Manami Kojima Earns Second Team Spot on Inaugural LOVB Icons List
Manami Kojima has carved out her place among League One Volleyball’s (LOVB) elite in a season filled with standout performances, earning Second Team Libero honors on the inaugural LOVB Icons list. Backed by 18% of the combined fan, athlete, and coach vote, Kojima’s defensive prowess helped secure her place at the top of a competitive field.
Known for her relentless pursuit on defense, Kojima has been a key part of LOVB Salt Lake’s success this season. She currently leads the league with 225 total digs and has tracked down 79.8% of attacks hit to her zone. She ranks fourth in the league for passing percentage and third in pass efficiency.
Kojima has earned two Defensive Player of the Week awards this season and was the first-ever recipient of the honor in LOVB history.
Selections to the LOVB Icons list were determined by a combined vote from fans (50%), players (25%), and coaches (25%). Each group cast ballots selecting the top athletes by position: two outside hitters, one setter, one opposite, one libero, and two middle blockers. Players are ranked within each group, and final scores were calculated by averaging those rankings with the appropriate weight. The top-ranked players made the First Team, while the next tier formed the Second Team.
Kojima joins a decorated list of athletes recognized for their excellence this season. Former Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball participants, outside hitters Jordan Larson and Claire Chaussee, also received Second Team nods.
Larson was the first-ever AU Pro Volleyball Champion after a 4,569-point performance in 2021. As of the Icons List announcement, her stat line for LOVB Omaha includes 133 total kills, 15 blocks, and 14 aces, placing her fourth in the league for that category.
Chaussee made her AU Pro Volleyball debut in 2023, appearing in all 15 matches and averaging over five kills per set. This season with LOVB Madison, she has 130 kills and 100 digs.
Madi Kingdon Rishel, another AU Pro Volleyball standout, was recognized in a different way this week—named a finalist for the LOVB Woman of the Year award. The new honor celebrates athletes making a positive impact on the next generation of volleyball players. One athlete from each of the league’s six teams was nominated by teammates and coaches, with Kingdon Rishel representing LOVB Houston among the finalists.
The LOVB Icons announcement comes ahead of the inaugural LOVB Finals—a tournament-style championship where all six teams will compete for the league crown. The Finals will take place April 10–13 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
