UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Former Penn State women's volleyball greats Micha Hancock and Haleigh Washington are a part of USA Volleyball history. The pair helped USA win its first ever gold medal with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-14) win over Brazil on Sunday at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
It's the sixth medal earned by the United States in women's volleyball adding to its three silvers (1984, 2008, 2012) and two bronze medals (1992, 2016). USA did it in dominant fashion, going 7-1, including sweeps in the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds.
Washington finished with five kills, three blocks and one dig in the sweep over Brazil that secured the gold medal. For the tournament, she totaled 42 kills, 20 blocks, four aces and 18 digs. She ranked sixth amongst all players in total blocks at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hancock came up big to ensure Team USA reached the gold medal match. She entered at setter part way through the second set with her team trailing 1-0 to a tough Italy team and led USA to a 3-2 win in the final match of pool play. She then started the quarterfinal match against Dominican Republic and guided the team to a 3-0 sweep.
Hancock and Washington are the fourth and fifth Penn State women's volleyball players to compete for Team USA at the Olympics, joining Megan Hodge (2012), Christa Harmotto (2012, 2016) and Alisha Glass (2016).
In addition to the Penn State pair that made the trip to Tokyo, another former Penn State great, Megan Courtney, was an alternate for the squad.
Hancock was a three-time All-American for Penn State and won back-to-back national titles with the Nittany Lions in 2013 and 2014. Washington also earned three All-America honors and joined Hancock on the 2014 title-winning team.
