RIO DE JANEIRO -- Faces buried in hands and tears falling, the Brazilian womens volleyball team lost to China in a five-set quarterfinal match on Tuesday.It was another heartbreaking defeat for the home country only hours after the Brazilian womens soccer team fell in a penalty shootout to Sweden next door at the Maracana Stadium.China rallied from losing the first set to stun the two time-defending champion Brazilians 15-13 in the decisive fifth.As China celebrated the biggest upset yet and quieted a stunned crowd, Brazil captain Fabiana pulled her team together in a huddle. While Fabianas kill saved one match point to make it 14-13 in the third, Brazil had a pair of costly service errors late.Brazil had been the heavy favorite to face the United States in a potential gold-medal match after beating the Americans in the championship match in each of the past two Olympics.Meanwhile, a young China team that had been far from steady at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics played its best, most consistent match yet.For an American team that knows Japan so well, patience was an absolute must. Against the best defensive team in the world, balls are going to come back across the net.Karch Kiralys top-ranked Americans moved one step closer to its goal of capturing the programs first volleyball gold, defeating familiar opponent Japan in straight sets to reach the semifinals.Before we go into any match with Japan we have to know we need to have a lot of patience, outside hitter Kim Hill said.The unbeaten U.S. (6-0) won 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 and has dropped just five sets all tournament. The Americans will face Serbia, a straight-set winner over Russia, in Thursdays semifinals at Maracanazinho arena.Our approach is the same every time, so that didnt even really feel like an Olympic quarterfinal match, Kiraly said. Thats good. Were just playing volleyball against Japan.The U.S. has faced Japan more times than any other team since 1983. The Americans have won the last three meetings on the Olympic stage against Japan, opening the 2008 Beijing Games with a four-set victory and sweeping Japan in a match at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.They have a lot of fight in them, so it took a lot of patience on our end, and regrouping and resetting, middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo said. I was proud of the team we were able to get it out in three sets.China will face the upstart Netherlands women, who beat South Korea in four sets. The Dutch are in their first Olympics in 20 years and went 4-1 in group play behind the Americans.Japan, one of the top defensive teams in the world, had a 7-0 run in the third set before the Americans closed it out. Now, the U.S. is two wins from gold.I dont have any expectations. Others may have them, but I dont, said Kiraly, the only person to win gold as a player in beach and indoor volleyball and looking to become the first as a coach and player.Serbia lost in four sets to the U.S. during pool play but pulled off a surprising five-set victory at last years World Cup in Japan that forced the Americans to qualify for Rio in Lincoln, Nebraska, in January.The most important thing is to keep smiling on the court and stay relaxed, and anybody can be beaten, Serbias Jovana Stevanovic said. Air Max 97 Sale Mens . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Discount Air Max 97 . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. http://www.cheapairmax97fromchina.com/cheap-air-max-97-all-blue-china/ . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Cheap Air Max 97 All Red China . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Cheap Air Max 97 . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Tom May played for Toulon from 2009 to 2011 -- here he gives the rundown on what is in store for Chris Ashton at the three-time European champions.?So what waits for Chris Ashton at Toulon? There will be early difficulties but plenty of thrills.He divides opinion. Some say he should have stayed at Saracens and some see exactly why hes moving on to Toulon. Im in the latter party.The spotlight is very different from the one he experiences now. For different reasons, it was the same with Jonny Wilkinson when he left Newcastle. Its a relentless glare and sometimes it can be hard to live under.Whatever the reason, he cant get away from it and its tiring for players. He will be largely left alone in France. He will merge into the melting pot of galacticos that Toulon have and be able to get on with life -- probably what he needs after the last couple of years. He will be able to breathe again and just be.It will be a difficult move for him. Taking a young family to France will be tough. Simple things we take for granted when moving house takes forever to get sorted -- internet, phone lines, TV etc. -- and it can be excruciatingly frustrating to get your life in order.My advice is just go with it even if it does bring you to tears at first. It takes ages to get most things done in France -- even drinking an espresso -- and no matter how hard you try, you wont change it. If you buy into the way of life though, hell love it as much as I did. But fight it and hell be on the plane home from Nice sooner rather than later.Learning any language is hard and getting started sooner rather than later is advisable for Chris. Mike Ford and Paul Stridgeon will offer familiar faces and mean the Wigan accent isnt lost on the other players at the club and it will be some comfort to a new arrival. It will almost be a home away from home.He will need to make an effort, that will be expected. The French dont take it lightly should you not make an effort to speak their language and rightly so. Its embarrassing whhen an Englishman expects everyone else to communicate in their tongue.dddddddddddd Have a crack, everyone makes some howling errors which get some weird looks but thats what its about.Match day will be a completely different experience for him. Saracens are doing a good job at generating a growing crowd but Allianz Park is nothing compared to the sensational Stade Mayol.The stadium is packed to the rafters with Toulonnais fans, tossing the local newspaper in the air week in week out. Its something he will love as a player, perhaps similar to the experience he would have had in the Super League. No doubt Ashton will be loved by the fans there but more importantly for me, he will love them and what they give to the whole experience.Another piece of advice is: dont forget the handshakes. Every day, on arrival at work, the players go round and shake everyones hand. Its a superb way to show respect to those you see each day. You dont forget anyone, thats rude. Should you start speaking to them without having shaken hands and said hello, well look out! Even worse dont forget that you have already shaken someones hand. Youve had a shocker if you do. I only did it once and I didnt do it again as it got a brutal response. It really didnt go down very well.Overall, its a great move, I dont blame him. Clearly the money will have something to do with it and who would turn down the offer like that if it came along. If a big contract offer arrives at the age of 30 youve got to think about taking the opportunity, it might not come round again. The same happened to me. Perhaps not as many sacks of cash -- no perhaps about it! - but its something you cant turn down.When you combine all of that with the truly memorable three years ahead of him, then he will be a happy man. He better make sure he doesnt forget his Factor 50 though, that pale skin in the Mediterranean sun.... ' ' '