RIO DE JANEIRO -- Way behind in the first set Saturday against France, the Americans slowly began chipping away to end up on top. While none of the U.S. players can quite explain it, they have a propensity for doing that very thing, coming back with the odds stacked against them.Thats been no more evident than on the Olympic stage in Rio de Janeiro, where they have won two straight following a pair of unimpressive defeats.We just trusted each other, played our volleyball, played how we play, Matt Anderson said.Seemingly down and out in these Olympics only a few days ago, the U.S. mens volleyball team is suddenly right back in the mix of the Rio Games. Even coach U.S. John Speraw acknowledged he had doubts about the Americans fortunes.All of a sudden you lose that first match and you wouldnt be human if you didnt think, at some moment when youre sitting alone in your room, `Uh oh, Speraw said. I think we probably all did, but then you just take a deep breath and you go to work, and I think this team has done a really great job with resilience.Fresh off Thursday nights stunning four-set victory against host Brazil, the Americans rallied to beat France 25-22, 25-22, 24-25, 25-22 and improve their position in Pool A. Next up is Mexico on Monday in the final preliminary match before the knockout quarterfinals.We knew that we had to win these or else wed pretty much be out, outside hitter Aaron Russell said. We just kind of stayed strong together, bonded together and were able to come up with some big wins. There is no choice.They might have heard the message four times the past couple of days after a thrilling win against the Brazilians.New day. Next one. Do it again.This tournament is an emotional rollercoaster ride, Speraw said.After being swept in their Olympic opener by Canada and then losing to Italy, the Americans (2-2) found their groove against Brazil and carried that into Saturday. This young group, with eight first-time Olympians and a trio of veterans leading the charge, has shined during this four-year cycle leading up to Rio when under the most pressure.It was difficult not to think about leaving Brazil far too early, without at least a chance at the big prize.Its playing for each other, not for yourself, not just for your team, not just for your coaches, for your country, Anderson said. Wholesale Adidas Shoes NZ . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Adidas Shoes NZ . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. http://www.adidasshoessalenz.com/ . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Cheap Shoes NZ . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Wholesale Shoes NZ Online . 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. Former Alabama?defensive back Maurice Smiths wait continued Thursday, as the SEC was still deciding whether to allow him to enroll at Georgia?as a graduate transfer and play for the Bulldogs this coming season.On Wednesday, Alabama coach Nick Saban granted Smith a full release from his scholarship to transfer to any school, after initially refusing to allow him to transfer to SEC schools. But Smith must still receive waiver from the SEC, which has restrictions on its schools accepting athletes with less than two years of eligibility remaining and those who transfer within the conference.Smith, a cornerback from Sugar Land, Texas, graduated from Alabama on Saturday. He is hoping to join Georgias team and be eligible to play immediately.There have been exceptions to the SEC transfer rule in recent years. In May, former kicker Andy Pappanastos was released from his scholarship at Ole Miss and transferred to Alabama. Sources told ESPN that the SEC also granted him a waiver to transfer within the league. Pappanastos, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was a scholarship player at Ole Miss but joined the Crimson Tide as a walk-on.A source familiar with the case told ESPN on Thursday that walk-ons are subject to the same SEC transfer rules as scholarship players and confirmed that Pappanastos had to receive a waiver from the league before he could enroll at Alabama this summer.Pappanastos, who set an Alabama high school record with 48 field goals at Montgomerys Trinity Presbyterian School, played sparingly in two seasons at Ole Miss, kicking eight extra points and missing his only field goal attempt. He is expected to kick behind Alabama senior Adam Griffith this coming season, but might be in line to take over the kicking duties in 2017.In another recent case, former Alabama receiver Chris Black transferred to Missouri as a graduate transfer last season. Al.com reported earlier this month that Black was able to transfer to an SEEC school because Alabama officials didnt respond to his transfer request within seven business days, which is required under NCAA rules.ddddddddddddBlack also would have needed an SEC waiver to transfer within the league.In an interview with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution on Wednesday, Smiths mother, Samyra Smith, cautioned that his battle is not over, but she told the AJC a decision from the conference was expected within the next 24 hours. Fall semester classes started at UGA on Thursday.Maurice Smith has been trying to follow former Alabama assistants Kirby Smart and Mel Tucker to Georgia but was initially blocked from moving to another SEC school. A statement from the SEC said the league doesnt comment on such waiver requests, but they are reviewed on an individual basis.The SEC does not provide waivers of SEC rules absent circumstances that demonstrate a clear reason for granting an exception to those rules, the league statement said. Each waiver request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.The requirements for granting of a waiver include that the athletes athletic scholarship was not renewed.As Alabamas nickelback last season, Smith had 15 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 15 games. After Wednesdays practice, coach Nick Saban said Alabama had done everything it could to allow the conference to make the decision about whatever they decide is in the best interest of the conference and the SEC rules relative to Maurice Smith.So that is past us now, Saban said. It is beyond us. We dont really need to talk about that anymore, and I dont have any other comments to make about it.Smart, now Georgias head coach, disagreed with Sabans decision to block Smiths transfer and has said that he would absolutely support a graduate transfers right to transfer to another SEC school. ' ' '