European opponents had conceded the hole.
Lee and the United States were penalized, losing the hole and – soon after – the match. All hope was not lost, however, as the United States made a furious comeback to win the cup in the singles session.
The pro golfer left the UCLA team following fall 2014 when she began her Ladies Professional Golf Association career.
Compiled by Korbin Placet and Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.