Ex-Nebraska Volleyball player Jordan Larson recently announced an important decision about her career. The 39-year-old Olympic champion will be retiring from professional volleyball after this year.
Larson has represented Nebraska Volleyball as well as Team USA with flying colors. She also played an important role in the USA’s silver medal finish in women’s volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Jordan Larson Turns Emotional On Announcing Retirement
Larson recently read out a press statement, describing her decision to retire from professional volleyball. The 39-year-old player is currently representing the LOVB Nebraska team at the LOVB Pro [the team was previously known as LOVB Omaha]. In her press brief, Larson mentioned,
“So I’m going to kind of read this just because I know my words are probably going to be fumbled, so I’m going to try to get through it. But I’ve read it probably ten times, so hopefully there are no tears. This season isn’t about an ending; it’s about celebrating what made the journey possible. After this year, I’ll be stepping away from competitive volleyball.
“And rather than making this the finish line, I spend this season honoring the people, places, and moments that shaped it all. Sorry, every gym, every jersey, every teammate, coach, and van has played a role. And this year is my way of saying thank you. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play this game alongside people who have challenged me, pushed me, and supported me, and believe in something bigger than myself.”
READ MORE: Why Volleyball Icon Jordan Larson Believes Culture Will Be Key for LOVB Nebraska This Season
Larson will be joining the Nebraska Volleyball team full-time after retirement as an assistant coach. She had joined the Big Red team as assistant coach in the 2023 season, when the Huskers reached the finals of the 2023 NCAA Championships.
Larson’s Track Record for Nebraska Volleyball
Before making Team USA proud on the international stage, Larson made a name for herself as an outside hitter for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The 39-year-old represented the Huskers from 2005 to 2008 and was a teammate of Dani Busboom Kelly, who is the current head coach.
Larson joined the Huskers under the management of John Cook, who was transforming the Big Red team into a volleyball powerhouse.
She was a part of the Huskers’ squad that qualified for the finals of the 2005 NCAA Championships. The very next year, Larson was part of history as the Nebraska Cornhuskers won their third NCAA title overall, defeating the then six-time NCAA champions, the Stanford Cardinals, by a 3-1 score in the finals.