Wong-Orantes helps United States women’s volleyball team get first win at Paris Olympics

The United States women’s volleyball team held on to win its first match at the Paris Olympics, getting the much-needed win it needed to improve its chance of advancing out of the preliminary round and into next week’s quarterfinals.

After winning the first two sets against Serbia on Wednesday, the U.S. team won in five sets — 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 17-15.

The U.S lost its first match against China in five sets. The U.S. plays its final pool play match on Sunday against France.

Three Nebraska volleyball alums are on the U.S. team, and ex-Husker Justine Wong-Orantes was back in the starting lineup at libero. She made several point-saving digs in the close fifth set.

Former Huskers Kelsey (Robinson) Cook and Jordan Larson each made appearances to help give the Americans an advantage in serve-receive.

On Wednesday, the U.S. played well while winning the first two sets. Then Serbia — a strong contender to win a medal — dominated for long stretches of the third and fourth sets to force a fifth set.

Annie Drews, a right-side hitter from Purdue, led the U.S. again with 15 kills. That included two big kills in the last four points of the match.

Serbian right-side hitter Tijana Boskovic was outstanding with 27 kills.

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