Former Nebraska volleyball players Jordan Larson and Justine Wong-Orantes have made the 14-player roster for the United States women’s volleyball team for the first week of matches for the summer season.
The No. 2-ranked Americans open the Volleyball Nations League on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a roster of 11 veterans and three newcomers to the tournament.
Former Husker Kelsey (Robinson) Cook is also on the team of 30 players but is not playing in the first leg of the tournament after recently finishing her professional team season.
The three athletes making their VNL debuts this week are libero Zoe Fleck, outside hitter Madi Skinner and middle blocker Kayla Haneline. Haneline is from Plattsmouth and attended high school at Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City. She played in college at Northern Iowa.
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Volleyball Nations League is the premier annual international volleyball tournament. The top 16 teams in the world play four matches a week for three weeks of preliminary competition. The top eight teams at the end of the preliminaries will go to the Final Round. During the second week of matches, the U.S. will play four matches in Arlington, Texas, on May 29-June 2.
U.S. head coach Karch Kiraly will use the early VNL matches to help choose the players for the Paris Olympic Games roster. That team will have 12 players plus an alternate.
Photos: Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) talks with support staff ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska and Denver warm up ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Olivia Mauch (4) and Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) arrive ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
A Denver player warms up ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Kennedi Orr (9) arrives ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) arrives ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Aaliyah Bouc, 9, of Kearney, takes a photo of her family waiting in line outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Hadley Kloepping, 14, of Cozad, Neb., shades her eyes while waiting in line outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans wait in line outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans wait outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) and Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) go up for a block in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) hits the ball over the net in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Bailee Ward, 8, of Kearney, dances during a break in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska huddles together at the start of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska head coach John Cook calls out to his team in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) goes up for the ball in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Andi Jackson (15), Olivia Mauch (4) and Lindsay Krause (22) sign autographs following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Alexis Buoy, 10, of North Platte, Neb., and Hadley Vavra, 10, of Amherst, Neb., wait in line for autographs from players following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Andi Jackson (15) autographs a ball following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) serves the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans watch the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Laney Choboy (6) watches the ball in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) serves the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) serves the ball in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Kennedi Orr (9) sets the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) tosses a novelty ball during introductions ahead of the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska celebrates a play in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Emily Langan, 5, of Kearney, talks with Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska head coach John Cook autographs a volleyball following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Harper Schenk, 6, of Cairo, Neb., has a chain and pendant autographed by players following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Andi Jackson (15) goes up for a block in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Olivia Mauch (4) prepares to serve the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Denver head coach Megan Pendergast calls out to her team in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The Nebraska bench celebrates a play in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8) eyes the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Denver’s Briley Decker (13) sets the ball in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) bumps the ball in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Denver’s Genevieve Lewis (14) hits the ball toward Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) and Rebekah Allick (5) in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans watch the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) sets the ball in the second set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) goes up for the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8) prepares to serve the ball in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) and Lexi Rodriguez (8) thank fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) and Lexi Rodriguez (8) thank fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Ellie Keating, 3, of Cozad, Neb., sits on the gym floor following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska head coach John Cook thanks fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8) waves to fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes watches his team warm up ahead of the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.
