RIO DE JANEIRO — Before they took the court and won bronze, they gathered in the locker room one final time. Each player on the U.S. women’s volleyball took a turn to speak.
Jordan Larson told her teammates she loved them and would fight for every one of them.
Alisha Glass made sure they all knew there was nowhere she’d rather be now than right here in Rio.
Captain Christa Dietzen? She didn’t need an Olympic medal. She already understood what this tight-knit team was all about, and she also knew it sure would be nice to wear one home as she heads into retirement and prepares to start a family. They thanked one another for the time and effort over four hard years.
Beach star Kerri Walsh Jennings sent a note of her own: Go get a bronze. Just as Walsh Jennings and April Ross did.
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“I’m just really proud to be a part of this program,” Larson said. “It’s come a long way. I’m just really happy because there are a lot of good people who deserve this. A lot of people just gave their hearts and soul to this.”
Player-turned-coach Karch Kiraly, the only person to win Olympic volleyball gold as a beach and indoor player, addressed each woman. He spoke of his admiration and acknowledged those players back home who didn’t make the cut.
Just by stepping on the court Saturday, Foluke Akinradewo showed how this squad stuck together. She returned from an injury to her left leg that forced her out early in the semifinal loss to Serbia. The star middle blocker took charge as the top-ranked Americans bounced back two days later to beat the Netherlands 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19 on Saturday.
Joliet Catholic graduate Kelly Murphy had five kills, a block kill, an ace and a dig for the Americans, while Bartlett’s Kelsey Robinson contributed one dig and two excellent serve receptions.
“I couldn’t be more happy for Kelly and Kelsey for getting bronze and representing the state of Illinois like they have done,” JCA coach Christine Scheibe said. “This has to be a dream come true for them. To think, nine years ago Kelly was playing against Kelsey for a supersectional in 2007, and now they’re on the floor together for Team USA taking a bronze medal in the Olympics. It speaks very well for the talent level of volleyball in Class 3A and in the state.”
After Kim Hill’s ace on match point, the U.S. women fell into an embrace. Kiraly hugged his coaches and brought the women into a huddle for one last cheer.
“In a way, selfishly, I wanted a gold medal to almost prove the way this culture is, or the way the culture has grown and the foundation that we’ve built, almost to prove it right — that the way we did it was right,” Dietzen said. “A medal’s not going to prove that. A medal doesn’t define this team. It will never define this team.”
Reserve setter Courtney Thompson, the Americans’ inspirational motivator, joined Dietzen in announcing immediately after the match that her volleyball days are done. Then they joked about meeting for a crack-of-dawn spin class later in the week.
“I have a whole new respect for everyone that wins a bronze medal,” Thompson said. “It’s not easy, 48 hours later.”
This group leaves the Olympics again without the big prize. The last three games went this way: Beijing 2008, silver; London 2012, silver; and Rio de Janeiro 2016, bronze.
“Our team dealt with some real pain and heartache, heartbreak, a couple of days ago,” said Kiraly, who thanked Walsh Jennings for her gesture. “I’m incredibly proud of how within hours they were preparing, carrying that heartbreak, but preparing to be good and to finish strong. I also never had any understanding of how good a bronze medal could feel, and it feels incredible right now. We’re so happy to finish this tournament on this note.”
The Netherlands shined, playing in its first Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games. The Dutch pushed the U.S. to five sets in pool play on Aug. 8 and put women’s volleyball on the map at home with a gutsy, never-give-up style.
Now, the Americans are left to try again in Tokyo 2020 for the program’s first gold, with certain new leaders emerging to guide that run: Hill, Robinson, Kayla Banwarth.
Daily Southtown staff contributed to this story.