PARIS - In just a few days, all eyes will turn to Paris as the best athletes in the world come together to represent their countries on the biggest international stage, and there are a number of League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced love) athletes who are making that journey.
Eleven athletes who’ll play professionally with LOVB made their nation’s roster, and one more as official alternate, including nine of the 12 athletes on the U.S. Women’s Indoor National Team and one LOVB athlete apiece representing Japan and host nation France.
The nine LOVB athletes who will don the Stars and Stripes include:
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Lauren Carlini (LOVB Madison)
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Kelsey Robinson Cook (LOVB Atlanta)
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Annie Drews (LOVB Madison)
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Jordan Larson (LOVB Omaha)
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Chiaka Ogbogu (LOVB Austin)
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Jordyn Poulter (LOVB Salt Lake)
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Jordan Thompson (LOVB Houston)
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Haleigh Washington (LOVB Salt Lake)
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Justine Wong-Orantes (LOVB Omaha)
All save Carlini helped the U.S. win in Tokyo in 2021. Additionally, Micha Hancock (LOVB Houston) is the official U.S. alternate and may replace any one of the 12 players on the roster.
All 10 – including Hancock – competed in this year’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL), leading the U.S. to a Final Round berth. Since Tokyo, the U.S. Women’s National Team took second at the 2023 NORCECA Championships and fourth at both the 2022 World Championships and 2023 VNL.
Fresh off a VNL second place finish and Best Libero award, Manami Kojima (LOVB Salt Lake) will make her first appearance on the world’s biggest stage with Team Japan. Manami joined the Japanese National Team in 2022 and also helped the squad finish third at the 2023 Asian Championships. She is one of Japan’s two liberos in Paris, the other being Satomi Fukudome.
Another debutant is Christina Bauer (LOVB Houston), who represents host nation France. Originally from Bergen, Norway, Christina has been a middle blocker on the French National Team since 2007. She helped the squad win the 2023 FIVB Challenger Cup and place 13th in this year’s VNL. Christina is one of three middles on the French roster, joining Léandra Olinga Andela and Amandha Sylves.
While not competing on the roster or as an alternate, LOVB Omaha setter Laura Dijkema is part of the Netherlands delegation, serving as team manager for the Dutch National Team. Laura’s played on the team in other tournaments since 2010.
Additionally, LOVB Salt Lake head coach Tama Miyashiro is an assistant coach on the U.S. National Team staff, a role she held in Tokyo three years earlier, LOVB Madison head coach Matt Fuerbringer is an assistant with the U.S. Men’s National Team, and LOVB Houston head coach Massimo Barbolini is an assistant with the Italian women's team.
In the United States, all Paris volleyball matches may be streamed live on the Peacock app, and the matches versus China and Serbia will air live on USA Network, too. All three U.S. pool play matches will also be rebroadcast later in the day on the NBC family of networks.
United States Pool Play schedule
Monday, July 29: vs. China, 11 a.m. Eastern/8 a.m. Pacific
Thursday, July 31: vs. Serbia, 11 a.m. Eastern/8 a.m. Pacific
Sunday, August 4: vs France, 7 a.m. Eastern/4 a.m. Pacific
Japan Pool Play schedule
Sunday, July 28: vs. Poland, 7 a.m. Eastern/4 a.m. Pacific
Thursday, August 1: vs. Brazil, 7 a.m. Eastern/4 a.m. Pacific
Saturday, August 3: vs. Kenya, 7 a.m. Eastern/4 a.m. Pacific
France Pool Play schedule
Monday, July 29: vs. Serbia, 3 p.m. Eastern/Noon Pacific
Thursday, August 1: vs China, 3 p.m. Eastern/Noon Pacific
Sunday, August 4: vs USA, 7 a.m. Eastern/4 a.m. Pacific
LOVB Athletes and Staff competing in Paris by LOVB Team
LOVB Atlanta
Kelsey Robinson Cook (USA)
LOVB Austin
Chiaka Ogbogu (USA)
LOVB Houston
Christina Bauer (France)
Jordan Thompson (USA)
Micha Hancock (alternate - USA)
LOVB Madison
Lauren Carlini (USA)
Laura Dijkema (Netherlands - Team Manager)
Annie Drews (USA)
Matt Fuerbringer (USA - Men's Assistant Coach)
LOVB Omaha
Jordan Larson (USA)
Justine Wong-Orantes (USA)
LOVB Salt Lake
Manami Kojima (Japan)
Tama Miyashiro (USA - Assistant Coach)
Jordyn Poulter (USA)
Haleigh Washington (USA)
