RIO DE JANEIRO -- At some point, Phil Dalhausser just had to laugh.After the Americans survived a couple of match points -- and Italy fought off seven of their own -- the final set of their final match in pool play at the beach volleyball tournament at Copacabana was tied 22-22.Dalhausser smiled.His partner, Nick Lucena, smiled.The Italians smiled, too, and then slapped hands with Lucena after he got a lucky roll on a winner off the top of the net to give the Americans a 23-22 lead. When Lucena made another crafty play to provide the necessary two-point margin of victory, the United States had won.But only after the longest third set of the Rio Olympics so far.Its not very often you can have a game like that, said Lucena, an Olympic rookie who teamed with the 2008 gold medalist to win 21-13, 17-21, 24-22 on Thursday.Beach volleyball plays the first two sets to 21 points, and the leader has to win by 2. If necessary, a third set tiebreaker is played to 15 -- again requiring a 2-point margin of victory.Heading into Thursdays games, 22 of the 60 mens and womens matches played at Copacabana needed a third set. Only four of those went beyond 15, and only one of those required more than one extra point to settle it.When youre in the 20s in the third set, and its going back and forth, its pretty fun, said Dalhausser, who recalled once playing a first set that was 41-39.Even the Italian teams confessed to enjoying it.The match was great. It was great to watch, but it would have been better to win, said Paolo Nicolai, smiling afterward when he talked to reporters.Both persons are trying to do their best, he said. Its fun for the players. Its fun for the crowd. Its fun.With the victory, the Americans clinched the top spot in their group and a top seed in the knockout stage that begins on Friday. They will join top U.S. womens team Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, who also advanced through the pool play unbeaten.The other U.S. team that played on Thursday wasnt as lucky.Brooke Sweat and Lauren Fendrick took Russia to three sets before bowing out of the Summer Games with an 0-3 record in pool play. The first-time Olympians lost to Russias Ekaterina Birlova and Evgenia Ukolova in three sets, 21-18, 26-24, 15-13.Unfortunately it didnt come out our way today, but I am proud to stand next to her and fight any day, Fendrick said. We worked so hard. We had big goals and dreams, and I think if we had gotten past that round we would have gone pretty far and done some damage. So that parts hard.Sweat noted that the pair fought to qualify for Rio, finally finishing 15th on a points list with an Olympic cutoff at No. 17It was a battle just getting here, Sweat said.The No. 2 U.S. mens team of Jake Gibb and Casey Patters was eliminated on Wednesday after going 1-2 and losing the playoff tiebreaker. Tyler Naquin Indians Jersey . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Kenny Lofton Indians Jersey . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-bob-feller-jersey/ . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Tyler Naquin Jersey . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Roberto Perez Indians Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. ESPN Chalks Vegas experts are here to provide analysis and best bets for all Week 3 games, including the Chicago-Dallas?matchup on Sunday night.Note: All odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Friday morning.Home page for all Week 3 gamesMatchup: Chicago Bears-Dallas CowboysSpread:?Opened Dallas -4; now Dallas -7 Total: Opened 45.5; now 44 Pickcenter public consensus pick:?67 percent DallasPublic perception: The betting onn this game has been more about the number than any love or hate of the two teams.dddddddddddd The ESPN Pickcenter has the public on the Cowboys, but thats with Pinnacles line of Dallas -6.5. Its much more split at 7 and the Bears were getting more love when the line was as high as 7.5 in the middle of the week. ' ' '
