Sonstiges » es against ranked opponents unscathed.Springbok

RIO DE JANEIRO -- With three small children at home -- one for each Olympic gold medal -- Kerri Walsh Jennings turned into a morning person whether she wanted to or not.So preparing to play at midnight in the marquee match of the Rio de Janeiro beach volleyball tournament is less of a struggle than it could have been.Ive been trying so long to be a morning person and its just so contrary to who I am, Walsh Jennings said after she and April Ross beat Australia 21-14, 21-13 in a match that began at 12:34 a.m. and took only 35 minutes.Ross said the players prepared for the late start by taking a nap during the day. They avoided walking around in the hot sun, watching video instead while also finding plenty of time to meditate, do a crossword puzzle and read.We knew it was going to be really electric out there and we knew it was going to be a really long day, Walsh Jennings said. And its under the lights in Copa. So its a great atmosphere.Thats something the Americans can get used to. After all, as the biggest names in the tournament -- at least for the lucrative U.S. television market -- they will play again at midnight for their second match, against China early Tuesday morning.The gold medal match is also scheduled to start at midnight.Thats the goal, Walsh Jennings said.Here are some noteworthy events from the opening day of the beach volleyball competition and things to look for on Day 2:FELLOW AMERICANSRookie Casey Patterson and two-time Olympian Jake Gibb also won their opener, beating Qatar 21-16, 21-16. They get a day off before playing Austria on Monday.The other U.S. teams make their debuts on Sunday. Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat play Poland in the morning, and 2008 gold medalist Phil Dalhausser and his new partner, Nick Lucena, meet Tunisia.DIGNITARIESU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attended the early matches and went out to the practice court to wish Walsh Jennings and Ross well. Very patriotic, Walsh Jennings said. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also visited the venue.DAY AT THE BEACHJust outside the security fences is the iconic Copacabana beach, where locals frolicked in the surf, played soccer in the sand or cooled themselves under an umbrella at one of the many open-air kiosks serving food, beer and the local sugar cane cocktail, caipirinha.I love South American fans, and I love how the people love sports, said Argentinas Georgiana Klug, who lost her opener with Ana Gallay, falling to Spain in straight sets. All the singing, dancing -- it makes me feel like home.SKYBALLItalys Adrian Carambula got things started with his trademark Skyball, a high and spinning serve that wanders into the path of the sunshine and wind and confounds attempts at a return. Although he typically uses it sparingly, Carambula said he was egged on by his friends to start things off with a little flair.They said they wouldnt talk to me if I didnt, he said in a post-match interview that was twice interrupted because the prime minister asked him to come over and pose for a picture.My legs were shaking before the first serve, said Carambula, who with Alex Ranghieri beat Clemens Doppler and Alexander Horst 21-14, 21-13. When I walked in I actually got a little bit emotional. I wasnt expecting it, but I embraced it and I played with it. So, very special.---Jimmy Golen has covered Olympic beach volleyball since 2008. Follow him at http://www.twitter.com/jgolenPenny Hardaway Magic Jersey . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. D.J. Augustin Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-evan-fournier-magic-jersey/ . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Jerian Grant Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Jerian Grant Magic Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed.Springboks fly-half Handre Pollard should be fit for the start of the 2017 Super Rugby season.Pollard, 22, missed the entire 2016 campaign due to knee and shoulder injuries but has been taking part in the Bulls pre-season training.The Boks fly-half has endured a turbulent time on the sidelines. With the knee injury signalling a lengthy time out, Pollard opted to have a shoulder problem rectified through surgery but was forced to spend five weeks in hospital as his shoulder became infected to the extent doctors told him that if it became more severe, then he would potentially need to have it amputated.ddddddddddddBut the sight of Pollard back in training will bring a welcome boost to South African rugby after a poor 2016 campaign.The Bulls begin their build up to the 2017 Super Rugby season with a match on January 28 against one of their South African rivals. ' ' '