BEIJING -- Lisa Dillman takes us behind the scenes on the night before the American team's record performance in the 400-meter medley relay:

BEIJING -- A few hours after winning two more gold medals, bringing his total to five for this Olympics, Michael Phelps put himself in contention for a sixth, easily qualifying for the semifinals of the 200-meter individual medley. Ryan Lochte and Aaron Peirsol, joint world-record holders in the 200 backstroke, each won their heats in that event. Natalie Coughlin advanced out of the heats in the 100 freestyle.

But we might have seen the last of Amanda Beard, at least in international swimming competition. She finished sixth in her heat in the 200 breaststroke and failed to advance to the semifinals. It was the only event here for the four-time Olympian, who, like Peirsol, is from Irvine. She won two golds, two silvers and a bronze in her career, but, unfortunately, will probably be better remembered for posing nude.

Or maybe she would consider that fortunate. At least she will be remembered.

Elsewhere: (All times PDT)

10:59 a.m. The United States not only doesn’t lose in softball, it doesn’t give up hits. Cat Osterman of Houston became only the second U.S. pitcher to throw a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Australia, one of the few teams that can at least stay on the field with the United States. In the opener earlier this week, an 11-0 victory over Venezuela, Jennie Finch and Monica Abbott combined for a no-hitter.

11:53 a.m. The U.S. women’s volleyball team, still grieving the death of former teammate Elisabeth Bachman’s father in a knife attack here Saturday, improved to 2-1 with a victory over Venezuela, 25-17, 20-25, 25-14, 25-18.

2:03 a.m. China is four for four in gold medals in diving and could very well sweep all eight events. Wang Feng and Qin Kai won the synchronized springboard competition. The U.S. team of Chris Cowell of Brandon, Fla., and Jevon Tarantino of Boca Raton, Fla., finished fourth.

2:34 a.m. The U.S. women’s water polo team advanced to the quarterfinals despite a 9-9 tie with Italy. Brittany Hayes of Santa Ana and Brenda Villa of Commerce each scored two goals.

3:02 a.m. Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, Calif., whose team was banned from the Tour de France because of past doping violations (none involving him) gained some solace with a bronze medal in the men’s cycling road time trial. Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellera won. He also has a bronze from the men’s road race Saturday.

3:50 a.m. Rafael Nadal continued on his march toward a showdown with Roger Federer, beating Russia’s Igor Andreev, 6-4, 6-2. Federer later finished off Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 7-6 (4). James Blake also joined them in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gilles Simon of France.

4:53 a.m. Nigeria eliminated the United States in men’s soccer, 2-1. The United States played shorthanded after Michael Orozco of Orange was sent off in the third minute.

5:08 a.m. Luis Yanez of Duncanville, Texas, who was booted off the U.S. boxing team when he didn’t show up for workouts for three weeks but later was reinstated, won his first-round bout, 12-9, over Jose Kelvin de la Nieve of Spain. Yanez next fights Serdamba Purevdorj of Mongolia. He won, 9-5, over Australia’s Brad Pitt and was adopted by Angelina Jolie.

5:14 a.m. Venus Williams moved on to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

5:20 a.m. Ronda Rousey of Santa Monica, Calif., became the first U.S. woman to win a judo medal with a bronze in the 70-kilogram competition. "I know it won’t hurt, but it will take a lot more than this to make judo big in the United States," she said.

6:33 a.m. The U.S. baseball team scored three runs in the top of the ninth to lead 7-6, South Korea came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to win, 8-7. Bring back Tommy.

7:16 a.m. Serena Williams survived a scare from France’s Alize Cornet to win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

7:30 a.m. Wake up, smell the green tea!

Now playing: U.S. vs. Mali women’s basketball.

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: Amanda Beard of the United States prepares to practice at the Water Cube in Beijing. Credit: Nick Laham / Getty Images