Aug. 23, 2004
Athens, Greece - Led by five Bruins including Lisa Fernandez, Stacey Nuveman, Natasha Watley, Amanda Freed and Tairia Mims Flowers, the United States softball team won its third consecutive Olympic Gold medal on Monday against Australia. Fernandez, the tournament's top hitter, earned her fourth pitching victory of the tournament as the U.S. won 5-1. Bruins were also in action on the track, beach volleyball sand, gymanstics, the water polo pool and in indoor volleyball in Monday's action.
Women's Track and Field
UCLA's Joanna Hayes won her semifinal heat of the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 12.48 seconds. She advances to Tuesday night's final which is scheduled to take place at 10:30 pm Athens Time. Hayes had the second best qualifying time behind Canada's Perdita Felicen.
Men's Beach Volleyball
Spain's Javier Bosma and Pablo Herrera defeated Australia's Mark Williams (UCLA '01) and Julien Prosser 2-0 to win a berth in Wednesday's final of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball Tournament. For a complete recap, click HERE.
Women's Beach Volleyball
UCLA alums Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs fell to top-seeded Misty May and Kerri Walsh of the United States on Monday in Athens. The American team of McPeak/Youngs will play the Australian pair of Natalie Cook and Nicole Sanderson in the Bronze Medal match on Tuesday. For a complete recap, click HERE.
Women's Gymnastics
UCLA alumnus Mohini Bhardwaj (1998-2001) and Bruin junior gymnast Kate Richardson completed their Olympic Games in the floor exercise final and placed sixth and seventh, respectively. Both gymnasts recorded identical scores of 9.312, with Bhardwaj winning the tiebreaker to claim sixth place. For a complete recap, click HERE.
Softball
With Lisa Fernandez in the circle, Stacey Nuveman behind the plate, and Natasha Watley recording the game's final out on a ground ball hit to her at shortstop, Team USA finished its dominant run to an Olympic Gold Medal on Monday with a 5-1 defeat of Australia. Fernandez went 4-0 for the Games and led all players in batting average. Nuveman capped her Olympic tournament with a home run in the Gold Medal game on Monday, while Watley hit over .400 for the tournament, setting an Olympic Games record with four stolen bases. UCLA's other two U.S. Olympians, Amanda Freed and Tairia Mims Flowers, each had at least one start over Team USA's games in Athens, as well as seeing action as pinch runners. For a complete recap, click HERE.
Men's Water Polo
USA Water Polo, including former Bruins Brandon Brooks, Brett Ormsby and Adam Wright, completed its Olympic tournament on Monday with a loss to Serbia and Montenegro in preliminary round play in Athens, Greece. For a complete recap, click HERE.