Name: Kelsey Robinson
Position: Outside Hitter
Sport: Volleyball
Discipline(s): Volleyball
Height: 6-2
Birthplace: Elmhurst, Ill.
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, Calif.
High School: St. Francis High School (Illinois)
College: University of Nebraska
Olympic Experience
  • 2016 Olympic Games (Bronze Medal)
World Championship Experience
  • 2018 FIVB World Championship (5th Place)
  • 2014 FIVB World Championship (Gold Medal)
More
Most Notable
  • Named Best Outside Hitter at 2019 FIVB World Cup and ranked Best Receiver in the same event
  • Ranked second in Best Digger at 2018 FIVB World Championship with a 3.19 digs per set average, just 0.04 behind the leader. Also ranked second in Best Receiver at the 2018 World Championship with a 41.36 efficiency.
  • Bronze medalist at 2016 Olympic Games as she was a key reserve in the back row with some time spent playing outside hitter, scoring 30 points without a start in eight matches
  • Named Second Best Outside Spiker for 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix after leading the Finals in Receiving with a 80.5 efficiency percent
  • Chosen Best Receiver at 2016 NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament as Team USA won gold and spot into 2016 Olympic Games
  • Selected to FIVB World Championship roster in her first season of competition with Team USA, which included four starts and averages of 3.05 points and 1.85 digs per set as the Americans won their first-ever World Championship
  • Made switch from outside hitter to libero during the third match of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, sparking USA to the gold medal as she started the final 17 matches at libero

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS:
2019 - FIVB Volleyball Nations League (Gold)...Tokyo Qualification Tournament (1st)...FIVB World Cup (Silver); NORCECA Women's Continental Championship (Silver) 2018 - FIVB Volleyball Nations League (Gold)...FIVB World Championship (5th Place)
2016 - NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament (Gold)...FIVB World Grand Prix (Silver)...Olympic Games (Bronze).
2015 - USA Volleyball Cup vs China ... FIVB World Grand Prix (Gold)...FIVB World Cup (Bronze)...NORCECA Championship (Gold).
2014 – Montreux Volley Masters (Silver)…USA Volleyball Cup vs. Brazil...FIVB World Grand Prix (5th Preliminary Round)...FIVB World Championship (Gold).

Did You Know

  • Created a YouTube channel highlighting life as a pro athlete overseas
  • Started a personal website, nomandplay.com, to capture her love for travel, food and leisure.
  • Moved back to outside hitter in 2019 after holding the libero position in 2018
  • Named AVCA All-America First-Team as a senior at University of Nebraska in 2013
  • Made debut with Team USA at 2014 Montreux Volley Masters, starting four of the matches and averaging 3.93 points per set
  • Averaged 2.08 points per set during 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix with nine starts, while converting 37.7 percent of attacks
  • Produced a team-high 59 points in three of four USA Volleyball Cup matches against Brazil in 2014, leading to averages of 4.54 points, 3.77 kills, 0.54 blocks, 0.23 aces and 1.77 digs per set
  • Started five of nine matches in the 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix
  • Selected Big Ten Player of the Year in 2013 as a senior at University of Nebraska
  • Transferred to Nebraska after three seasons at University of Tennessee, which including SEC Player of the Year and AVCA All-America Second-Team in 2011
  • Selected to U.S. Women's National Volleyball A2 Team in 2011
  • Ranked No. 19 on PrepVolleyball.com's list of Senior Aces and earned High School All-American honors by two publications
  • Helped St. Francis High School (Ill.) to over 100 wins during her prep career
  • Grew up liking basketball over volleyball as a big Chicago and Michael Jordan fan. She wears No. 23 in honor of Jordan.
  • Started playing indoor club volleyball at age 10

Kelsey Robinson's Favorites:
Food: Mendocino Farms and freeze from pressed juicery ... Music Type: Atmospheric, Indie, Electronic, Dance-Pop ... Musical Group/Person: The XX & Rufus Du Sol ... Movie: Bad Boys 2 ... Professional Team: Green Bay Packers

Hobbies and Interests: Cooking/creating recipes, traveling, and writing for my website.

Most Admired Person: Her grandparents because "first example of hard work and love."

Happiest Moment in Life: "Playing in the Olympics and having my family and loved ones there to watch."

Path to the Podium

  • Started playing youth club volleyball at age 10 with Sports Performance
  • Helped St. Francis High School in Illinois win over 100 matches during her prep career
  • Named AVCA First-Team All-American in 2013 in her only season with University of Nebraska
  • Chosen to compete on the U.S. Women’s National A2 Team (now known as U.S. Collegiate National Team) in 2011
  • Played three seasons at University of Tennessee, earning SEC Player of the Year and AVCA Second-Team All-American in 2011
  • Made U.S. Women’s National Team debut in 2014 at the Montreux Volley Masters
  • Won gold at the 2014 FIVB World Championship
  • Won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games

The Big Blurb
Robinson on winning being selected to the U.S. Olympics Women's Volleyball Team: "To represent your country in any way is very powerful. And it’s an honor and it’s humbling to be one of 12 that get to wear that jersey when it’s time to play and it means everything." - Lincoln Journal Star, July 23, 2016

Related Links

Last Updated: July 10, 2016