Heidy Casanova’s Hot Streak Fuels Salt Lake’s Midseason Surge
Heidy Casanova is picking up speed.
She posted a statement 22-kill performance to open the season, but entering Week 7 of League One Volleyball play, the 6-foot opposite had gone seven matches without recording double-figure kills. That changed when Casanova recorded a team-leading 17 kills versus Austin.
She maintained that pace in Week 8, stacking on a second straight double-digit kill performance and helping Salt Lake pour ice water on a flaming-hot Houston squad.
The La Habana, Cuba, native wreaked havoc on Houston’s serve receive with her powerful top-spin serve, but she was just as formidable on the attack. Her acute block vision was on full display as she exposed weaknesses in Houston’s net defense and recorded kills from both pins.
Casanova finished with 11 kills behind Roni Jones-Perry (12), while tacking on a pair of aces and 10 digs to her stat line.
Her 10 digs were second only to fellow Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball athlete Manami Kojima, who covered the floor with 13 digs—her seventh double-figure defensive showing in eight appearances.
Salt Lake came out strong in the first set, winning 25-17 before holding the league’s second-ranked Houston to 21 points in the third and fourth sets to secure the sweep.
Without offensive leader Jordan Thompson in the lineup, Houston struggled to find its rhythm. Despite the loss, two-time Defensive Player of the Week Madi Kingdon-Rishel tallied a pair of kills and 10 digs while anchoring the serve-receive efforts with a team-high 33 attempts.
Meanwhile, the AU athletes on Salt Lake’s side of the net excelled in all sections of the stat sheet. Middle blocker Tori Dixon posted a team-high five blocks, while outside hitter Claire Hoffman finished third in kills (9) and digs (8).
The win boosts Salt Lake to 4-6, allowing the squad to close in on the struggling Omaha’s fourth-place league position.
Weekend With LOVB at Madison
While Salt Lake and Houston went head-to-head in Texas, the rest of the league’s teams met for a Weekend With LOVB at Madison, where the home team was the clear winner of the four-team meeting.
Madison entered the weekend with a league-last 1-7 record but walked away with its second and third victories of the year after a 3-1 result against Omaha and a 3-0 win over Austin.
Atlanta was the only other winner in Madison after the top-ranked team edged out Omaha in a five-set battle.
Salt Lake Taking Over LOVB Stat Leaderboards
Salt Lake is gaining momentum following the season’s halfway point, and the league’s individual statistical standings reflect that recent success.
Kojima remains at the top in digs with 122 total and is currently in the top five in three different categories, including pass percentage and pass efficiency.
Despite sitting out last week’s contest, outside hitter Dani Drews leads the play creation column, with 77.9% of her defensive attempts resulting in an attack opportunity. Additionally, Salt Lake players occupy one or more top-five positions in 10 of 12 primary stat categories.
Next Up in LOVB
Salt Lake is set to go on the road for a Weekend With LOVB at Houston and will take on Atlanta, where Houston will face both Austin and Atlanta.
Madison will kick off Week 9 at home and will get the chance to extend its newfound winning streak Thursday against Omaha.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
