Nicole Branagh
Olympic Volleyball Player
Nicole Branagh is a U.S. Olympic Volleyball player from Orinda, California, She first rose to fame as a two-time All American at the University of Minnesota. Branagh could have been coined “The Assassin” for her feat of compiling the most kills in Big Ten history, setting the record in 2010 for the most kills with a whopping 2,379.
While Branagh excelled on the indoor court, she also took to the beach in 2004, and soon found herself on the AVP tour. Over the next few years, she enjoyed success on tour and was named AVP Rookie of the Year in 2005 and Most Improved Player in 2006 and 2008.
Branagh and her volleyball partner Elaine Youngs represented the U.S. in beach volleyball at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and Branagh is actively training and competing toward the 2016 Rio Games.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2009, Top Ranked Female AVP Team, partner Elaine Youngs
- 2008, Team USA Olympian
- 2008, FIVB Spain World Tour, 1st Place
- 2007, AVP Crocs Tour, 2nd Place Overall
- 2006, AVP Most Improved Player
- 2006, AVP Kills, 1st Place
- 3 Time First Team all Big-10 Conference
SPECIAL AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
- 2009, AVP MVP
- 2009, Best Offensive Player of the Year
- 2009, Team of the Year, partner Elaine Youngs
- 2008, MVP
- 2006, AVP Rookie of the Year
- 2002, USPV Championship Tournament MVP
- 2000, Co Big-10 Player of the Year
