The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are officially closer to the future than Paris 2024 is to the past.
The drumroll for athletes to ramp up preparations is getting more persistent, and Olympic coaches are beginning to visualize their rosters and lineups.
In between their professional leagues and international tournaments, the U.S. men’s and women’s indoor volleyball teams are laying much of their groundwork at Pulse Athletics Volleyball Club in Anaheim.
Keeping that location as the national program’s longtime training grounds made sense, especially after nearby Honda Center was designated as the Olympic venue for indoor volleyball in 2028.
The Americans also needed to find suitable competition outside of pounding the ball against each other, so USA Volleyball dusted off its self-titled USA Volleyball Cup and will match the U.S. women’s team against Canada on Saturday in San Diego, and again on Sunday at the Bren Events Center in Irvine.
The 7 p.m. matches are considered “friendly,” but the Americans haven’t forgotten their last meeting with the Canadians, when they were swept in three sets on June 4 in a FIVB Volleyball Nations League preliminary-round match in Quebec City, Canada.
The top-seeded and third-ranked U.S team regrouped to advance to the eight-team championship bracket, only to lose to host China in five sets in the quarterfinals on July 23.
U.S. head coach Erik Sullivan wants to frame this weekend’s matches as just another training tool towards getting back to the top of the podium in ’28, but he’s also aware the recent losses are still tough to digest.
“In the back of our minds, we know we lost 3-0 to Canada,” Sullivan said. “The China loss put some stuff into perspective. I don’t think anyone is happy with that exit, especially how well we had played in the three weeks previous.”
Sullivan has big shoes to fill after replacing legendary volleyball figure Karch Kiraly in January of 2025.
Before departing to head the U.S. men’s program, Kiraly led the women to bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, gold in Tokyo in ’21 and silver in Paris.
The roster Sullivan patched together for this weekend features a combination of decorated Olympians, younger players on course to realize that dream, and others just beginning their journey.
Two-time Olympians Jordan Thompson (opposite hitter), Chiaka Ogbogu (middle blocker) and setters Jordyn Poulter and Micha Hancock are among those expected to play for the U.S. this weekend.
“We’ve gotten some veteran players back in the gym for a little bit longer, so that has helped,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got a nice group, and we’re playing to our systems and how we want to play.”
Last spring, the 6-foot-4 Thompson turned heads when she earned league MVP honors in the second year of League One Volleyball, a U.S.-based organization that will expand from six to 10 teams next season.
The 29-year-old Minneapolis native produced a league-leading 455 points for Houston, 120 more than the next closest competitor.
“She is one of the elite opposites in the world,” Sullivan said of Thompson. “She’s going to take up some space in your defensive plan, and that just provides balance everywhere else. One of the things I thought we did really well this summer is our offensive numbers were pretty high, and Jordan’s a big piece of that.”
Ogbogu owns the distinction of being the only U.S. player selected to the Paris Dream Team two years ago. The 31-year-old, who was born in New York and raised in Dallas, was named Best Middle Blocker at the 2024 Games, tying the Olympic record with eight blocks in a pool-play match against Serbia.
Ogbogu often isn’t the tallest player at the net at 6-2, but her technique is flawless.
“She’s in a small group of middles in the world with what she’s able to do,” Sullivan said.
The two best setters for the U.S. will also compete in the USAV Cup.
Poulter, 29, suffered an ankle injury during the final pool-play match in Tokyo in 2021, causing her to miss the quarterfinal match. Hancock, 33, filled in and helped the Americans to victory, allowing Poulter to return for the final two matches and earn Best Setter for the tournament.
After rehabilitating from a major knee injury in 2022, Poulter reclaimed her starting role in 2024.
One of the tallest women’s volleyball players in the world will also be suited up for the U.S. this weekend, 6-8 middle blocker Dana Rettke, who also represented the U.S. at the Paris Games.
Avery Skinner, a 6-1 outside hitter and the daughter of former Los Angeles Clippers first-round draft pick Brian Skinner, is another former ’24 Olympian who’s slated to play this weekend.
Asjia O’Neal, the daughter of former 18-year NBA veteran Jermaine O’Neal, is also making an early case for an Olympic berth after the 6-3 middle blocker delivered a solid run through the VNL.
The lone Southern California native on this weekend’s roster is also hoping to contribute.
Kendall Kipp is a 2019 Corona del Mar High graduate who’s in her third season with the national team. The 6-5 opposite hitter recently completed her first run through the VNL.
“I definitely feel an extra bout of motivation and desire to be (in Orange County), play in front of my friends and family,” Kipp said. “I think it’ll be a really cool opportunity to be hosting it locally.”
Sullivan will have some tough roster decisions as the build-up to 2028 continues.
Two-time Olympians Annie Drews (opposite) and Justine Wong-Orantes (libero) are on maternity leave this summer, and 24-year-old Sarah Franklin, the leading scorer for the U.S. at the 2025 VNL, is in Turkey preparing for her professional season.
Kathryn Plummer Boden (Aliso Niguel HS) and Haleigh Washington are also former two-time Olympians who have taken this summer off, but could be back in the mix a year from now.
“Where we were at last summer, compared to where we’re at this summer, is a significant improvement,” Sullivan said.