July 28, 2012
Official London 2012 Olympic Page
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford's Olympic contingent completed action on the first full day of competition at the 2012 London Games Saturday.
Among the highlights were rowers David Banks and Jake Cornelius helping the U.S. eight (M8+) into the Gold Medal Final, doubles pair Bob and Mark Bryan capturing a first-round win in tennis and a trio of Cardinal women's soccer standouts advancing the U.S. into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Colombia.
In Beach Volleyball action...
Kerri Walsh Jennings and partner Misty May-Treanor, the top seed in the women's draw, opened their tournament with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) victory over Australia's Nat Cook and Tamsin Hinchley.
Playing the final match of the day, Walsh Jennings recorded 12 kills with four blocks and 12 digs in the sweep. The U.S. pair next faces the Czech Republic's Kristyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova Monday at 3 p.m. PT (11 p.m. local time).
In Men's Rowing action...
All four of Stanford's Olympic oarsmen were in action in Saturday's heats. U.S. eight crewmembers David Banks and Jake Cornelius helped the boat charge out to a big lead in its preliminary heat and would hold off a final charge from Australia to cross the line first in 5:30.72, just under two seconds ahead of the Australians.
The U.S. win was crucial, clinching the heat's only automatic berth into Wednesday's Gold Medal Final at 2:30 a.m. PT (10:30 a.m. local time). Along with Germany, the second heat winner, the U.S. will await the final four final participants who must qualify through Monday's repechage.
Alex Osborne and the U.S. quadruple sculls boat finished fourth in their six-boat heat, one spot out of a semifinal berth and six seconds back of third-place France with a time of 5:50.25. The U.S. boat will get one more chance to qualify for the semifinal in Monday's repechage at 2 a.m. PT (10 a.m. local time), where it faces New Zealand, Switzerland and Italy needing a top-three finish to stay alive.
Silas Stafford and partner Tom Peszek finished fourth in the second heat of the men's pair competition. The pair crossed the line in 6:26.59, just over three seconds behind winner Canada and 0.69 of a second out of the third semifinal spot that went to The Netherlands.
Stafford and Peszek must now grab a top-three finish against Hungary, Serbia and Germany in Monday's repechage at 2:10 a.m. PT (10:10 a.m. local time) to advance to the semifinals.
In Women's Soccer action...
U.S. starters Rachel Buehler and Kelley O'Hara played the full 90 minutes in defense to help the Americans earn a 3-0 shutout over Colombia at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland.
The U.S. (2-0, six points) leads four-team Group G and is assured of a quarterfinal berth with only one more group match, Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. PT against North Korea at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.
Buehler solidified the central defense and O'Hara was an offensive threat on the left flank for the U.S., which got goals from Megan Rapinoe (22nd minute), Abby Wambach (74th), and Carli Lloyd (77th) to earn the victory.
In Cardiff, Wales, Ali Riley '10 and her New Zealand team were on the verge of a surprising draw against powerful Brazil before being stunned by an 86th minute goal by Cristiane to fall 1-0.
New Zealand (0-2) sits at the bottom of four-team Group E. A victory over Cameroon on Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. in Coventry, England, may be enough to advance the Football Ferns if they get some help. The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals, plus the two best third-place teams.
Riley, an outside left back, was unable to prevent Brazil's winner, which was set up by a free kick that traveled across the penalty area. New Zealand was unable to clear the ball, which landed at the feet of Cristiane.
In Men's Tennis action...
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan outlasted Brazil's duo of Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-3 in Saturday's opening round, as doubles competition got underway at the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in Wimbledon.
The Bryan Brothers, seeded No. 1 in the 32-team draw, were tested through the first two sets against Brazil's tandem. Leading 4-3 in the third set, the Bryan Brothers registered the first break of the match to move in front 5-3 before Bob's ace capped a service game for a 6-3 victory.
Next up is a second-round matchup against the winner of Sunday's match between Germany's Christopher Kas/Philipp Petzschner and Russia's Nikolay Davydenko/Mikhail Youzhny.
The Bryan Brothers have captured 78 career doubles titles, representing an all-time men's team record. The duo is hoping to improve on its bronze medal finish at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
In Women's Volleyball action...
Foluke Akinradewo and Logan Tom helped power the U.S. past South Korea, 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 20-25, 25-21), Saturday in London.
Akinradewo dominated at the net, delivering nine kills and making a match-high six blocks for a total of 15 points. Tom added eight kills for the U.S.
The U.S. (1-0) continues Group B play Monday against Brazil at 8:45 a.m. PT (4:45 p.m. local time).