Husker Volleyball At The Olympics

Three former Nebraska volleyball players are part of the U.S. Women's Volleyball National Team that is representing the country at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 from July 28-Aug. 11. 

Jordan Larson, Kelsey Robinson Cook and Justine Wong-Orantes are competing for Team USA 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. 

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).

July 29 - China 3, USA 2 (25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 15-13)
The U.S. Women’s Volleyball National Team made a valiant comeback before dropping its Paris Olympics opener to China, 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 15-13) on Monday. China received two points in pool play for the victory, while the U.S. earned one point for going five.

Justine Wong-Orantes had a match-high 17 digs and 12 successful receptions. Kelsey Robinson Cook recorded 15 successful receptions and three kills, and Jordan Larson also added three kills. 

The U.S. entered the Olympic Games ranked fifth in the world, while China came in ranked sixth.

July 31 - USA 3, Serbia 2 (25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 17-15)
Led by an incredible blocking performance from Chiaka Ogbogu, the U.S. Women’s National Team earned a dramatic 3-2 (25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25. 17-15) victory over reigning world champion Serbia in the Paris Olympics.

The U.S., which has earned three points in the standings by splitting two five-set matches and is likely to advance to the quarterfinals, can clinch that spot with a win over host France at 6 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 4. 

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes continued her sterling Olympic play with a double-double consisting of a match-high 11 digs, including three crucial digs in the fifth set, and 10 successful receptions. Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson Cook added five digs, three as she steadied the defense in the fifth set.

Aug. 4 - USA 3, France 0 (29-27, 29-27, 25-20)
The U.S. Women’s National Team clinched a berth in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics with a tight 3-0 (29-27, 29-27, 25-20) victory over France before a boisterous French crowd. The U.S. finished pool play 2-1, while France did not take a set in its first Olympic appearance.

The U.S. (2-1) will play Poland (2-1) in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday.

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes recorded another double-double with 11 successful receptions and 10 digs. Kelsey Robinson Cook added eight successful receptions and scored three points on two kills and a block. Jordan Larson contributed three successful receptions, two digs and a block.

Aug. 6 - USA 3, Poland 0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20)
Playing its best match yet in the Paris Olympics, the U.S. Women’s National Team advanced to the semifinals with an impressive 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20) sweep of Poland. 

The win sends the U.S. to its fifth consecutive Olympic semifinal berth. The U.S. will face world No. 1 Brazil, in Thursday’s semifinals. Brazil swept the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals. The semis will be a replay of the gold medal match in Tokyo.

The U.S. dominated in kills (44-30) and led in aces (6-3), while staying nearly even (12-10) in blocks with one of the world’s top blocking teams.

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes finished with a match-high 14 digs and added four successful receptions. Veteran Jordan Larson scored four points on three kills and a block.

Aug. 8 - USA vs. Brazil, 9 a.m. CT (NBC/Peacock)

Aug. 10 - Bronze Medal Match, 10:15 a.m. CT (CNBC/Peacock)

Aug. 11 - Gold Medal Match, 6 a.m. CT (NBC/Peacock)