The United States women’s national volleyball team opened the summer season this week with a 2-2 record at the five-week Volleyball Nations League tournament.
On Sunday, the second-ranked Americans got a 3-0 win against the Dominican Republic (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ex-Huskers Jordan Larson and Justine Wong-Orantes were each in the starting lineup.
Earlier in the week, the Americans beat Thailand but lost against China and Brazil.
The U.S. team will return to the team’s training center in Anaheim, California, before heading to the next round on May 26-June 2 in Arlington, Texas.
The U.S. dominated the attack on Sunday, leading the Dominican Republic in kills 51-35. The U.S. also led in aces 4-1.
U.S. outside hitter Avery Skinner, who played in college at Kentucky and Texas, led all scorers with 18 points on a match-high 18 kills.
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Larson scored 11 points on nine kills and a match-high two ace serves. Larson led the U.S. in digs with 13. Wong-Orantes had 11 successful serve receptions and 10 digs.
Photos: Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) and Bergen Reilly (2) go up for a block in the first set of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
A look inside the arena at the Nebraska volleyball spring match against 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 of the volleyball spring match against 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 of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Nebraska players huddle together at the start of the spring match against 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 of the volleyball spring match against 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 of the volleyball spring match against 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 of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans watch the first set of 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 of 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 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) serves the ball in the second set 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) sets the ball in the first set 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) tosses a novelty ball during introductions ahead of the first set in 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 of 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 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) prepares to serve the ball in the first set of 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 of 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 of 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 of 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 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) bumps the ball in the second set of 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 of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans watch the second set of 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 of 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 of 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 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) 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 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) talks with support staff ahead of the volleyball spring match against 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 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 against 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 against 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 against 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 against 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 against 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 against 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 against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fans wait outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against 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.
