LOVB Houston Dominates Behind Rishel’s Elite Defense
“Defense wins championships.” It’s a saying every athlete knows, and LOVB Houston is living proof. Leading the charge is Madi Rishel, the LOVB Defensive Player of the Week, whose defensive performance in a sweep against LOVB Madison was nothing short of elite.
Rishel was a wall in the backcourt, racking up 20 digs and picking up a staggering 87% of balls in her area. Attackers quickly learned they’d need a new game plan to avoid her zone. Defense isn’t just about effort — it’s about precision, communication, and awareness. She not only locked down her zones but kept her teammates dialed in by directing traffic and clarifying coverage to make their defense nearly invincible.
The significance of Rishel’s achievement cannot be overstated. Outside hitters typically spend years honing defensive skills to prepare for playing six rotations at the professional level. Rishel has perfected it, becoming the first non-libero to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors this LOVB season. She’s also one of just two non-liberos in the LOVB top six for both total digs and digs per set, a rare feat. Her combination of defensive dominance and offensive versatility sets her apart as one of the most complete players in the league.
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Rishel was the third-place medalist in the 2024 AU Pro Volleyball season and recorded 131 digs in 15 games, good for ninth-best in the circuit.
While her defensive performance was nothing short of elite, Rishel’s impact didn’t stop there. In the win against LOVB Madison, she added 10 kills on a .259 hitting efficiency, further proving her status as a franchise-caliber player capable of excelling on both sides of the ball.
Currently sitting in third place in the standings, LOVB Houston now prepares to face in-state rival LOVB Austin on Wednesday, February 5, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT. You can catch all the action on LOVB Live and WSN. The match will feature three powerhouse Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball players:
LOVB Houston:
- Madi Rishel
LOVB Austin:
- Molly McCage
- Khat Bell
Alex Jean Glover is a former collegiate volleyball player and multi-sport reporter, serving as a correspondent for Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram @alexjeannnn.
