Men’s Water Polo

In a thrilling game, the Men’s Water Polo team (and its five Long Beach high school graduates) beat Germany, allowing them to advance straight to the semifinals!  Because of a statistical fluke, a win would have given them the bye they received directly into the medal round, but if they’d lost they would have been eliminated from the tournament.  Thank God for the three goals from Long beach kids (and the five goals from everyone else) that put them out there!  Check back here later for an update on when they’ll play next, later this week.

Women’s Water Polo

Playing Australia for the tenth time this calendar year, the US Women’s Water Polo team came up huge, winning 9-8 in the semifinals and advancing to the gold medal game!  This game was just as exciting and scary as the men’s, so it was a pretty big week for Long Beach water polo players.  Again, check back later to find out when the gold medal game will be on.

Men’s Indoor Volleyball

Playing with their coach Hugh McCutcheon on the sidelines, the US team continued to apply their unique brand of intensity and teamwork, beating Japan to finish pool play undefeated.  All three Long Beach State grads played well, including David Lee, who finished pool play with the most blocks of any player in the tournament.  They now advance to quarterfinal play.

Indoor women’s volleyball

The USA Women and their two Long Beach State grads overcame a horrific quarterfinal draw, beating top-ranked Italy in a rollercoaster five set game that saw the US team look at times dominant, and confused.  Danielle Scott-Arruda and Tayyiba Haneef-Park, both from LBSU, both scored 17 points in the victory.

Beach Volleyball

Semifinals?  No problem.  This Long Beach team gave us absolutely no heart trouble, winning in the semis against a Brazilian duo with their most dominant game thus far in the Olympics—and that’s saying something.  Again, check back later for the schedule update.

Long Beach’s Record: 23-2-1

Gold medal games (guaranteed thus far): 2