RIO DE JANEIRO -- Kelsey Robinson lifted Courtney Thompson into a congratulatory embrace when the match finally ended, celebrating the reserve setters timely ace serve in a hard-fought win against Italy.It took something from everyone for the United States womens volleyball team to stay unbeaten in Rio.Its so special when you see Courtney get an ace, Robinson said. Were lifting her up. Thats something that people dont see shes been working on every single day outside of practice.Thompson is part of a trio of setters that is playing a key role for the top-ranked Americans in their chase for the first ever U.S. gold in womens volleyball at these Olympics.Alisha Glass, Carli Lloyd and Thompson huddle together during timeouts with their position coach, and words fly around for about a minute as they compare notes before returning to play.Its a rare roster to carry three setters on a 12-player Olympic squad, yet that is how valuable each of these women is to coach Karch Kiraly and the U.S. quest. The quarterfinal-bound Americans (4-0) held off the Italians 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20 on Friday. It marked the first time Italy won a set in four Olympic matches.While coach Tom Black is often focused on the opponents tendencies, he trusts the three setters to let each other know if were letting it rip or we need to pick up the speed.Lloyd earned her spot with a remarkable run leading up to Rio. At 31, Thompson is the oldest player for the Americans and their heart and soul behind the scenes -- and typically the first to bust a dance move in the corner of the court where the backups stand.Shes absolutely on the court, Glass said of Thompsons influence. Thats her, shes never not going to be somewhere, you just feel her no matter what ... She just has such a presence. Theres no way we come here without her and do as well as were doing.In May 2013, it was Glass and Thompson along with a few other young setters not in Rio who set the example for the Americans during this four-year Olympic cycle on how to commit to being a team of constant learners, driven to be better in every aspect of the game -- from their technical play such as a pivot move they worked to perfect to make the offense faster and unpredictable, to the mental side and everything else like tireless work in the weight room.They were the position group that embraced that the earliest and led the charge and modeled it for the other positions, with Tom leading them early in 2013, Kiraly said. We started running our offense faster, which just means the sets dont go high out to the sideline, they go low and fast.No drama. No hard feelings about playing time. Just a joint desire to reach the top of the medal stand in Rio.Its different than overseas. We dont have that same relationship with other setters and a setting coach, Lloyd said. I love it.Thompson, who was called upon to fill in for injured setter Lindsey Berg in London four years ago, understands that her moments stepping on the Olympic court before leaving Brazil might be limited.Every person in this program has an important role and I certainly feel that way about mine, she said. Its unique, but its for a reason.Thompson is constantly talking, moving, encouraging from every angle.Shes the spine of the team in a lot of ways, Black said.During some matches, players in the sub box rub their hands together as if warming them then sending in the good energy, added Thompson.Shes always cheering.Nice ups!Nice pass, you guys!And when the Americans needed to secure their Olympic berth through a second-chance qualifier back in January at Lincoln, Nebraska, it was Thompson who sent out a group email ahead of time letting her teammates know the time was now. The U.S. had already missed a chance at last years World Cup in Tokyo.One night in Lincoln, Thompson, Nicole Fawcett and Robinson ran through Pinnacle Bank Arena with arms waving pretending we won the gold medal, Thompson said.They hope to do it for real in Rio. Nick OLeary Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. O. J. Simpson Jersey ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. http://www.officialauthenticbillsshop.com/authentic-seantrel-henderson-jersey.html . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Custom Buffalo Bills Jerseys . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Jerry Hughes Jersey .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger passed for 380 yards and four touchdowns and the surging Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away in the second half for a 31-13 win over the New York Jets on Sunday.Sammie Coates caught six passes for a career-high 139 yards and two scores, including a 72-yard catch-and-run for a score on Pittsburghs opening drive as the Steelers moved the ball at will against a secondary missing injured star Darrelle Revis.Steelers running back LeVeon Bell racked up 154 yards of total offense, including a career-high nine receptions, while Antonio Brown caught nine passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. The All-Pro receiver, who has been fined on multiple occasions this season for crossing the line during his celebratory dances, simply handed the ball to a fan in the stands.New Yorks Ryan Fitzpatrick avoided the interceptions that have plagued him this season, completing 25 of 38 for 265 yards and a touchdown to Brandon Marshall. Yet the Jets also mustered little offense in the second half and couldnt keep up as the Steelers put together clinical scoring drive after clinical scoring drive.Pittsburgh (4-1) played without starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert, but had little trouble protecting Roethlisberger from one of the NFLs top defensive lines. Roethlisberger was sacked just once and rarely pressured as he spread the ball around. Six Steelers had at least two receptions.New York took a 13-7 lead in the second quarter on a 15-yard lob from Fitzpatrick to Marshall, but the Steelers took the lead back with a brilliant 11-plaay, 75-yard drive in the final 2 minutes of the half, ending with a flip from Roethlisberger to Jesse James.ddddddddddddRoethlisberger hit Brown for a 5-yard score early in the fourth quarter to make it 24-13. The Jets (1-4) faced a fourth down at its own 34 on its next possession and opted to punt. Still down two scores later in the fourth, New York again opted to kick on fourth down at midfield with 7:29 left.Pittsburgh responded by going 79 yards in 12 plays, ending the competitive portion of the afternoon with Roethlisbergers second touchdown pass to Coates.TRAINERS ROOMJets: Linebacker David Harris exited late in the first half with a hamstring injury. Center Nick Mangold went down in the third quarter with a knee injury and cornerback Darryl Roberts left in the third quarter with a shoulder problem. Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson left in the fourth quarter after injuring his knee while recovering a Roethlisberger fumble, but returned.Steelers: Defensive end Cam Heyward, whose three sacks lead the team, left in the first half with a left hamstring injury and did not return. Safety Shamarko Thomas also left in the first half with a left groin injury.UP NEXTJets: travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals on Monday Night Football on Oct. 17.Steelers: continue their three-game swing against AFC East teams when they visit the Dolphins.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Store China Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '