U.S. men's volleyball team continues winning ways

TOKYO - The U.S. men’s national volleyball team continued to storm through the 2007 FIVB World Cup on Friday with a 25-18, 27-25, 25-19 victory over host Japan before a crowd of 10,000 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

The win improves Team USA’s record to 7-2 and keeps it in third place. However, Bulgaria, which was tied with the United States for third, kept the pressure on by defeating previously unbeaten Russia (25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12) on Friday.

The top three World Cup finishers qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games. The United States and Bulgaria sit tied at 7-2. The U.S. men are technically in third due to the tiebreaker, which is point differential. Brazil and Russia are both 8-1, with Brazil leading the tiebreaker.

The U.S. men still have to play Argentina (5-4) and Russia. Bulgaria still plays Japan (3-5) and Argentina. Russia will play Brazil and the United States. Brazil will play Russia and Japan.

On Friday, Reid Priddy (Richmond, Va.,) led the U.S. scorers with 16 points on 12 kills and a match-high four blocks. Gabe Gardner (San Clemente, Calif.) added 15 points on 13 kills and two blocks. Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) scored 12 points on eight kills, two blocks and a match-high two aces.

Broadmoor skaters do well at regionals, move to next round

Fifty-seven skaters representing the Broadmoor Skating Club competed at the 2008 Southwest Regional Championship in Dallas on Oct. 16-20, 2007, according to the club. The regional competition is the first in a series of qualifying competitions. Skaters who place in the top four will then advance to sectional competitions. The Broadmoor Skating Club had 21 skaters who qualified to move onto sectionals, which takes place in late November in Rochester, Mich., or Junior Nationals in early December in Salt Lake City. Those who place in the top four at sectionals advance to nationals in January 2008.

The Broadmoor skaters who will compete at sectionals are (senior level) Caroline Miller & Casey McGraw; (junior level) Chaochi Liu, Victoria Fairchild, Tatyana Khazova, Roger Corvase & Eric Reinhart; (novice level) Caydee Denney and Marissa Secundy; (novice Pairs) Brynn Carman/Chris Knierim, and Brittney Chase/Andrew Speroff. Moving on to Junior Nationals are (intermediate level) Laren Dinh and Joshua Farris; (juvenile) Logan Bye; (pairs) Haven Denney/Branden Frazier; (ice dancing) Rebekah and Joel Schneider-Farris, and Katie Shipstad/Logan Bye.