Tough loss marks end of Jordan Larson's career in Nebraska

In Jordan Larson's final match in Nebraska, LOVB Nebraska lost to LOVB Austin. The Nebraska loss and other results in League One means Saturday was the final match of Larson's career.

Despite the sour ending, the 39-year-old still played at the top of her game with 19 kills and 21 total points.

Larson described her attitude as "going down swinging."

"If I have any regrets, it's not [for] the fact of not going for it," Larson said.

Nebraska took set one, 25-22. Larson’s first kill of the match drew a loud crowd reaction. LOVB Nebraska honored Larson in the middle of the set by highlighting her jersey number now hanging in the rafters of Baxter Arena.

In set two, Austin came back late to even the match score with a 26-24 win.

Austin controlled much of the third set. It pulled away 25-19, making the score 2-1.

The fourth set was back and forth. Nebraska eventually pulled away for a 25-22 win to send the match to a decisive fifth set.

Austin ran out to a sizeable lead about halfway through set five and pulled away 15-10.

Volleyball fan Grant Vadnais of Lincoln said Larson inspired him.

"I watched a lot of volleyball as a kid, and that's inspired me to become like a player, which I have, and it's pretty cool," Vadnais said.

Reflecting on returning to Nebraska for her final match, the Hooper, Nebraska-born star said she will remember Mines' Drug Store ice cream the most about her hometown.

"They always had ice cream. Every time after school I'd be walking to my babysitter's house, and always stop for ice cream, 25 cents," Larson said. "And everybody was just so excited to see you."

If she had the chance to give herself advice when she started playing volleyball as a preteen, Larson said she would say there's going to be lots of struggles on and off the court.

"There's a lot of gratitude on the volleyball side, a lot of gratitude in life as well," Larson said. "But it hasn't been easy. And if you think success is linear, it's absolutely not."

LOVB Nebraska libero Lexi Rodriguez was coached by Larson when she was an assistant at NU. Rodriguez said Larson taught her loads of tricks on the court.

"But I think my favorite part was just getting to know you as a person and call you a friend," Rodriguez said. "I think that's really cool. Younger me would have never imagined being friends with the four-time Olympian. The mentorship and the leadership and the friendship, I think I'll carry with me forever."

Former Husker Madi Banks (Kubik) said she was mentored by Larson. A short ceremony at the end of the match showed a video with interviews from tons of people impacted by Larson, which moved Banks.

"I wore 10 at Nebraska because of Jordan," Banks said. "And I was emotional just watching the video, because just makes you think about your life."

As for what she's proud of, looking back on a storied career?

Getting outside of her comfort zone.

Larson traveled the world after winning a championship in Lincoln for the Cornhuskers. She said places like Turkey and Russia were difficult places to live, but she described the people as warm, adding that she's proud of herself for having the courage to leave Nebraska.

With the loss and a win Saturday night by Salt Lake City, Larson's career comes to end -- with a vintage 19-kill performance to boot.