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Huskers in Paris: Nebraska Trio and USA Volleyball Fall to Italy, Take Olympic Silver

A fifth-consecutive medal for Team USA as the Americans, and their trio of former Huskers, are swept by Italy in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics.

Kaleb Henry

Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States players celebrate with their silver medals on the podium after the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena.
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States players celebrate with their silver medals on the podium after the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena. / Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The defense of gold at Tokyo falls one win short.

Team USA women's volleyball was swept by Italy in the final of the Paris Olympics Sunday: 25-18, 25-20, 25-17. That is the first Olympic medal of any color for the Italian squad. For the Americans, this marks the fifth-consecutive Summer Games with a medal.

United States outside hitter Jordan Larson (10) and United States libero Justine Wong-Orantes (4) celebrate against Italy in
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States outside hitter Jordan Larson (10) and United States libero Justine Wong-Orantes (4) celebrate against Italy in the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena. / Katherine Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

As for how the former Nebraska players fared in the gold medal match, Justine Wong-Orantes was again everywhere on the floor at libero. She posted a match-high 15 digs.

At outside hitter, Jordan Larson had her best performance in a few matches, notching five kills on .400 hitting, adding six digs. Kelsey Robinson Cook did not land a kill in two swings but added a pair of digs to the cause.

United States outside hitter Kelsey Robinson (23) in action against Italy in the women's volleyball gold medal match during t
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States outside hitter Kelsey Robinson (23) in action against Italy in the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena. / Katherine Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

Former Huskers Larson, Robinson Cook and Wong-Orantes have all won multiple Olympic medals. This is Larson's fourth medal, Robinson Cook's third, and the second for Wong-Oratnes. Larson ties Ana Fernández (Cuba) and Inna Ryskal (USSR) with four Olympic indoor volleyball medals.

United States outside hitter Jordan Larson (10) hits to Italy opposite Ekaterina Antropova (24) and Italy middle blocker Sara
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States outside hitter Jordan Larson (10) hits to Italy opposite Ekaterina Antropova (24) and Italy middle blocker Sarah Luisa Fahr (19) in the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena. / Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

Watch a replay of the USA-Italy match on Peacock.

Full results for Huskers in Paris

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Kaleb Henry

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

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