RIO DE JANEIRO -- Before they took the court and won bronze, they gathered in the locker room one final time. Each player on the U.S. womens volleyball took a turn to speak.Jordan Larson told her teammates she loved them and would fight for every one of them.Alisha Glass made sure they all knew there was nowhere shed rather be now than right here in Rio.Captain Christa Dietzen? She didnt need an Olympic medal. She already understood what this tight-knit team was all about, and she also knew it sure would be nice to wear one home as she heads into retirement and prepares to start a family. They thanked one another for the time and effort over four hard years.Beach star Kerri Walsh Jennings sent a note of her own: Go get a bronze. Just as Walsh Jennings and April Ross did.Im just really proud to be a part of this program, Larson said. Its come a long way. Im just really happy because there are a lot of good people who deserve this. A lot of people just gave their hearts and soul to this.Player-turned-coach Karch Kiraly, the only person to win Olympic volleyball gold as a beach and indoor player, addressed each woman. He spoke of his admiration and acknowledged those players back home who didnt make the cut.Just by stepping on the court Saturday, Foluke Akinradewo showed how this squad stuck together. She returned from an injury to her left leg that forced her out early in the semifinal loss to Serbia. The star middle blocker took charge as the top-ranked Americans bounced back two days later to beat the Netherlands 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19.After Kim Hills ace on match point, the U.S. women fell into an embrace. Kiraly hugged his coaches and brought the women into a huddle for one last cheer.In a way, selfishly, I wanted a gold medal to almost prove the way this culture is, or the way the culture has grown and the foundation that weve built, almost to prove it right -- that the way we did it was right, Dietzen said. A medals not going to prove that. A medal doesnt define this team. It will never define this team.Reserve setter Courtney Thompson, the Americans inspirational motivator, joined Dietzen in announcing immediately after the match that her volleyball days are done. Then they joked about meeting for a crack-of-dawn spin class later in the week.I have a whole new respect for everyone that wins a bronze medal, Thompson said. Its not easy, 48 hours later.This group leaves the Olympics again without the big prize. The last three games went this way: Beijing 2008, silver; London 2012, silver; and Rio de Janeiro 2016, bronze.Our team dealt with some real pain and heartache, heartbreak, a couple of days ago, said Kiraly, who thanked Walsh Jennings for her gesture. Im incredibly proud of how within hours they were preparing, carrying that heartbreak, but preparing to be good and to finish strong. I also never had any understanding of how good a bronze medal could feel, and it feels incredible right now. Were so happy to finish this tournament on this note.The Netherlands shined, playing in its first Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games. The Dutch pushed the U.S. to five sets in pool play on Aug. 8 and put womens volleyball on the map at home with a gutsy, never-give-up style.Now, the Americans are left to try again in Tokyo 2020 for the programs first gold, with certain new leaders emerging to guide that run: Hill, Kelsey Robinson, Kayla Banwarth.Thompson and Carli Lloyd wrapped themselves together with an American flag. Banwarth lifted the Stars and Stripes above her head.These women will look to build on this even if it wasnt the result they planned for all along. Still, it was far better than departing South America empty-handed.Theres been a lot of tears the past couple days, Hill said. And not just tears of sadness before this match, tears of gratitude and just joy at this experience these past four years, in this tournament and being with this group of people, this special group. Its been such an amazing ride. Air Max 97 From China . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Nike Air Max 97 China Wholesale . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. http://www.airmax97cheap.com/ . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Air Max 97 Sale Cheap . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Cheap Air Max 97 China . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. LONDON -- Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had a nearly impossible act to follow Wednesday on Centre Court: Roger Federers improbable and electrifying comeback from two sets down to Marin Cilic.But then they staged their own mega-melodrama, going the thrilling five-set distance themselves. In the end, with darkness gathering, it was Murray who survived a spirited comeback by Tsonga and held on for a 7-6 (10), 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 victory.The match ran a nerve-challenging 3 hours, 54 minutes.Murray next gets No. 10 seed Tomas Berdych, a straight-sets winner over Lucas Pouille. Murray has an 8-6 head-to-head record against Berdych but has won the past four matches, losing only one set.It was a great match, Murray said later, and the crowd were unbelievable. They got two pretty good matches, I think.Murray has dominated the No. 12-seeded Frenchman, winning 13 of their career 15 matches and 12 of 13 since 2009.Tsongas a pretty good player, Murray said, laughing, during his off-the-court interview with the BBC. Hes one of the greatest grass-court players in the world. He came up with some great shots. Credit to him for fighting his way back into the match.The only time the mens quarters at a major in the Open era featured two 0-2 comebacks was the 1998 Australian Open. If Tsonga hadnt run out of fuel, it might have happened again.Thus, Murrays quest for a second Wimbledon title remains intact. The 29-year-old is trying to become the first British man to win multiple Wimbledon titles since Fred Perry, who took consecutive titles from 1934 to 36.Before the recent Queens tournament, Murray was reunited with coach Ivan Lendl, an eight-time Grand Slam champion. Together, they have forged a 10-match winning streak, which includes the title in London and five wins here.Truth be told, Lendl appeared unbearably queasy over the last two sets.This will be Murrays seventh Wimbledon semifinal, equaling Novak Djokovic as well as Lendl, tied for sixth all time. There was another slice of history for Murray, too. The win gave him 51 at Wimbledon, tying the great Bjorn Borg.Tsonga, 31, came out firing in the first set. He had benefited from Richard GGasquets retirement after six games in their fourth-round match, giving him almost two days off.dddddddddddd In the third round, he survived a 19-17 fifth set and defeated American John Isner.The first-set tiebreaker didnt approach the artistic level of the fourth-set sparkler earlier between Federer and Cilic, but there were more points. Murray fought off three sets points before converting his fourth set point with a sweet backhand volley into the open court.After losing the second set badly, Tsonga came back in the third. He started to find the rhythm on his serve and, finally, converted his third set point. After winning his first 14 sets here, Murray finally was on the losing end.And, in the final quarterfinal to be decided, Murray faced a battle for the first time here this fortnight.Murray got the first break of the fourth set, when Tsonga was serving at 2-3 and pushed a backhand long. Tsonga returned the favor, breaking Murray, who had held a seemingly commanding 4-2 lead. Murray made every effort to break back but Tsonga managed to save three break point and level the set at 4-all. Naturally, Tsonga broke back again and held serve to force a fifth frame.Today was a tough match, Murray said. It would have been very easy to get down on myself after the way the fourth set ended. You also have to be able to play good tennis in the big moments, and we both did that today.Murray, snarling at his box the entire way, raced out to a 5-0 lead and coasted home. An ace at 106 mph ended it.Both players looked exhausted as they tried to defer the honor of shaking the chair umpires hand first.The end of the fourth set was really tough, Murray said. I just tried to use all of my energy at the beginning of the fifth set to get up early and the crowd pumped up.So was the large crowd outside Court No. 1 on Murray Mound when the last shot was struck. Theyll be back on Friday hoping for a repeat performance. With No. 1 seed Djokovic out of the tournament, they are desperately pulling for their British champion. ' ' '