As the USA's women’s indoor volleyball team continues to dominate the Tokyo Olympics, more experts are guaranteeing they are a shoe-in for the gold medal.
The team’s starting lineup includes four returning Olympians as well as a whole crew of first-timers who will be bringing crucial international experience to each match.
Let’s shed light on what in my opinion is one of the most valuable positions in a lineup, the outside hitter. As all of the other positions are extremely vital to the game, the outside hitter truly is in a huge leadership position. It all starts with a perfect pass of course. However, the setter holds the middle magnet, grasping the piece that connects the pass to the hitter.
As soon as that ball is released and set up to the outside hitter the ball ultimately is in their control. Each connection is pivotal but that hitter holds the finishing piece to the puzzle, all in hopes for a game changing point!
So who is the Team USA outside hitter that is currently preparing for the competition in Tokyo?!
Say hello to Kelsey Robinson, from Manhattan Beach, California, quickly approaching her an Olympic final with Team USA. Robinson won a bronze in 2016, a 2015 World Cup and was a gold medalist of the 2014 World Championship.
This 28-year -old was born on June 25th, 1992 and played volleyball at the University of Tennessee, before finishing her collegiate career at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
She attended school and competed on a collegiate team all while playing professionally in an assortment of countries including China, Puerto Rico, Italy and Turkey.
Out of all the places she has traveled, success always followed. Kelsey has been on other U.S. teams that also won gold medals at the 2014 FIVB World Championships, 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix and 2018/2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Kelsey made the choice to share her success as an athlete both on a YouTube channel as well as a blog. Her YouTube is loaded with pieces that open up the world to her personal and professional life.
By doing this, Robinson really allows her fans to see into her genuine lifestyle from tournaments and training days to traveling and even relationship Q&A’s. Many find these pages very intriguing and eye catching as they love to see all of her photography and lifestyle content spread throughout.
It’s not often that an athlete can boast player of the year honors in two major conferences as Robinson accomplished. She is an extremely versatile player as she at one point switched from outside hitter to setter then back to the outside hitter in 2018.
This American indoor volleyball player is someone you will want to keep your eye on in continuing Olympic seasons as she truly is a game changing asset coming into the Tokyo games.