Team USA Wins FIVB Grand Prix Title

From USAVolleyball

OMAHA, Neb. (July 26, 2015) – The U.S. Women's Volleyball National Team beat China, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-18) to finish the five days undefeated at the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix Finals at the CenturyLink Center Omaha.

The U.S. beat five nations, all ranked in the top seven in the world, in five days, securing the sixth Grand Prix crown for the Americans.

Former Huskers Jordan Larson-Burbach, Kelsey Robinson and Kayla Banwarth were part of the gold-medal squad, just as they were last October when the U.S. won the World Championship. 

Next up for Team USA will be the first Olympic qualifier next month in Japan, the FIVB World Cup, which begins Aug. 22. The U.S. players, including those on the gold-medal winning Pan American Games team, will take one week off, then start a two-week training block in Anaheim, Calif.

“I was really proud of the way this team dialed it in,” said U.S. head coach Karch Kiraly. “This group that was out there today did a fabulous job. We had already earned the right to be called champions here, but we wanted to finish this tournament right and it doesn’t matter who we’re playing or what’s on the line we’ve got to be all in to this thing. That’s what we are and how we operate.

“We’re not about playing it safe and being careful, we’re about playing hard and letting it rip,” he said. “That’s the fun way to play and that’s the way we think we can achieve our greatest potential.”

Earlier in the week, setter Molly Kreklow was asked if there were players she looked up to as a youngster.

She said, "There were a lot of players. I remember watching Jordan Larson play when I was younger and just being super impressed by who she is and how she carries herself.”

A lot of people in Nebraska feel the same way about Jordan, who is affectionately called, “The Governor.” It was a nice touch for the U.S. to host this tournament for the first-time ever, the most prestigious indoor volleyball event outside of the Olympic Games, on NBC live for the first time outside of the Olympic Games and win in Omaha with "The Governor" getting the last point.