Allison are getting quality reps early in camp.The Packe

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Taylor Sander leapt high for timely blocks. He went low for a save at floor level to keep a winning point going. Then, he squatted way down to send another tough ball back over the net.At last, the U.S. mens volleyball team is playing the very brand of volleyball the Americans knew they had in them to make a special run at the Olympics. It just took a few days longer than expected to get going and find a winning groove.They reached the quarterfinals Monday after that slow start, victors in their third straight match to conclude pool play by dominating Mexico 25-23, 25-11, 25-19. Canada, playing in its first Olympics since 1992 in Barcelona, also advanced after beating Italy in four sets for its first victory against the first-place pool A winner in major competition and hand the Italians their first loss in Rio. Laster, Brazil beat France in four sets.Sanders kill from the left side on match point sealed it for the U.S. He is one of several among the teams eight first-time Olympians to make vast improvements the past three matches.We all had to pick it up, Sander said. Those first two matches, we werent playing USA Volleyball. We werent aggressive, we werent giving our heart every single point. Our coaching staff did a good job holding us accountable. We had a couple team meetings. We all just sat and talked about what we needed to do to win. We talked about it, then we went and did it.The 24-year-old Sander, who had struggled with an aggressive but inconsistent serve in the initial two contests, was stellar defensively for the fifth-ranked Americans. He also has been growing a mustache for the Olympics -- not so much out of superstition but because his teammates wont allow him or Kawika Shoji to shave the way things have turned around in Rio de Janeiro.Were going red polos and mustaches apparently, U.S. coach John Speraw joked of the facial hair and coaches red shirts worn on match day.Sander took it upon himself to find ways to relax away from Maracanazinho arena. He has been swimming with teammates at the Navy School where the Americans train or watching other sports on TV to keep from feeling any added pressure.Him articulating that is really nice to see that he has that kind of awareness about where he was and what he needed to do in order to improve, Speraw said. Hes learning the challenges of the mental game when put under great duress and hes never experienced this before. For him to have experienced that, recognized it, learned what he needed to do in order to perform better and then come out and execute is a wonderful long-term lesson.What a dramatic turnaround in a weeks time for Sander and the young Americans, greeted by chants of U-S-A! when they entered for pregame warmups to face eliminated Mexico (0-5).After losses to Canada and Italy to begin the tournament, the U.S. stunned host Brazil in four sets then topped France in another four-setter Saturday.Reid Priddy, in his fourth Olympics, is relishing watching how far the kids have come in Rio.The enormity of the Olympic Games requires a 24-hour learning curve. Weve been able to respond after those first two matches, the 38-year-old Priddy said. In fact, I think it put us right in the mentality of where we need to be. ...Were almost more prepared now to face this quarterfinal match than we would have been had we swept 5-0.Mike Webster Womens Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Jack Ham Womens Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Kevin-Greene-Jersey/ . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. James Conner Womens Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Joe Gilliam Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers continue to wait for standout wide receiver Jordy Nelson to start practicing in training camp.Status quo. I really have no updates, coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday.Thats OK with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Minus Nelson, the teams prolific pass catcher who is on the physically unable to perform list, Rodgers is taking advantage of throwing more passes to a promising group of young receivers.And the two-time NFL MVP likes what hes seen early in camp.Theres going to be a lot of great competition, Rodgers said. Thats exciting as a quarterback.The competition has been compelling already with Nelson sidelined because of a knee injury he sustained while working out before camp started last week. Nelson called the injury to his left knee a hiccup.When asked how he is progressing, Nelson responded, Great, as he quickly passed through the locker room before practice Wednesday night.After Randall Cobb, who like Nelson has been entrenched as a starter the past few years, the Packers have several candidates for anywhere from three to five spots. The latter number may be a stretch, however.Its fun to watch, Rodgers said.So far, returning wideouts Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis have earned praise from Rodgers and McCarthy with their performances in camp.Ditto for rookies Trevor Davis and Geronimo Allison.Adams, in particular, has stood out this week with some big catches on deep throws from Rodgers.You definitely see him going and making plays, high-pointing the football and winning those one-on-one battles, offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett said. But you also see him improving the overall route running.Those attributes are reminiscent of the latter part of Adams rookie season in 2014, when he had a couple of breakout performances, including seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown in Greenn Bays playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys.ddddddddddddut Adams, a second-round draft pick, struggled in a more prominent role with Nelson sidelined for the 2015 season because of a torn ACL in his right knee.Adams averaged just 9.7 yards per catch with only one touchdown in a season hindered by an ankle injury early on and then a knee injury that kept him out of the playoff loss at the Arizona Cardinals.A healthy Adams is responding in a desirable way this summer.My bodys feeling good, and you know, Im making some plays and keep earning that trust with Aaron, he said. Coach is happy, so Ive just got to keep working.Meanwhile, third-year pros Abbrederis and Janis are hoping to build off significant contributions they gave the offense at the end of last season.And with Ty Montgomery also on the PUP list after he missed most of his rookie season in 2015 with an ankle injury that required surgery, newcomers such as Davis and Allison are getting quality reps early in camp.The Packers took the speedy Davis in the fifth round of this years draft, intrigued by his capabilities as a kick returner, and the 6-foot-3 Allison is a big target as an undrafted rookie.Itll be nice to get, obviously, Jordy back and Ty back, whenever that happens, Rodgers said.Game notesRB Eddie Lacy left practice Wednesday night for an undisclosed reason, but later rejoined his teammates on the field. ... T Bryan Bulaga (knee), DT Mike Daniels (personal), LB Jake Ryan (hamstring) and QB Brett Hundley (ankle) didnt practice. McCarthy said Hundley, who is working as the top backup to Rodgers, was nicked in practice Monday. RB James Starks returned to practice after being out Monday.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '