Jordyn Poulter Named to U.S. Women’s Volleyball Olympic Team

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball alum Jordyn Poulter will represent the United States at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this summer, as announced by USA Volleyball on Wednesday evening.

The All-American setter is one of 12 selected for the Olympic roster. Eight Big Ten players made the U.S. roster for the 2024 Olympics. Setter Poulter, libero Justine Wong-Orantes, opposites Annie Drews and Jordan Thompson, and middle blockers Chiaka Ogbogu and Haleigh Washington will all compete in their second Olympics after winning the gold medal in Tokyo and four players will make their Olympic debuts in Paris. Jordan Larson will compete in her fourth Olympic Games and Kelsey Robinson Cook will make her third Olympic run.

Poulter becomes the only Fighting Illini volleyball alum to make two Olympic rosters. Poulter and former Illlini All-American Michelle Barsch-Hackley helped the U.S. earn its first-ever gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Kirsten Gleis represented Holland at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, marking Poulter’s addition to the U.S. squad as the fourth time a Fighting Illini alum has made an Olympic team.

Poulter was named Best Setter at the last Summer Olympics following the final match when the U.S. National Team swept Brazil (25-21, 25-20, 25-14) to capture gold. The setter helped the team to a .418 hitting efficiency during the gold-medal match and totaled 36 assists, six digs and one kill. Despite suffering an ankle injury in pool play, Poulter still managed to lead all setters during the games with 247 assists.

Taking home the gold at the 2020 Olympic Games marked the sixth medal earned by the United States in women’s volleyball, adding to its three silver medals (1984, 2008, 2012) and two bronze medals (1992, 2016).

During her time in the Orange and Blue, Poulter was a three-time All-American, earning first-team accolades as a senior in 2018. During her stellar senior campaign, the Colorado native was named the Big Ten Co-Setter of the Year, AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year and a finalist for the Honda Award. Poulter also led the Illini to the program’s fourth-ever NCAA National Semifinal appearance.

Women’s Olympic indoor volleyball competition kicks off July 27 and runs through August 11. The matches will take place at the South Paris Arena, located about nine miles south of…