Alexa Gray Leads the Charge in LOVB Salt Lake's 2-0 Week
Week Three of League One Volleyball featured a statement week from LOVB Salt Lake, who earned two home wins, highlighted by a five-set battle against Madison on Sunday. Alexa Gray anchored the effort offensively and capped the week by matching a season-high performance.
Gray recorded 18 kills to match her season high from opening weekend, adding two aces, one block, and nine digs in Salt Lake’s 3-2 win. She was joined by Heydi Casanova, who delivered a season-high 16 kills with two blocks and eight digs. The pair powered Salt Lake’s offense throughout the match.
Salt Lake captured the opening set before stumbling in the second and third as Madison seized momentum. The home side regrouped in the fourth and dominated the decisive fifth frame to secure the win (25-19, 19-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-6).
Middle blocker Sophie Fischer recorded six kills, three aces, and a team-high four blocks, while Tori Dixon tallied four kills, one block, and four digs. Manami Kojima anchored the back court with 14 digs.
For Madison, Claire Chaussee led the team offensively with 15 total kills and added 11 digs. Temi Thomas-Ailara added six kills, one block, and 13 digs in the loss.
LOVB Austin vs. LOVB Madison
AU Players: Khat Bell, Molly McCage, Bella Bergmark (Austin); Claire Chaussee, Annayka Legros, Temi Thomas-Ailara (Madison)
Austin earned a five-set road win Wednesday night after trading sets with Madison through four frames, then pulled away in the fifth for the 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 23-25, 25-12, 15-9) victory.
For Austin, Bella Bergmark recorded a team second-best .417 hitting percentage with six kills and no errors on 12 attempts.
Thomas-Ailara led Madison with 20 kills and only two errors on 49 attempts. She added 14 digs and a block, with a team-high four aces in the loss.
LOVB Houston vs. LOVB Salt Lake
AU Players: Jordan Thompson, Justine Wong-Orantes, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Micha Hancock (Houston); Dani Drews, Madi Haynes, Skylar Fields, Sophie Fischer, Tori Dixon, Alexa Gray, Madi Bugg, Serena Gray, Manami Kojima, Claire Hoffman, Heydi Casanova (Salt Lake)
Salt Lake rolled to a sweep Thursday night, never allowing Houston to gain traction across three sets for a 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-20) victory.
Claire Hoffman led Salt Lake with 15 kills, and Alexa Gray followed with 11. Serena Gray added 10 kills with a team-high .714 hitting efficiency, while Heydi Casanova recorded nine kills and eight digs.
For Houston, Jordan Thompson tallied eight kills while Micha Hancock collected two aces and 25 assists.
LOVB Houston vs. LOVB Austin
AU Players: Jordan Thompson, Justine Wong-Orantes, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Micha Hancock (Houston); Khat Bell, Molly McCage, Bella Bergmark (Austin)
Houston responded with authority Saturday, controlling all three sets for a dominant 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-14) sweep of Austin.
Jordan Thompson led the match with 19 kills on 43 attempts for a .349 hitting percentage. She added two blocks and eight digs. Madi Kingdon Rishel added six kills, two aces, and eight digs in the effort.
Team Records After Week 3
Salt Lake: 3-1
Austin: 3-2
Madison: 2-2
Nebraska: 2-2
Atlanta: 1-2
Houston: 1-3
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
