The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full report, CLICK HERE.
There were wins in volleyball, both out on the sand and indoor on hardwood, for players on Team USA with connections to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on day five of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo — plus races in swimming and more news from gymnastics.
Beach volleyball
In beach volleyball, Jake Gibb, 45, and teammate Tri Bourne, 32, with Team USA beat a duo from Switzerland in two sets, 21-19 and 23-21, in an evenly matched competition on Wednesday, July 28. The temperature was hovering around the mid-80s with 75% humidity in the stadium at Shiokaze Park. This is the second time Gibb, of Bountiful, Utah, has competed with Bourne as Taylor Crabb tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Japan. Bourne was part of the No. 3 U.S. team. Gibb has “TAY” written on the bill of his hat.
It was their second win in the pool play. The teams in beach volleyball and volleyball are divided into groups or pools and they play each team in the pool. The top teams in the pool move on to the tournament for medals.
Their next match and last match in the pool play is against a duo from Qatar on Friday, July 30.
Volleyball
Over in the Ariake Arena, Team USA, including outside hitter Taylor Sander, won its match against Tunisia 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 35-14 and 25-23) on Wednesday, July 28. Sander, 29, is a BYU alumnus and part of the bronze-winning 2016 team in Rio.
Team USA is now 2-1 in pool play and faces Brazil on Friday, July 30, and Argentina on Sunday, Aug. 1. The team from Brazil won gold in the Rio Olympics four years ago.
To read the full report, CLICK HERE.
