LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky volleyball alumna Avery Skinner has been selected to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team, the U.S. Volleyball Association announced Wednesday night. She will be the first University of Kentucky volleyball player to compete in the Olympic Games.
Skinner, who played at the University of Kentucky from 2017-2021, played a key role in the school's 2020 NCAA National Championship and will now represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The Katy, Texas, native was one of 12 athletes announced as part of the Olympic team on Wednesday night.
With just one spot remaining, coach Kirch Killay will announce the replacements at a later date as the U.S. seeks back-to-back Olympic gold medals. The roster includes eight athletes who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and four who will make their Olympic debut in Paris.
The U.S. women's team entered the 2024 season ranked No. 2 in the world. The team has competed in 12 Olympic Games, including the last 10. The U.S. women's team competed in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which the United States boycotted.
The U.S. women's Olympic team has won one gold medal (2020), three silver medals (1984, 2008, 2012) and two bronze medals (1992, 2016).
The women's Olympic competition schedule and pools will be announced at the conclusion of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League qualifying round, which concludes June 16. The U.S. women's team will compete in the final qualifying round of the Volleyball Nations League next week in Fukuoka, Japan.
Indoor volleyball at the 2024 Olympic Games will be held at South Paris Arena 1, and all matches will be broadcast live on NBCUniversal networks.
U.S. Women's National Team Roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics
Number Name (position, height, hometown, university)
2- Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colorado, University of Illinois)
3- Avery Skinner (Ohio State, 6-1, Katy, Texas, University of Kentucky)
4- Justin Wong Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., University of Nebraska)
7- Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Illinois, University of Wisconsin)
10- Jordan Larson (Ohio State, 6-2, Hooper, Nebraska, University of Nebraska)
11- Annie Drewes (Opponent, 6-4, Elkhart, Indiana, Purdue University)
12- Jordan Thompson (Opponent, 6-4, Edina, Minnesota, University of Cincinnati)
15- Haley Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Penn State)
16- Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Illinois, University of Wisconsin)
22- Katherine Plummer (Ohio State, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Stanford University)
23- Kelsey Robinson-Cook (Ohio State, 6-2, Bartlett, Illinois, University of Nebraska)
24- Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, University of Texas)
For the latest UK volleyball updates, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @KentuckyVB.
