University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball Olympians Update
8/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Gophersports.com caught up with LIndsey Berg through email to talk to her about the experiences of the first couple of days of her second Olympic games.
(On the Opening Ceremonies)
"I didn't get to see the actual Opening Ceremony. However, walking in was just as great as Athens, and still felt the amazing feeling that is so hard to describe. We were also fortunate enough to have a USA only celebration before the ceremony where we got to meet all the other athletes and President Bush, so that was special. Overall once again it was a great experience, and hard to compare the feeling to any other feeling that I have had. I am just so fortunate and blessed to have had this opportunity."
(On seeing familiar faces and meeting other athletes at the Olympic Village)
?A couple days before the ceremonies I ran into Shani Marks (Track and Field). We had been in touch before right after she had qualified letting each other know we would both be there. I was also able to spend some time with Nicole (Branagh) early on and that was great. Now that competition has started, it has been difficult. Being in the village, you meet a lot of the other athletes and there is a great spirit this olympics. We have met and seen the Basketball team a lot because they practice in the same gym as us. Other than that we have been very focused and busy with practices and meetings, all business here."
Lindsey Berg and her teammates dropped a 3-0 decision to Cuba in their second match of the Olympics to drop to 1-1 in Group Play. Cuba and China are each 2-0 in the group, while USA and Japan are 1-1. Poland and Venezuela are both 0-2. The United States will play Venezuela in their next match on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 11 p.m. (Beijing time).
Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs defeated the German team of Okka Rau and Stephanie Pohl 21-17, 21-16 to move to 2-0 in the preliminary round. Branagh and Youngs are 2-0 in their group. Branagh and Youngs final match of the preliminary round will be against Cuba's team of Milagros Crespo and Imara Estevez. Rau and Pohl (Germany) and Crespo and Estevez (Cuba) are each 1-1). The Netherlands team of Merel Mooren and Rebekka Kadijk are 0-2 in the group. Branagh and Youngs will face Crespo and Estevez in their final preliminary match.
