Volleyball On SI

One of Volleyball's Most Decorated Players Comes Out of Retirement

After initially stepping away from the game in April, the volleyball legend will suit up once again for LOVB Nebraska.

Maren Angus

USA player Jordan Larson digs for the ball against Turkey during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court. USA defeated Turkey in straight sets. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
USA player Jordan Larson digs for the ball against Turkey during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court. USA defeated Turkey in straight sets. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

One of the greatest volleyball players of all time ended her brief retirement on July 10 and announced her return to LOVB Nebraska in a joint statement.

Jordan Larson originally announced her retirement in April.

“This decision took time, and it came from a lot of honest reflection,” Larson said in a news release. “I’m coming back because when I got still enough to truly listen, I realized the game wasn’t done with me, and I wasn’t done with it. There is more in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep giving that to LOVB Nebraska.”

At 39 years old, Larson will compete in his third season with LOVB Nebraska, the same franchise she has co-owned since 2025.

“I know this wasn’t an easy decision for Jordan, and I’m incredibly proud of her for making it on her own terms,” said Kirsten Bernthal Booth, LOVB Nebraska’s president of business operations. “She proved last season she’s still competing at an elite level, and we’re fortunate to have one of the greatest players our sport has ever seen wearing a LOVB Nebraska jersey again.”

Larson is coming off an incredible season in which she earned the league’s best outside hitter and earned first-team LOVB Icons honors. She finished the year with 267 points, which was good for sixth in the league. Her 234 kills were fifth-most and she led the team with 15 service aces.

The four-time Olympic medalist helped lead the United States to its first Olympic gold medal in women’s indoor volleyball at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She was named the tournament's most valuable player and best outside hitter.

Larson won a silver medal in 2024 and 2012. She earned a bronze medal in 2016.

Before her international career, Larson starred at Nebraska, where she was named an All-American three times and helped the Huskers to a national championship in 2006.

NU retired her No. 10 jersey in 2017 and she was inducted into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.

A native of Hooper, Neb., Larson was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame on June 29 in recognition of her accomplishments at Logan View High School.

LOVB Nebraska announced its full 2026-27 roster on Monday, July 13, with players scheduled to report in the fall. The team announced in June that Giannis Athanasopoulos had been named head coach.

The 2027 LOVB season hasn't been released yet but is expected to start in early January.

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Maren Angus
MAREN ANGUS

Maren Angus was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been a sports writer since 2008. She has been covering college softball since 2016 for various outlets including Softball America, ESPNW and Hurrdat Sports. She is currently the publisher of Softball On SI and also serves as an analyst for Nebraska softball games on Nebraska Public Media and B1G+.

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