7 Must-Watch Defensive Moments from the 2025 AU Pro Volleyball Championship
We’ve highlighted the heavy hitters of the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship, but behind every star point-scoring hitter is a gritty defender giving relentless pursuit to every ball. A good dig rarely gets the full applause it deserves, but we’re highlighting some of the top defensive moments created by the defenders patrolling the back row this fall.
this was wild 😵💫
40-second rally pic.twitter.com/1yOB8mFDjR
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 24, 2025
Defending an overpass put-back from 2025 champion Jordan Thompson is no easy feat, but Piyanut Pannoy and Molly McCage were up for the challenge, with Pannoy getting just under it, McCage dropping low to save it once again, and Pannoy diving to send it over the net in rapid succession. The play turned into a 40-second-long exchange that ended in a point for purple.
a never ending rally of great saves & great swings 👏 pic.twitter.com/kcStVSAine
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) November 3, 2025
Every player brought their defensive A-game to this play, and defenders on both sides went sprawling after balls left and right. The pickup by Justine Wong-Orantes and Natalia Valentin-Anderson, sending a back set to Jordan Thompson from her knees, was the icing on the cake.
back and forth rally goes to Team Hentz 👏#AUProVB pic.twitter.com/BlW0Kqot7s
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 13, 2025
After surviving a pinball-esque start to this play, Team Hentz was not going to let the ball hit the hardwood. Team captain and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Morgan Hentz led the ensuing defensive charge, having Reagan Cooper’s back before digging two straight attacks in impressive fashion, allowing her team a chance to take the point.
P² save leading to a Betty kill… perfection 💋#AUProVB pic.twitter.com/2JVvoqNIy0
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 5, 2025
Defending a middle attack is no joke, especially when it’s a tip coming off the tape, but Piyanut Pannoy adjusted perfectly, creeping in and sprawling out for the one-handed dig to keep the ball alive. Of course, the ball was in safe hands with Bethania De La Cruz-Mejía, making sure Pannoy’s defensive effort wasn’t in vain.
what a rally for Team Kingdon Rishel 😤#AUProVB pic.twitter.com/tHz6AlBz0a
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 6, 2025
On this attack from Tori Dixon, Manami Kojima only had time to throw her hands up to slow it down, but Madi Kingdon Rishel had her back, sprinting after the ball and going full-out to pop it high enough for Kojima to send it over the net.
some of us are just built different 😤 WHAT A RALLY 🤯
Top Plays presented by @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/reXXAYgagz
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 7, 2025
This play had it all: Piyanut Pannoy defending the beamer down the line, Brittany Abercrombie sliding in to save the ball off the net, Brooke Nuneviller diving backwards to save the sneaky lefty swing from Micha Hancock—the perfect formula for an A+ rally by both sides.
keepin’ it alive 👏#AUProVB pic.twitter.com/hYpRflA7fB
— AU Pro Volleyball (@AUProVolleyball) October 12, 2025
When Manami Kojima makes a highlight reel-worthy dig, Bethania De La Cruz-Mejía finds a way to end the play, and this time was no different. Kojima read Brittany Abercrombie’s tip from the back row, and De La Cruz-Mejía got an open net to put the ball away.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
