LOVB professional volleyball game between Austin and Salt Lake in College Park, Georgia on February 1, 2025. (Photo from different game: Ralph Arvesen)
The opening match was a true testament to grit and determination, with LOVB Salt Lake overcoming a tough LOVB Austin squad in a five-set thriller (22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 27-25, 15-12). Skylar Fields was the catalyst for Salt Lake's comeback, delivering six of her match-high 25 kills in the decisive fifth set. Her performance was a blend of power and finesse, as she effectively attacked from both the left side and the back row. In addition to her offensive prowess, Fields contributed six blocks, five digs, and an assist, showcasing her all-around game. This dominant display helped Salt Lake rebound from their sweep at the hands of Atlanta the previous day and even their record to 3-3.
"The first thing that comes to mind is our team's intent to turn around from the match yesterday. We talked a lot about that. I challenged the girls to just take some ownership and make sure we recover, and you can clearly see it in their behavior and how they approached today," said a proud Salt Lake coach Tama Miyashiro. "So props to them." Fields expressed her satisfaction with the team's performance. "It felt really good," she admitted. "We wanted to come out there and fight and I think we did that."
Roni Jones-Perry also played a crucial role in Salt Lake's victory, contributing 16 kills with a .364 hitting percentage, along with an ace, an assist, and 10 digs. Dani Drews provided further offensive support with 11 kills, two blocks, and nine digs, while middle blocker Serena Gray added six kills, a block, two digs, and an assist. Haleigh Washington, playing her first full match of the season, was a force in the middle, registering eight kills on just 12 swings, along with five digs, three blocks, and an assist.
Setter Jordyn Poulter orchestrated Salt Lake's offense with 57 assists, adding two aces, a block, and 13 digs. Libero Mary Lake anchored the defense with 15 digs. Despite their victory, the team acknowledged areas for improvement, hitting .231 as a team. "I don't necessarily think we needed a win, but we needed to come out and fight the way that we did," Jones-Perry emphasized. "I'm proud of us like Tama said for being able to turn around and come back out today and play with a lot of heart in a tough match against a really good team."
For LOVB Austin, outside hitters Leah Hardeman and Logan Eggleston, former Texas teammates and friends with Fields, each tallied 17 kills. Hardeman was remarkably efficient, finishing with only three errors in 44 attacks (.318 hitting percentage), along with an assist, four blocks, and a match-high 19 digs. Eggleston added three blocks and 10 digs, and enjoyed the friendly rivalry with Fields. "There were a few laughs through the net," Eggleston shared. "We grew up playing together and playing against each other, so I know her well. It's really fun to compete against your friends. That's a talented player right there. I'm excited for a lot more matches against her."
Fields reciprocated the sentiment. "It was super fun to be matched up against her after playing together for so many years and finally getting to compete against each other," she said. "It was really fun. We were going back and forth against each other and having a blast. I love competition and we're both getting better from playing against each other." Juliann Faucette continued her strong performance for Austin, registering 13 kills (.324 hitting percentage), including six in the fourth set, along with two blocks, seven digs, and two assists. Madisen Skinner added eight kills (.333 hitting percentage), a block, and two digs. Chiaka Ogbogu contributed five kills, three blocks, six digs, and an assist, while Molly McCage had five kills on eight errorless swings, along with two blocks, four digs, and an assist.
Carli Lloyd directed Austin's offense with 38 assists, an ace, a block, and five digs. Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres, the other setter in Austin's 6-2 system, had 15 assists, an ace, and four digs. As a team, Austin hit .277. The match was a series of momentum swings. Austin pulled away late in the first set, using a 5-0 run sparked by an Eggleston kill to take a 21-15 lead. They eventually won the set 25-22. Salt Lake responded in the second, using a 5-1 run to extend an 18-17 lead and ultimately winning the set 25-19. Austin regained control in the third, never trailing after taking a 16-15 lead and winning 25-20.
The fourth set was a nail-biter. Austin held a late lead at 24-23, but Washington evened the score for Salt Lake. Austin then reached set point again at 25-24, but Jones-Perry answered with a kill to tie it once more. Salt Lake rallied to win the set 27-25, forcing a decisive fifth set. "That was our opportunity to win the match," lamented Austin coach Marco Bonitta, whose team fell to 2-3 on the season. In the fifth set, Salt Lake jumped out to a 4-1 lead and never looked back, securing the victory with a 15-12 final set score.
Fan reviews:LOVB
We need more women's pro volleyball! We had an amazing time, were blown away by the athletes and the level of play! We are so proud of these women and are so excited to bring our youth athletes to watch them.
Really good experience watching the new pro volleyball team!
Fun time, will be back to see another. Had a great time with my daughter and we will definitely be back later this season.
I really enjoyed the game and the program that’s behind it.
We love LOVB! So excited for this league! To have all of these volleyball legends playing stateside and getting to see them play in person is a dream come true.
Match and crowd were electrified! Match was great! Absolutely love these professional athletes skills and determination! So happy to see women’s professional volleyball in the United States!
LOVB is the next major league! My 14 year old had an amazing experience. It’s great to see the rise in the sport and for the women to be able to stay in the US and play at the next level.
web | facebook | x | instagram
LOVB Austin
web | facebook | x | instagram
