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RIO DE JANEIRO -- With three small children at home -- one for each Olympic gold medal -- Kerri Walsh Jennings turned into a morning person whether she wanted to or not.So preparing to play at midnight in the marquee match of the Rio de Janeiro beach volleyball tournament is less of a struggle than it could have been.Ive been trying so long to be a morning person and its just so contrary to who I am, Walsh Jennings said after she and April Ross beat Australia 21-14, 21-13 in a match that began at 12:34 a.m. and took only 35 minutes.Ross said the players prepared for the late start by taking a nap during the day. They avoided walking around in the hot sun, watching video instead while also finding plenty of time to meditate, do a crossword puzzle and read.We knew it was going to be really electric out there and we knew it was going to be a really long day, Walsh Jennings said. And its under the lights in Copa. So its a great atmosphere.Thats something the Americans can get used to. After all, as the biggest names in the tournament -- at least for the lucrative U.S. television market -- they will play again at midnight for their second match, against China early Tuesday morning.The gold medal match is also scheduled to start at midnight.Thats the goal, Walsh Jennings said.Here are some noteworthy events from the opening day of the beach volleyball competition and things to look for on Day 2:FELLOW AMERICANSRookie Casey Patterson and two-time Olympian Jake Gibb also won their opener, beating Qatar 21-16, 21-16. They get a day off before playing Austria on Monday.The other U.S. teams make their debuts on Sunday. Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat play Poland in the morning, and 2008 gold medalist Phil Dalhausser and his new partner, Nick Lucena, meet Tunisia.DIGNITARIESU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attended the early matches and went out to the practice court to wish Walsh Jennings and Ross well. Very patriotic, Walsh Jennings said. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also visited the venue.DAY AT THE BEACHJust outside the security fences is the iconic Copacabana beach, where locals frolicked in the surf, played soccer in the sand or cooled themselves under an umbrella at one of the many open-air kiosks serving food, beer and the local sugar cane cocktail, caipirinha.I love South American fans, and I love how the people love sports, said Argentinas Georgiana Klug, who lost her opener with Ana Gallay, falling to Spain in straight sets. All the singing, dancing -- it makes me feel like home.SKYBALLItalys Adrian Carambula got things started with his trademark Skyball, a high and spinning serve that wanders into the path of the sunshine and wind and confounds attempts at a return. Although he typically uses it sparingly, Carambula said he was egged on by his friends to start things off with a little flair.They said they wouldnt talk to me if I didnt, he said in a post-match interview that was twice interrupted because the prime minister asked him to come over and pose for a picture.My legs were shaking before the first serve, said Carambula, who with Alex Ranghieri beat Clemens Doppler and Alexander Horst 21-14, 21-13. When I walked in I actually got a little bit emotional. I wasnt expecting it, but I embraced it and I played with it. So, very special.---Jimmy Golen has covered Olympic beach volleyball since 2008. Follow him at http://www.twitter.com/jgolen Cheap NFL Jerseys Paypal . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. NFL Jerseys Supply . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. http://www.wholesalenfljerseyssupplycheap.com/ . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Wholesale Jerseys Cheap . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. PHILADELPHIA -- Jay Wright led Villanova on a tour around the concourse of the Palestra, the basketball shrine that has served as the hardwood home for many of the games greats.Wilt Chamberlain played high school ball here. Kobe and LeBron, too.Theres even a spot dedicated to the greatest Villanova team of all -- at least, at the time the display was installed -- the 1985 national champions. The Palestra curators might want to clear space for `Novas 2016 title team -- and maybe even prep a new wing for this years Wildcats.Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Josh Hart had 21 to help No. 1 Villanova hold off La Salle 89-79 on Tuesday night.I just wanted to remind them of the history, remind them of the tradition, of what happens in here, Wright said.La Salle (4-3) came oh-so close to making an upset happen.Johnnie Shuler and Pookie Powell made late 3-pointers that kept the deficit at seven. La Salle, which has never defeated a No. 1 team, got more late help from long range when Jordan Price popped a 3 that made it a four-point game.La Salle fans went wild. The Wildcats seemed shaken.But the great city teams that decorated the 89-year-old walls of the ol gym nestled on Penns Ivy League campus dont really lose to unranked underdogs.And the national champs werent going down to La Salle.Donte DiVincenzos late dunk and a handful of free throws sealed the win for Villanova (9-0) in its first game of the season as the top-ranked team in the country.Powell scored 27 points. La Salle just didnt have enough to get past Villanova and earn its biggest win since it reached the 2013 Sweet 16.Brunson, whose father, Rick, starred at Temple, made 10 of 17 shots and hit a pair of big buckets down the stretch to give Villanova a 10-point cushion.Hes one of those guys that you know at any point that you need a bucket, he can go get one for you, Wright said.Brunson just might find his image stamped on the Paalestra wall a decade or so from now.ddddddddddddt gave us time to bond, Brunson said of the tour. We realized what games are played here, what teams played here, who was from the area.Mikal Bridges scored 16 points and national championship game star Kris Jenkins had 12.When the balls bouncing around, they seem to get it and make a 3, La Salle coach John Giannini said. The reason for their excellence on a national level is their intangibles. They dont let up. I dont care if theyre playing us, playing Kentucky, anybody. That is the same team every single second of every single game they play.BIG PICUTRELa Salle: The Explorers lost three times to No. 1 teams in the 1950s, once each in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2010s. La Salle last lost to a No. 1 team 90-65 to Kansas on Dec. 12, 2009. They are 0-8 vs. No. 1 foes.We just had a lot of lapses and breakdowns, Powell said.Villanova: The Wildcats went 5-1 as an AP Top 25 No. 1 last season. They were the top team in the country for three weeks and proved they were worthy of the ranking with the programs second national championship. The Wildcats are trying to become the first repeat champs since Florida in 2006-07.POLL IMPLICATIONSVillanova was 5-1 last season at No. 1 and is trying to better that mark this year to stay in the top spot.We didnt really handle it a certain way last year, Hart said.BIG 17Villanova continued to dominate the Philadelphia city series known as the Big 5. The Wildcats extended their series-record win streak to 17 against La Salle, Penn, Saint Josephs and Temple. The Wildcats go for the 4-0 sweep Dec. 13 against Temple.UP NEXTLa Salle faces another Big East team Saturday in Georgetown.Villanova gets its toughest test in weeks when it plays No. 23 Notre Dame in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ' ' '