Who to Watch on Monday

Key games for locals in water polo, soccer and volleyball while one track and field athlete competes in the finals

U.S. women's soccer, with Torrey Pines HS alum Rachel Buehler, will compete against Canada in the semifinals Monday.

Coach Pia Sundhage said she wants to see her players keep the ball on the ground more and build the attack through the midfield.

You'll get differing opinions about the long ball among soccer fans and even Sundhage's own players.

"I think the key on the soccer field is being able to do both," defender Amy LePeilbet said Saturday.

"If we can be unpredictable and do both, we can be more dangerous."

The Americans beat the Canadians 4-0 in Olympic qualifying in January.

WHEN TO WATCH: Soccer semifinals 9 a.m. PT on NBC Sports Network

The U.S. men’s volleyball team was one point away from a dominant sweep of the world's No. 2-ranked team and clinching the Group B title Saturday.

The loss ended an 11-game Olympic win streak for the U.S., which included an 8-0 record in Beijing and a 3-0 start in London.

"I think that it's good that this happened in pool play," David Lee of Alpine said. "We'll regroup against Tunisia and clinch our pool and go on from there."  Two other locals are returning gold medalists on the team: Encinitas resident Reid Priddy and Tierrasanta resident Rich Lambourne.

The Americans still control their own destiny and can clinch the group title with a win Monday over Tunisia, who is 0-4.

WHEN TO WATCH: U.S. men's volleyball vs. Tunisia Noon PT on NBCOlympics.com

Temecula athlete Sarah Hammer, fresh off her silver medal win in the team sprint event over the weekend, stands at the top of the startlist for the Women's Omnium Monday.   Watch highlights at 3:15 p.m. PT on NBC 7.

Monday's game was the last before the knockout stage, and U.S. water polo captain Tony Azevedo was sure the Americans must play better to improve on the silver medal they won four years ago in Beijing.

Coronado High School alums Jesse Smith and Layne Beaubien are just two of the veteran team members returning with hopes of winning gold this time around.

Unfortunately, Monday's game was lall too similar to the gold medal final in Beijing with Hungary winning 11-6.

Watch a full replay of Monday's game versus Hungary here.

Also Monday:
Chula Vista Olympic Training center athlete Jarred Rome failed to qualify in the men’s discus event. See results here

Becky Holliday, who splits her training time between Chula Vista and her home in Arkansas, will compete in the finals for women’s pole vault.

In sailing, Point Loma’s Graham Biehl and his teammate Stu McNay continue to race in the men’s 470.

U.S. women's field hockey continues its Olympic competition Monday facing South Africa beating the U.S. 7 - 0. The team lives and trains in San Diego County. See full replay here

WHEN TO WATCH: U.S. women's field hockey vs. South Africa 2:45 a.m .PT on NBC Sports Network
 

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