Penn State women’s volleyball alumnae Micha Hancock and Haleigh Washington won Olympic gold medals as part of the United States team that decisively swept Brazil in the final on Sunday morning in Tokyo.
Washington started the match and posted eight kills, five blocks and a dig. After the match, she was recognized as the Olympic tournament’s top middle blocker.
“It’s everything we wanted it to be,” Washington said. “The hard work we put in, the sweat, the tears, the blood — it’s been worth it, and I am so proud to have done it with this group of women. I am so honored.”
Hancock did not see any action in the final match but played a huge role in helping it get there. Filling in for injured former Illinois star Jordyn Poulter, Hancock posted a match-high 37 assists against the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals.
Sunday’s victory sealed the first ever gold medal finish for the United States in Olympic women’s indoor volleyball. The Americans lost to Brazil in the gold medal match in both 2008 and 2012.
The team’s win also clinched a first-place gold medal finish for the U.S., which currently has 39 racked up this year.
Hancock and Washington’s medals are far from the Nittany Lions’ first this year.
Penn State wrestling legend David Taylor took gold in the men’s 86 kg tournament Wednesday. Shot put star Joe Kovacs notched his second career silver medal, while women’s soccer alumna Alyssa Naeher received a bronze alongside current Penn State coach Erica Dambach.
Erin McLeod took gold with Canada’s national soccer team. Former men’s basketball standout Tom Hovasse earned silver coaching Japan’s women’s basketball team to its first Olympic medal.
Washington and Hancock join Taylor and McLeod as Penn State’s first Olympic gold medalists since the 1988 games.
Hancock played for Penn State from 2011 to 2014 and still holds the Nittany Lions’ all-time service ace record with 254 over her career. She won back-to-back national titles with the Nittany Lions in 2013 and 2014.
Washington’s tenure in Happy Valley stretched from 2014 to 2017, when she earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also a three-time All-American and won a national title in 2014.
