Three Former Huskers Selected for U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team

Three former Nebraska volleyball players have been named to the USA Women's Volleyball National Team that will represent the country at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 from July 28-Aug. 11. 

Jordan Larson, Kelsey Robinson Cook and Justine Wong-Orantes will compete for the U.S. Women's National Team as it looks to follow up on its gold medal from the 2020 Tokyo Games. In that Olympics, Larson was named Most Valuable Player and Best Outside Hitter after becoming the first American woman (along with Foluke Akinradewo) to claim gold (Tokyo 2020), silver (London 2012) and bronze (Rio de Janeiro 2016) medals in indoor volleyball. 

Larson, who was a three-time All-American at Nebraska while lettering from 2005-08, is competing in her fourth straight Olympics. She also is entering her second season as an assistant coach for the Huskers and will resume coaching duties after the Olympics. 

Robinson Cook, an All-American at NU in 2013, was also a member of the bronze-medal winning team in 2016 and gold-medal winning team in 2020, while two-time All-American Wong-Orantes (2013-16) made her Olympic debut in Tokyo and joined Larson on the Tokyo 2020 Dream Team. 

“We have so much for which to be grateful in our Women's National Team," Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. "So many quality human beings who are dedicated, mindful and hard-working women. So many who have both people skills and volleyball skills at such a high level. Our core group of 25 Women's National Teamers has done great work over the past months, preparing to help bring out the best in each person around her, with an eye toward the Paris Olympics.

“Roster selections like this bring both the bitter and the sweet. The bitter is that we cannot travel all 25 of these special women to Paris. But we will carry them in our hearts and thoughts, and they will continue to make us better until the last ball drops.

“The sweet is that our Olympic roster is now clear, and we are ecstatic for this group, and for our program. This group of athletes will be set to bring their best and be their most bulletproof, in what might be the deepest Olympic tournament ever. We can't wait to watch them 'Let It Rip' in Paris!”

The U.S.  Women went into the 2024 season ranked No. 2 in the world. The team has competed in 12 Olympic Games, including the last 10. The U.S. Women qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, which the United States boycotted.

The U.S. Women have won one Olympic gold medal (2020), three silver medals (1984, 2008 and 2012) and two bronze medals (1992 and 2016).

The women’s Olympic competition schedule and pools will be revealed at the conclusion of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League preliminary rounds, which end on June 16. The U.S. Women play their final preliminary round of the Volleyball Nations League next week in Fukuoka, Japan.

Indoor volleyball at the 2024 Olympic Games will take place at South Paris Arena 1.

Olympic Games Paris 2024
Women's Indoor Volleyball Schedule
Paris, France (South Paris Arena)

July 28-Aug. 4: Preliminary Phase
Aug. 6: Quarterfinals
Aug. 8: Semifinals
Aug. 10: Bronze Medal Match
Aug. 11: Gold Medal Match

U.S. Women’s Roster for the Olympic Games Paris 2024
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky, Lone Star)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Plains)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
12 Jordan Thompson (Opp, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati, North Country)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
22 Kathryn Plummer (OH, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Stanford Univ., Southern California)
23 Kelsey Robinson Cook (OH, 6-2, Bartlett, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)

Alternates
1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ., Oklahoma)
5 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
14 Anna Stevenson Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens, S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)
29 Khalia Lanier (OH/Opp, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., Univ. of Southern California, Arizona)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue, Alfee Reft 
Consultant Coach: Marv Dunphy
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel 
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Team Leader: Coley Pawlikowski
Mental Performance Coach: Katy Stanfill 
Culture Consultant: Sue Enquist
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Massage Therapist: Ricardo Brambila 
Team Doctor: Dr. Lori Boyajian-O’Neill