Jordan Larson: From Hooper to the World Stage

In Hooper, Nebraska, volleyball isn’t played in front of thousands.

It’s played in small gyms, where the bleachers fill with familiar faces and the game is part of the rhythm of the community. It’s where Jordan Larson first learned the sport, close to home, in a place where expectations are built on work more than attention.

From there, her path moved steadily forward.

Larson graduated from Logan View High School before joining the University of Nebraska–Lincoln volleyball program in 2005. Under head coach John Cook, she became one of the most accomplished players in program history. During her collegiate career, she earned All-American honors and helped lead Nebraska to the 2006 NCAA Championship, contributing to a team that finished the season with a 33–1 record.

She completed her college career as one of Nebraska’s all-time leaders in kills and digs, recognized for her versatility as both an outside hitter and all-around player.

After college, Larson transitioned to professional volleyball, competing internationally in leagues across Europe and Asia. Her career has included time in Russia, Turkey, Italy and China, where she played at the highest levels of club competition.

At the same time, she became a central figure on the United States women’s national volleyball team.

Larson competed in four Olympic Games: 2012 (London), 2016 (Rio de Janeiro), 2020 (Tokyo, held in 2021) and 2024 (Paris). Over that span, she helped lead the U.S. to multiple podium finishes, including a bronze medal in 2016, silver medals in 2012 and 2024, and a gold medal in Tokyo, the first Olympic gold in the history of U.S. women’s volleyball.

During the Tokyo Games, Larson served as team captain and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, reflecting her role as both a consistent performer and a leader within the program.

Her international career has included World Championship and Nations League competitions, along with individual honors recognizing her performance as an outside hitter.

In addition to her playing career, Larson has remained connected to Nebraska volleyball, returning to the program in coaching and mentorship roles, contributing to the development of the next generation of athletes.

Her career reflects a trajectory that began in a small Nebraska town and extended across international arenas, built on skill, longevity and adaptability in a sport that demands all three.

Back in Hooper, the gyms are still the same.

The difference is that one of the players who once learned the game there went on to compete at its highest level, returning, again and again, to a sport that started close to home.