A career that reshaped volleyball
Jordan Larson’s professional career is over. That sentence is simple but it doesn’t feel all that simple.
Jordan Larson’s professional career is over. That sentence is simple but it doesn’t feel all that simple.
For nearly two decades, Larson hasn’t just been part of volleyball. She’s been one of the standards the sport measures itself against. Even with the runway she gave everyone by announcing this would be her final season—she made the announcement in January—the reality of it landing still feels a little hard to believe.
Saturday night at Baxter Arena wasn’t supposed to be the end. A win would have extended the season. It would have pushed this group into the postseason and delayed the inevitable. Instead, it became the ending.
LOVB Nebraska fell in five sets to LOVB Austin. It was a match full of big swings, long rallies and a heartbreaking fifth set. Nebraska stayed within reach, but Austin created just enough separation late to close it.
Larson finished the night with 19 kills. She hit efficiently and took big swings, forcing the match deeper when Nebraska slipped. It makes sense too. Larson had said ahead of the matchup that she would “go down swinging” if that’s what it took.
