RIO DE JANEIRO -- Each night, Kayla Banwarth would pack lunch for the next day, lay out her clothes and set an alarm to be out the door by 5 a.m.The U.S. volleyball player spent about five months this year working as a volunteer assistant coach for the mens team at Pepperdine University. She worked under Karch Kiralys former Olympic coach and current confidante, Marv Dunphy, and American assistant David Hunt.The commitment made for a hectic schedule. Banwarth began her day with a 60-mile commute at the crack of dawn from Orange County to get to campus before rush hour. After Pepperdine practice, she would immediately return to Anaheim to work out with the national team -- spending up to two hours on the court with Kiraly each day and hitting the weight room afterward four times a week.As the U.S. women chase their first Olympic gold medal, Banwarth believes shes all the better for having coached. She and the top-ranked Americans defeated Serbia 25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19 on Wednesday to improve to 3-0 and reach the quarterfinals. Serbia upset the U.S. in five sets at last years World Cup in Japan, forcing the Americans to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games in Lincoln, Nebraska, in January.I for sure think if you coach it helps you be a better player, Banwarth said. Ive been more mindful how I am technically on the court. I think its helped me be a little bit more strategic seeing it from a coachs perspective, kind of what works and what doesnt work and maybe finding more solutions in a faster way.On all those long drives, she would listen to popular podcasts like Serial. Bedtime was 8:30 most nights -- if she wasnt driving home from matches late, that is.It was very busy, for about five months, said Banwarth, the Americans starting back row specialist since 2013, when she was the U.S. womens most improved indoor player. I had it figured out after about five months.The 27-year-old Banwarth studied video, scouted other teams, helped plan practice and learned from some accomplished coaches. Dunphy guided Kiraly and the 1988 U.S. indoor team to a gold medal in Seoul.At first, Banwarth and Hunt had joked about the idea of her helping at Pepperdine. But she also stayed home from playing overseas for a second straight year so it made sense to keep her hand in volleyball while also preparing for the Rio Games.It was a growing and a process that forced her to organize her time better. Shes said shes really out of it in the mornings so she would have to really plan out her day the night before, Kiraly said. It just forced her, or coaxed her, into becoming even more professional in terms of having these other obligations, being responsible for another program, understanding the game from a coaching standpoint. There were lots of really good things she benefited from that experience. Shes become more mature.Dunphy has been around volleyball for so many decades he is a good judge of talent, and he appreciated what his college players gained from watching a woman he considers right up there with the best in the world at receiving serve.It was great for us to have somebody of her stature, Dunphy said. As Im around these Olympic Games, I hear announcers say things and coaches say things, `Oh, the best in the world every match, `that players the best server in the world. Its thrown around too loosely. But receiving serve as a passer, I dont think theres anybody better than her. Our players at Pepperdine knew that when she would say something it held water and very seldom did she demonstrate but there would be a couple times we would give her a workout, and it was like, `Oooh, shes nailing every one of those.Banwarth and Hunt have been able to draw off the things they learned in college and with the national team.It was cool to be able to coach her in this then have those same coaching conversations with her, Hunt said. Coachings more than technique. Its a lot of interpersonal, getting a vibe of how somebodys doing to help them be their best. It was cool to see that.In other Olympic volleyball matches, the Netherlands women responded from losing captain Maret Balkestein-Grothues to an ankle injury Monday to beat Italy in straight sets after China also won its second straight match 3-0. Air Force 1 Low Pas Cher . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Air Force 1 07 Pas Cher . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http://www.siteairforce1pascher.fr/air-force-1-low-soldes/basket-basse-utility.html . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Air Force 1 Haute Homme .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Air Force 1 Just Do It Pas Cher . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said.Alan Pardew has spoken of his admiration for the engaging Jurgen Klopp as Crystal Palace prepare to host Liverpool. Since his appointment in October, Liverpool have remained inconsistent, but a confidence in Klopps abilities - coupled with his charisma - has made him one of the divisions biggest attractions.In the same way Pardew has divided opinion for his passion and emotion on the touchline, Klopp has similarly been criticised and clashed with Sam Allardyce during Liverpools 1-0 victory at Sunderland earlier this season. Also, Pardew and Klopp themselves exchanged words earlier this season. Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew says his side need a win to kick start their season Pardew, however, has defended his behaviour and explained that the pressure of the occupation and a desire to succeed are responsible for revealing managers inner drive.I cant help but be engaged by him and the way that he is, said Pardew, who will give late fitness tests to in-form striker Connor Wickham and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey before selecting his team for Sundays fixture. HHe is a little bit exuberant on the sidelines; so am I, so that could be fun.ddddddddddddHes passionate about what he does, and he does it in a certain style. Im passionate about Palace winning, and I do it in my style. Phil Thompson is certain that Jurgen Klopp will be given enough time to help Liverpool end their wait for a Premier League title Its just the reflection of our personalities, its not like a made-up style, he doesnt mean to do it, its how he is. Hes emotional, and wears his heart on his sleeve. I am too, to a degree.The game reveals your character, you cant mask it, you can try to, but it will reveal it in the end.[While Newcastle manager] I did actually send a coach to Dortmund, and they were really helpful in some of the things they did when Jurgen Klopp was there.Watch Crystal Palace v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12.30pm on Sunday Also See: Palace video Palace fixtures Palace stats Get a free ￡10 bet ' ' '
