Manami Kojima celebrates on the court during Athletes Unlimited.

Manami Kojima Earns LOVB Defensive Player of the Week Honors

LOVB Salt Lake Sweeps Week 5

Siera Jones

Feb 10, 2026

Week Five of League One Volleyball was highlighted by a defensive masterclass from Salt Lake’s Manami Kojima, who earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after standout performances that kept her at the top of the league in passing efficiency, digs, and good pass percentage through five weeks of play.

The reigning LOVB Defensive Player of the Year anchored Salt Lake’s 2-0 week with back-to-back dominant performances on both ends of the court. Against Madison on Thursday, she led the defensive efforts with 14 digs and controlled the serve receive, recording no errors in 13 attempts for a team-high 76.9% in-system rating in Salt Lake’s 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 25-16) victory.

Alexa Gray was named Player of the Match with 21 kills and 14 digs, while Heydi Casanova posted a season-high 19 kills and nine digs. Claire Hoffman supported with six kills, and Serena Gray added nine kills and two blocks. Tori Dixon chipped in three kills.

Kojima replicated her defensive dominance Saturday against Nebraska, once again recording a team-high 14 digs with no errors in serve receive and 59.1 percent of her attempts staying in system as Salt Lake secured the 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 25-15) win.

Skylar Fields posted a season-high 18 kills with just one error for a .500 hitting efficiency and added 12 digs. Claire Hoffman tallied 14 kills and five digs, while Serena Gray recorded 13 kills and two blocks. Serena Gray earned Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.

Despite the loss, Emily Thater was impressive for Nebraska with 10 kills on 19 attempts with no errors for a .526 hitting percentage. Jaali Winters added 11 kills.

LOVB Atlanta at LOVB Austin

AU players: Piyanut Pannoy, Onye Ofoegbu, Tessa Grubbs (Atlanta); Khat Bell, Molly McCage, Bella Bergmark (Austin)

Austin claimed a five-set win Wednesday night, 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-13). Molly McCage tallied seven kills on 16 attempts with just one error for a .375 hitting percentage.

On the other side of the net, Tessa Grubbs racked up 18 kills, while Onye Ofoegbu posted 11 kills with no errors on 18 attempts for a .611 hitting percentage. Piyanut Pannoy anchored the backcourt with 10 digs and a team-leading 75% positive reception rating.

LOVB Atlanta at LOVB Madison

AU players: Piyanut Pannoy, Onye Ofoegbu, Tessa Grubbs (Atlanta); Claire Chaussee, Annayka Legros, Temi Thomas-Ailara (Madison)

Atlanta swept Madison on Saturday, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24), behind a dominant performance from Tessa Grubbs, who led with 15 kills and a .367 hitting percentage. Onye Ofoegbu added eight kills, and Piyanut Pannoy recorded seven digs.

Madison suffered the loss despite 13 kills from Temi Thomas-Ailara.

LOVB Houston at LOVB Austin

AU players: Jordan Thompson, Justine Wong-Orantes, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Micha Hancock (Houston); Khat Bell, Molly McCage, Bella Bergmark (Austin)

In a battle of Texas teams, Houston pulled away in five sets Saturday, 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-10). Jordan Thompson led Houston with 23 kills and six digs, followed by Madi Kingdon Rishel with 15 kills and 14 digs.

For Austin, Molly McCage had seven kills and two digs.