Q1: After a night to reflect on the team’s disappointing loss to Cuba, do you feel a little better or worse?

DONALD SUXHO: Considering last night I wanted to quit volleyball altogether I was so mad, today couldn’t be worse. I cleared my thoughts and realized what went wrong. We didn’t execute our plan and we weren’t sharp. We had five days to prepare for Cuba. But we hadn’t played them for a while and it took a while to adjust to their hard serves.

Q2: You play Brazil tonight for the bronze medal? Do you feel like Team USA will be ready?

DONALD SUXHO: Oh yeah, I am confident that we can beat them. They are obviously playing very good right now. They are currently the No. 1 team in the world. However, we have played them before and we feel comfortable playing them.

Q3: On the court, I noticed you are always feverishly chewing on gum. Do you need a specific kind to keep you focused?

DONALD SUXHO: Trident. Any flavor, but original.

Q4: Do you like jump serving or jump setting more?

DONALD SUXHO: Well, that’s tough question because a setter is what I am, and serving is something I do. Both take a lot of time and a lot of practice, and both are really hard to master.

Q5: Ok, then what about a front set or a back set?

DONALD SUXHO: Back set’s are harder and I enjoy the challenge, but you really need to be good at both to be the best setter you can be.

Q6: I have read that one of your favorite pastimes is watching movies. What is your favorite movie at the moment?

DONALD SUXHO: Well, that would have to be Rounders. The team has been watching it for the last two weeks. I like how Matt Damon says he doesn’t believe in luck; and that it all comes down to skill. That is how I think. And that is the mentality of our team.

Q7: So you are obviously able to watch movies out there in the Pan Am village, but are you able to watch the news? In particular, have you seen what has been going down in your home state of California?

DONALD SUXHO: Oh, do you mean my buddy Arnold? Oh yeah. All my friends in college used to mimic my accent and make me say the phrase “I’ll be back.” And although, I am not really the best person to get political advice from, I will probably vote for Arnold. His accent corresponds with mine.

Q8: I hear you like skiing, downhill or cross country?

DONALD SUXHO: Definitely downhill. I love it. It is my quiet time. I enjoy the way it is such an individual sport. It takes me away from always relying on a team, and allows me to do what I can with my skills. See, I grew up in the snow. But since moving to California, I’m starting to become accustomed to the warm weather.

Q9: And you have a 29-month-old son…..What have you been working on with him when you are at home?

DONALD SUXHO: Potty training—He’s almost there.

Q10: So is it Huggies or Pampers?

DONALD SUXHO: Well, actually, it’s Pull-Ups. He’s a “big boy” now.