U. S . WOMEN’ S NAT I ONA L T E AM


Larson started the match with a kill on a Women’s NORCECA Olympic


Qualification Tournament Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 7-9 Day One United States def. Canada 3-0 Dominican Republic def. Puerto Rico 3-1


Day Two United States def. Puerto Rico 3-1 Dominican Republic def. Canada 3-1


Day Three United States def. Dominican Republic 3-1 Puerto Rico def. Canada 3-0


(the Americans swept Canada in the opening round) and the Olympic berth at stake entering the match, the U.S. players entered the arena 50 minutes before the first serve and were treated to a loud ovation from a Lincoln crowd still recovering from a volleyball hangover, courtesy of the University of Nebraska Huskers winning their fourth NCAA Division I Women’s Vol- leyball Championship title three weeks earlier 60 miles up the road in Omaha. Behind the solid offense of both Nebraska


alum Jordan Larson and NORCECA Most Valuable Player Nicole Fawcett, the U.S. had too much depth for a Dominican team missing go-to hitter Bethania De La Cruz.


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crafty tip, which elicited a big roar from the local crowd. She and the other two Nebraska alums in the starting lineup – Kelsey Robinson and Kayla Banwarth – seemingly drew ovations for everything from stretching to adjusting their hair clips. Nebraska takes its volleyball seriously and the fans are unwavering in their loyalty. It’s usually just red they scream for, but red, white and blue works just as well, and they came out 10,213 strong the final night. U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach


Karch Kiraly appreciated both the crowd’s vol- leyball sophistication and its uncompromising support. “These fans are great,” he said. “I love coming here and experiencing their enthusiasm. I wish we could play here more often.” Kiraly was happy with the accomplished


mission and having the Olympic berth in hand. He called the pressure of qualifying a needed “stress test” with the Olympic bid on the line. “We knew these teams were dangerous and could push us and we needed that,” said Kiraly, whose business-like approach to the week drew praise from his 1984 U.S. Men’s National Team Coach, Doug Beal, who is now USA Volleyball’s CEO. “He’s so impressive with his approach to coaching,” said Beal from his end zone seat before the Puerto Rico match. “I couldn’t feel more comfortable with him at the helm and his attention to detail and his work ethic. I expect we are going to be near the top of the world


rankings for awhile with his coaching and the consistent influx of talent we are seeing come though our program.” Certainly Kiraly’s volleyball magic has helped him compile an impressive record since he took over the team in 2013, including a gold medal at the 2014 FIVB World Championship and a bronze at the FIVB World Cup. In fact, Team USA has now won six of its last seven tournaments with the World Cup the only non- gold-medal performance. The Dominican Republic was game for some of the match and kept the dream of steal- ing an Olympic bid on American soil alive for awhile, leading midway through the second set. But when Larson chased down a dig and sky- balled a crosscourt bump set to Megan Easy on the left side for the night’s most impressive kill, the crowd was delirious with excitement. The U.S. took a 15-12 advantage at that point and the sails in the Dominican Republic ship fell a little limp with the reality that they weren’t up to the task of an upset in this environment. Akinradewo, buffered from silly questions when she was on the court, led the way in the last match with 12 points. Most of the kills were


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