University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Olympic Update - Aug. 14
August 14, 2004 | Bruin Athletics
Aug. 14, 2004
Athens, Greece - Olympic competition began on Aug. 14 for several UCLA athletes. Highlighting the day's events was a 7-0 mercy-rule victory for the USA Softball team and a 24-14, 24-14 beach volleyball win for former Bruins Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs.
Softball
Led by a 4-for-4 effort with two RBI from Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.), the U.S. moved to 1-0 in competition with a 7-0 five-inning mercy rule win. In her first ever Olympic at-bat, speedster Watley led off the first inning with her trademark infield base hit before a fielding error from Italian third baseman Natalie Anter allowed Leah O'Brien-Amico (Chino Hills, Calif.) to advance on a sacrifice bunt putting two runners on board. Two-time gold medalist Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, Calif.) then drove an RBI base hit to right field to plate Watley for the 1-0 lead. Watley also blasted a two run triple to centerfield in the fifth-inning, giving the U.S. the final 7-0 victory.
For a complete recap, click HERE.
Women's Beach Volleyball
Fourth-seeded Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs cruised past 21st-seeded Norwegians Susanne Glesnes and Kathrine Maaseide, 21-14, 21-14, under the lights at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre. Glesnes and Maaseide won the first two points, then lost the next five and never led again. McPeak became the first United States player to play in all three Olympic Beach Volleyball competitions.
For a complete recap, click HERE.
Men's Beach Volleyball
UCLA graduates Mark Williams and Jeff Nygaard began their Olympic beach volleyball competition in Athens, Greece on Saturday. Unfortunately, they were on opposite sides of the net. Williams and his partner Julien Prosser of Australia upset Nygaard and Dain Blanton, the gold medalist in 2000, 21-16, 21-14, in a match that actually ended Sunday morning. The 42-minute match marked Blanton's first defeat in six Olympic starts.
For a complete recap, click HERE.
Women's Soccer
UCLA junior Iris Mora helped lead Mexico to a 1-1 draw with China in the second match in Group F of the Women's Football Olympic tournament, which effectively eliminates China from the medal hunt. Mora, who started and played all 90 minutes of the match, had one shot in the first half and was issued a yellow card in the second half.
For a complete recap, click HERE.
