Former Nebraska volleyball star Jordan Larson has had an incredible career. She’s gone from being a player on the teams that started the current run of excellence. Then she went on to become an Olympic and professional volleyball hero. She was an assistant coach for former head coach John Cook, then returned to professional softball, and finally retired. However, the retirement didn’t stick.
Larson originally thought her playing days were over back in April. However, earlier this month she realized that she wasn’t quite ready to call it a career. She has more to accomplish and officially reversed her position. So how is she feeling as she prepares for another season with LOVB Nebraska?
“I felt so good as I kept playing, and then I just was like, ‘I get to do this at home. Like, why am I actually stopping?’ So I think it was just a lot of that back and forth most of the season, and even towards the end,” the Nebraska volleyball legend said in an interview with Nebraska Public Media News. “I think even having the confidence to say that I want to play again. I think that was also scary.”
Larson made it clear that a big contributing factor in deciding to keep going at the age of 39 is indeed that she doesn’t need to be away from friends and family. That wasn’t always the case as she had to play overseas for a large portion of her professional career.
Jordan Larson explains why she reversed retirement with LOVB Nebraska
With the rise of pro volleyball leagues in the US and the popularity of the sport only growing (thanks in no small part to Nebraska and its roster of superstars) she had an opportunity to play at “home,” and that was something she found very attractive.
“Just from a person that never got to be at home, to see how many girls have been able to have the platform to stay at home is just — it's unbelievable,” Larson said.
Larson understands that some people might be a bit confused about why she changed course and unretired so quickly after calling it a career. However, she’s not really worried about someone giving her any guff. She fully understands that it’s her call to make, and if she feels like she can still play, then she can indeed still play.
“Yeah, I said these things. Things change and times change. And I still feel good, and I love what I do, so it's okay.”
As she continues her career, it’s also clear that she still enjoys mentoring younger players. She’s able to do that with several former Nebraska stars who are now playing in LOVB. Lexi Rodriguez, Lindsay Krause, and Rebekah Allick are now working under Jordan Larson, who was also their coach with the Huskers.
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