Team USA – Nebraska to Rio

Mable Nelson has been following the Olympic games for a more personal reason then most of Cheyenne County, Nelson has been cheering on not only Team USA in Volleyball but also her Grand-niece.

Surrounded by paper clippings from various newspapers and magazines, Sidney resident, Nelson sat to talk about her grand-niece Jordan Larson.

Larson just competed as a member of USA's Woman's Volleyball Team in the 2016 Olympic games that were held in Rio de Janeiro, August 5-21.

Nelson said Larson started playing volleyball at a very young age at the YMCA in Fremont, Nebraska.

"At the age of twelve she (Larson) would play for the club team every weekend, and at fourteen she attended a camp at the USA training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado," Nelson said.

Larson played volleyball all throughout high school, playing for the Nebraska Juniors at the USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championship in 2003, 2004, and 2005. She was an All-American selection all three years.

"Her Junior year she became a member of the US 18 and under volleyball team, with her chance to compete in Polland," Nelson said.

Neslon said Larson committed to the University of Nebraska Lincoln her sophomore year of high school. Larson started her college volleyball career at the UNL in 2005. That year, she was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Central (AVCA) Region Freshman of the Year and the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year helping the Huskers finish second in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship in 2006.

In 2008, as a senior, Larson was named to the AVCA All-America First Team and was chosen as the Big 12 Player of the Year and the league's defensive player of the year, it was the first time that a player achieved both in the same year. Over her four-year college career, Larson had a total of 1,600 kills and 1,410 digs

After college Larson became no stranger to travel abroad when she joined the U.S. Womens National Team in 2009 and went play her favorite sport in Puerto Rico.

"After returning to Nebraska that fall, she (Larson) went on to play the next four winters in Russia," Nelson said.

While playing winters in Russia, Nelson said her Grand-niece would come back to the US to spend the spring time in California playing volleyball with the USA Team.

In the International Volleyball federation World Cup, Larson averaged 3.10 points and 1.70 digs per set, as the U.S. won the silver medal and also qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics that were held in London, England. Larson and her team went on to win the silver medal in London.

For the past two winters Larson has been playing volleyball in Turkey, Nelson said, still spending her time in the states playing with Team USA.

"She competed against one of her teammates from Turkey when she played Serbia in Rio," Nelson said.

Team USA is ranked number one in the world, the team won six of their last eight tournaments, including the 2014 world championship, the 2015 International Volleyball Federation World Grand Prix and the 2016 North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Nelson said Team USA beat all four of their opponents in the preliminary matches in the recent 2016 Olympic games, until Serbia beat Team USA in the semi-finals. The Americans went on to win the bronze medal for their 3-1 win over the Netherlands.

Along way from the cheering crowds of Rio De Janeiro is the town of Hooper with it's population of 830 people, this quaint town is nestled in the rolling hills of Nebraska. This small town is where Larson grew up.

Larson's father Kevin, farms Corn and Soy beans outside the small town of Hooper. Nelson said Kevin attends most of Larson's games including the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

"He (Kevin) got in from Rio yesterday, it was a nine hour flight to Omaha, and he checked on the farm before finally heading home" Nelson said.

"The team should fly in to California this week, (Larson) wants to spend some time there before heading back to Nebraska," Nelson said.

Nelson said what Larson has planned next she doesn't know.

"She (Larson) was a little disappointed not getting the gold medal, especially just by two points," Nelson said.

One thing is for sure, the family and Nebraska's support meant a great deal to Larson.

"Nebraska Coach John Cook has been very supportive as have the people of Nebraska, that has meant a lot to her," Nelson said.

Nelson said her grand-niece is very accomplished and has worked very hard.

"I'm just lucky to be part of this family," Nelson said.