The U.S. women’s volleyball team gets its second crack at earning a spot in the Rio Olympic tournament in Lincoln, Neb., from Thursday through Saturday, with the final match on NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra.
The U.S., the top-ranked team in the world and reigning World champion, faces the Dominican Republic (No. 7 in the world), Puerto Rico (No. 16) and Canada (No. 17) in a round-robin tournament.
The winner clinches a spot in the 12-team Olympic field. The second- and third-place nations can still earn an Olympic spot in the spring.
The U.S., the 2008 and 2012 Olympic silver medalist but never an Olympic champion, just missed Olympic qualification at the FIVB World Cup in September in Japan, placing third behind China and Serbia.
The top two nations at the World Cup joined host and two-time reigning Olympic champion Brazil in the Olympic field.
The 14-player U.S. roster this week includes five Olympians, led by USA Volleyball Player of the Year and outside hitter Jordan Larson. The potential first-time Olympians include outside hitter Kim Hill, MVP of the 2014 World Championship.
The U.S. Olympic team of 12 players will be named later this year. It is coached by Karch Kiraly, an Olympic indoor and beach volleyball champion.
The U.S. men clinched an Olympic berth at the FIVB World Cup in September.
Here’s this week’s match schedule (all times Eastern):
Thursday
Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico, 6 p.m. -- Stream
USA vs. Canada, 8 p.m. -- Stream
Friday
Canada vs. Dominican Republic, 6 p.m. -- Stream
USA vs. Puerto Rico, 8 p.m. -- Stream
Saturday
Canada vs. Puerto Rico, 6 p.m. -- Stream
USA vs. Dominican Republic, 9 p.m. -- live on NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra
MORE VOLLEYBALL: U.S. men qualify for Rio Olympics
