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.Sanders kill from the left side on match point sealed it. 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.---This story had been corrected to show Sanders first name is Taylor, not Tyler.Air Max In Offerta .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Air Max 95 Outlet . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. https://www.scontatescarpeoutlet.it/nike-air-max-720-italia-scarpe-outlet-c3266.html . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Air Max 95 Scontate Uomo . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Air Max 720 Scontate Outlet . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era.MOSCOW -- With Serena Williams decision to withdraw from next weeks WTA Finals, the final spot in the year-end tournament will be decided in Moscow.Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain each know that winning the Kremlin Cup will guarantee a place at the eight-player finals in Singapore.If neither Kuznetsova nor Suarez Navarro wins, the final spot stays with Britains Johanna Konta, who isnt playing this week as she tries to shake off an abdominal strain.Suarez Navarro is happy to have her destiny in her own hands as she aims for her first career finals appearance in singles.Sometimes at the end of the season, people are looking at other people, at other results, but its not my case, she said Tuesday. Now it all depends on me. I think its much better.Kuznetsova is already asssured of her best year-end ranking since 2009 and is aiming to defend her Moscow title in front of a home crowd.ddddddddddddIf I can win the tournament it would be wonderful, great, and everything Im wishing for, but I dont want to look that far ahead, she said.Both Kuznetsova and Suarez Navarro have first-round byes in Moscow. The Russian will start Wednesday against either Frances Alize Cornet, while Suarez Navarro faces a tricky match against Russian-born Australian Daria Gavrilova.Williams, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, announced her withdrawal from the WTA Finals on Monday, citing a right shoulder injury. Its the second year in a row she will miss the finals. ' ' '