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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ivan Dodig and Marin Cilic kept Croatia alive in the Davis Cup quarterfinal match with the United States, beating twins Bob and Mike Bryan 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday.Dodig and Cilic cut Croatias deficit to 2-1 heading into the reverse single Sunday on the Tualatin Hills hard court. The United States took a 2-0 lead Friday when Jack Sock and John Isner won the opening singles matches.The Croatians made a last-minute substitution, inserting Cilic, ranked No. 12 in the world, in place of Marin Draganja in doubles.Croatian captain Zeljki Krajan said the team began discussing the substitution Friday night, and made the move a few hours before the match. Cilic said he feels fine physically heading into Sunday.The conditions here are not too difficult; the weather, not too humid and not too demanding, Cilic said. In Davis Cup, its a bit tougher dealing with emotions because youre pumped up and that takes some energy. But I pretty much feel fine.On Sunday, Isner will open against Cilic, and Sock will face Borna Coric.The U.S.-Croatia winner will advance to the World Group semifinals, facing the France-Czech Republic quarterfinal winner Sept. 16-18. If the United States advances, it will play host to the semifinals at a site to be determined.The lineup shuffle didnt surprise the United States.I think its fair to say hes a better doubles player than Draganja, U.S. captain Jim Courier said. That made a lot of sense from their standpoint,The Bryans didnt relish having Cilic in the lineup.Cilic is dangerous. He brings great returns and some nasty groundies and his serve is pretty strong, Bob Bryan said. So putting him in there was probably a smart play,The 38-year-old Bryans, handed just their fifth Davis Cup loss in 29 matches, had their serve broken six times by the Croatians.We werent making a lot of first serves, werent getting them in trouble from the start. They just kind of outplayed us in every aspect of the game today, Bob Bryan said. Those guys are two good players. Thats the type of match that we have to play at the top of our game to take them out. We just didnt do it.The doubles win gave Cilic a much-needed boost of confidence after blowing a two-set lead to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, then to Sock on Friday.I was thinking a little bit after yesterdays loss that maybe I was a little mentally drained. Wimbledon left a small mark on me. This gives me good sensation for playing, Cilic said.The United States, 157-3 in Davis Cup with a 2-0 lead, claims its confidence hasnt wavered. Isner beat Coric in three sets, while Sock bounced back from a two-set deficit to win the final three sets against Cilic.Obviously, we would have loved to close this out today, but were up 2-1 going in and our singles players have confidence, Courier said. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but were confident.The United States is trying to break a nine-year Davis Cup title drought. The U.S. won in 2007 when it beat Russia 4-1 in Portland. Croatia claimed its only Davis Cup title in 2005. The U.S. has won a Davis Cup-high 32 titles, but only one since 1995. Mike Pennel Jersey . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Charvarius Ward Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-blake-bell-jersey-large-1656n.html . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Anthony Hitchens Jersey . 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. Jerrel Wilson Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee heads into the season as the likely Southeastern Conference Eastern Division favorite thanks in part to a defense loaded with experience.Whether the Volunteers earn that first division title since 2007 depends on how much that defense has learned from last years experience.Tennessee went 9-4 last season, but led in each of its losses. In three of those defeats, Tennessee was in front by at least 13 points.Those blown leads prevented a good season from becoming great. No wonder finishing has been a point of emphasis throughout Tennessees offseason.I would say its kind of a little motivation because we know were right there, senior cornerback Cam Sutton said. Weve just got to get over the hump.Sutton, entering his fourth year as a starter, exemplifies the tested nature of Tennessees defense. The Vols return five of their top six tacklers from last season. The only defensive starters from last seasons Outback Bowl blowout of Northwestern who departed are tackle Owen Williams and safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil. The defenses most notable newcomer is coordinator Bob Shoop, who previously held the same positions at Vanderbilt and Penn State.Tennessees defense boasts so much experience that players occasionally help each other on the practice field or playing field by referring to situations they encountered together in games that may have taken place years before.It helps our communication a lot more, said senior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who joins Sutton as one of four team captains. Sometimes it gets hard to describe things that happen, and we usually relate it to something weve seen in the past. Weve been on the same page for so long, it makes it that much easier.Reeves-Maybin doesnt mention numbers when discussing his goals for this defense because he wants to avoid placing a ceiling on this groups potential.I dont want to put any expectations or limitations on what we can do, said Reeves-Maybin, who will have earned his degree by the time he begins his senior season. I know we ccan be the best team in the country.dddddddddddd I just want to be the best team in the country, the best defense in the country. I want us to have each others backs and play like I know we can play every week.That means delivering a knockout blow when it has an opponent on the ropes.Tennessee lost in overtime to Oklahoma last year after leading 17-0 in the first half and 17-3 with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Vols led 27-14 with 5 minutes left in a 28-27 loss at Florida. They had an early 14-0 lead in a 24-20 setback to Arkansas, and allowed the winning touchdown with 2:24 left in a 19-14 road loss to eventual national champion Alabama.Sutton notes that the Vols didnt let those blown leads define their season; they ended the year on a six-game winning streak. They have the pieces in place to respond better in tight situations this fall.Derek Barnett is back at defensive end after getting 10 sacks each of the last two seasons. The linebacker corps features a rising star in Darrin Kirkland Jr., who won a starting spot and ranked fourth on the team in tackles as a true freshman last fall.But the success of this defense could ultimately rest on the leadership skills of Sutton and Reeves-Maybin, who have combined for 64 career starts. They lived through the pain of going 5-7 and getting left out of a bowl as freshmen. They passed up the opportunity to enter the NFL draft to take one last shot at an SEC championship.Now they want to prove this defense can finish off games against top-level competition while producing an ideal finish to their college careers.Adversity hit my class and the rest of the guys pretty early, Sutton said. Over the years, we were able to progress and get better. Finally to get what weve been working for since we got here... to finally finish it off, complete it and get it done, that would be something special.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '