Husker notes: Three former Huskers make U.S. volleyball roster for next week’s tournament in Lincoln

Husker notes: Three former Huskers make U.S. volleyball roster for next week’s tournament in Lincoln
Jordan Larson, a member of the U.S. national team, had her Nebraska jersey retired last year. (World-Herald News Service)

There will be three former Huskers on the court when the U.S. women’s volleyball national team comes to Lincoln next week.

Team captain Jordan Larson will be joined by fellow Nebraska alumnae Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong-Orantes for the FIVB Volleyball Nations League May 15  -17 at the Devaney Center.

“It is awesome playing close to home in Lincoln,” Larson said in a press release. “We had the 2016 Olympic qualifier (in Lincoln), and it was such a great atmosphere. We are excited to come back and get another opportunity to play in front of the Husker fans.”

The U.S. will play three matches — against Poland (7 p.m. May 15), Turkey (7 p.m. May 16) and Italy (7 p.m. May 17).

The national team last played in Nebraska in 2016, when it defeated the Dominican Republic in front of more than 10,000 to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. The Americans won bronze at the Rio Games.

Larson and Robinson were on the team in Rio, while Wong-Orantes will begin her international career in front of familiar fans.

“It really is a cool atmosphere to be in,” Wong-Orantes said of the Devaney Center in a press release. “Every view in Devaney is an awesome view. I know the Nebraska fans will be pumped up. I don’t doubt them for a second that they will show up to watch USA.”

The full U.S. roster is below, and more information on the VNL can be found here:

» Setters (2): Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma), Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, California)

» Opposites (2): Annie Drews (Elkhart, Indiana), Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Illinois)

» Outside Hitters (4): Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (Champaign, Illinois), Kim Hill (Portland, Oregon), Jordan Larson (Hooper, Nebraska), Kelsey Robinson (Manhattan Beach, California)

» Middles (4): Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio), Foluke Akinradewo (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), Tori Dixon (Burnsville, Minnesota), Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minnesota)

» Liberos (2): Amanda Benson (Litchfield Park, Arizona), Justine Wong-Orantes (Cypress, California)

Voting for new Nebraska volleyball court design moves to second round

Fans can decide among three options, all of which feature a red N at midcourt. According to a tweet announcing the next round of voting, coach John Cook said the red N had to be included in the new design.

The options:

» Natural wood-colored court surrounded by red with “NEBRASKA” in white at each end.

» Natural wood-colored court with a darker wood-colored strip at midcourt. The court is surrounded by red with “NEBRASKA” in white at each end.

» Natural wood-colored court surrounded by black with “NEBRASKA” in red at each end.

Last week the Huskers opened voting with five options. The final choice will be made by Cook, but the fan vote will be a factor in the decision. The new floor will replace the current surface that has been used since 2011.

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