University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Zach LaVine
Photo by: Getty Images
Bruins in Tokyo: July 31, 2021
July 31, 2021 | Bruin Athletics
Beach Volleyball
The Bruins' Sarah Sponcil and her partner Kelly Claes, seeded ninth for the Tokyo Olympic Games, won Pool D on Saturday with a stunning upset of fourth-seeded Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Rebecca Silva of Brazil in a three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-19, 15-11. With the win, Claes/Sponcil clinched the No. 4 seed in the playoff bracket. They'll take on Canada's Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson in a knockout match, the Round of 16, on Sunday, August 1 at 9:00 a.m. local time, 5:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, July 31.
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Sponcil had her first double-double of the Olympics with 12 kills, and match-highs of 11 digs and three aces against the Brazilians.
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Men's Basketball
UCLA's two former players on the U.S. Men's Basketball Olympic Team, Zach LaVine and Jrue Holiday, had substantial contributions in the squad's 119-84 win over Czech Republic on Saturday. The win propelled the United States into the quarterfinal round after having gone 2-1 in pool play (Group A). The quarterfinals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
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In Saturday's convincing win against the Czech Republic, LaVine totaled 13 points and five rebounds. Holiday finished with 11 points, three steals and two assists. Both LaVine and Holiday shot 5 for 7 from the field as the United States shot 50 percent from the field in the win. Team USA trailed by a 25-18 margin after the first quarter before outscoring the Czech Republic, 29-18, in the second quarter and by a 35-17 tally in the third. The United States led 82-60 after three quarters.
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Women's Diving
Maria Polyakova advanced to the women's 3-meter diving finals after securing one of the top-12 spots in the semifinals on Saturday. Polyakova was the 11th-place finisher in the semis, tallying a score of 290.10. She secured a finals berth in dramatic fashion, notching a 65.10 on her final dive to jump two spots to No. 11.
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The 3M finals are scheduled to begin at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night, and will be televised on USA Network.ย
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Men's Water Polo
Team USA dropped its second straight match at the Tokyo Olympic Games, falling to Hungary 11-8 in its fourth match in Group A (2-2). The Americans are back in the pool on Monday, August 2 as they close group play against Greece (2-0-1) at 11:30 a.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. PDT on Sunday, August 1. The match will air live on CNBC.
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The U.S. led Hungary 4-3 with 1:44 remaining in the second period. Hungary, which improved to 3-1 in Group A, scored the final two goals of the period to take a 5-4 lead into the break. The Hungarians in all would score six unanswered goals to build a 9-4 lead at the 6:37 mark of the final quarter. Team USA rallied to trim the deficit to 9-7 with 3:08 to go as each team would trade goals down the stretch until Hungary scored a final goal at the buzzer to provide the 11-8 final.
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Both Bruins got the start for Team USA with Alex Wolf playing all 32 minutes in goal, registering a game-high 10 saves, half of which came on Hungary power plays. Wolf also registered a match-high two steals. Max Irving did not score but recorded one steal.
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Baseball
Team USA clinched the top spot in Group B with a 4-2 victory over Korea on Saturday. Eric Filia was in the starting lineup and went hitless in three at-bats.
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The win secured a berth in the medal round for Team USA, who will face Group A winner Japan at 3:00 a.m. PT on Monday. The winner of that match-up will advance to the first of two semifinals.
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Bruin Olympians in the News
For U.S. volleyball coach John Speraw, pressure comes with forging identity โ LA Times (John Speraw)
The US move that stopped Matildas hero Teagan Micah quitting football for AFL โ The Roar (Teagan Micah)
History beckons for Matildas after shaking quarter-final hoodoo โ Sydney Herald (Teagan Micah)
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Social Media Highlights
Bruins in Tokyo โ Women's Water Polo edition
The Bruins' Sarah Sponcil and her partner Kelly Claes, seeded ninth for the Tokyo Olympic Games, won Pool D on Saturday with a stunning upset of fourth-seeded Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Rebecca Silva of Brazil in a three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-19, 15-11. With the win, Claes/Sponcil clinched the No. 4 seed in the playoff bracket. They'll take on Canada's Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson in a knockout match, the Round of 16, on Sunday, August 1 at 9:00 a.m. local time, 5:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, July 31.
ย
Sponcil had her first double-double of the Olympics with 12 kills, and match-highs of 11 digs and three aces against the Brazilians.
ย
Men's Basketball
UCLA's two former players on the U.S. Men's Basketball Olympic Team, Zach LaVine and Jrue Holiday, had substantial contributions in the squad's 119-84 win over Czech Republic on Saturday. The win propelled the United States into the quarterfinal round after having gone 2-1 in pool play (Group A). The quarterfinals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
ย
In Saturday's convincing win against the Czech Republic, LaVine totaled 13 points and five rebounds. Holiday finished with 11 points, three steals and two assists. Both LaVine and Holiday shot 5 for 7 from the field as the United States shot 50 percent from the field in the win. Team USA trailed by a 25-18 margin after the first quarter before outscoring the Czech Republic, 29-18, in the second quarter and by a 35-17 tally in the third. The United States led 82-60 after three quarters.
ย
Women's Diving
Maria Polyakova advanced to the women's 3-meter diving finals after securing one of the top-12 spots in the semifinals on Saturday. Polyakova was the 11th-place finisher in the semis, tallying a score of 290.10. She secured a finals berth in dramatic fashion, notching a 65.10 on her final dive to jump two spots to No. 11.
ย
The 3M finals are scheduled to begin at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night, and will be televised on USA Network.ย
ย
Men's Water Polo
Team USA dropped its second straight match at the Tokyo Olympic Games, falling to Hungary 11-8 in its fourth match in Group A (2-2). The Americans are back in the pool on Monday, August 2 as they close group play against Greece (2-0-1) at 11:30 a.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. PDT on Sunday, August 1. The match will air live on CNBC.
ย
The U.S. led Hungary 4-3 with 1:44 remaining in the second period. Hungary, which improved to 3-1 in Group A, scored the final two goals of the period to take a 5-4 lead into the break. The Hungarians in all would score six unanswered goals to build a 9-4 lead at the 6:37 mark of the final quarter. Team USA rallied to trim the deficit to 9-7 with 3:08 to go as each team would trade goals down the stretch until Hungary scored a final goal at the buzzer to provide the 11-8 final.
ย
Both Bruins got the start for Team USA with Alex Wolf playing all 32 minutes in goal, registering a game-high 10 saves, half of which came on Hungary power plays. Wolf also registered a match-high two steals. Max Irving did not score but recorded one steal.
ย
Baseball
Team USA clinched the top spot in Group B with a 4-2 victory over Korea on Saturday. Eric Filia was in the starting lineup and went hitless in three at-bats.
ย
The win secured a berth in the medal round for Team USA, who will face Group A winner Japan at 3:00 a.m. PT on Monday. The winner of that match-up will advance to the first of two semifinals.
ย
Bruin Olympians in the News
For U.S. volleyball coach John Speraw, pressure comes with forging identity โ LA Times (John Speraw)
The US move that stopped Matildas hero Teagan Micah quitting football for AFL โ The Roar (Teagan Micah)
History beckons for Matildas after shaking quarter-final hoodoo โ Sydney Herald (Teagan Micah)
ย
Social Media Highlights
Bruins in Tokyo โ Women's Water Polo edition
Sarah Sponcil and partner Kelly Claes move on to the knockout rounds with a perfect record.BRUINS in Tokyo! ?? @TeamUSA @UCLAAthletics @UCLAWaterPolo @alyswilliams12 @USAWP #OlympiansMadeHere #collegecorner pic.twitter.com/Z0qOxQhWYc
โ Maddie Musselman (@maddiemusselman) July 31, 2021
Let's Go!Comeback! After losing the first set, @kellyclaes3 and @SSponcil win the next two to defeat Brazil ????, 2-1. Team Slaes wins the pool with three victories and will be the No. 4 seed in the knockout round! Let's gooooooo! #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/khARHm0TSa
โ USAV Beach (@USAVBeach) July 31, 2021
And just like that, Kelly Claes & Sarah Sponcil beat Brazil to advance at the #TokyoOlympics.#SeeHerShine | #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/WHMDtgLIjn
โ On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 31, 2021
Teagan Micah had Australia buzzing.
7 saves. 1 penalty stop. A memorable performance. ??
โ Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 31, 2021
You voted @TeaganMicah as the Player of the Match from #GBRvAUS!#WeAreMatildas #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/AB2WOB4nRD
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