PARIS – Haleigh Washington ’18 and Micha Hancock ’15, former Penn State Women’s Volleyball All-Americans and National Champions, brought home medals for the second-straight Olympics after helping Team USA take silver at the 2024 Paris Games.
USA took silver after falling to Italy 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17) in the final match Sunday. Washington and Hancock add their medals to the gold they won at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was the first-ever gold medal won by USA in women’s volleyball.
Washington was a starting middle blocker throughout the Olympics and averaged 4.67 kills, 2.17 blocks and 1.00 aces per match while helping USA go 4-2, including wins over Serbia, France, Poland and Brazil.
Hancock started the Olympics as the team’s official alternate and was activated to the roster for the team’s wins over France and Serbia. The setter has yet to lose an Olympic match, going 6-0 in Tokyo and 2-0 while on the active roster in Paris.
Washington and Hancock teamed up long before Tokyo and Paris. The two helped Penn State win the 2014 National Championship. Additionally, Hancock led the Nittany Lions to the 2013 National Championship.
Five former greats of Penn State Women’s Volleyball have combined to win eight Olympic medals, including Megan Hodge (2012 – silver), Christa Harmotto (2012 – silver, 2016 – bronze), Alisha Glass (2016 – bronze), Micha Hancock (2020 – gold, 2024 – silver), and Haleigh Washington (2020 – gold, 2024 – silver).