Molly McCage and LOVB Austin's Chemistry Forces End to Omaha's Perfect Run
In a game that lived up to the hype, LOVB Austin delivered a stunning blow to LOVB Omaha, ending their undefeated streak in the inaugural League One Volleyball season. The matchup highlighted Austin’s undeniable team chemistry, smart adjustments, and a standout performance from middle blocker Molly McCage.
From the start of the season, Austin’s roster has exhibited a unique advantage: nine of its 15 players are former University of Texas student-athletes. Their familiarity with running the same system gave them a competitive edge as the team gelled at just the right time to pull off this massive upset. Against Omaha, Austin’s cohesion on the court and flawless execution were the perfect combination to sweep the league’s top team.
The circumstances couldn’t have been more different for these two teams heading into the game. LOVB Omaha had just fought through a tough four-set victory the night before, while Austin came in refreshed after a ten-day break. Austin’s game plan? Take advantage of Omaha’s fatigue by playing clean, disciplined volleyball and letting the pressure force mistakes.
That plan worked perfectly, and at the heart of it was McCage. The 2023 AU Pro Volleyball Blocker of the Year turned in a dominant, error-free performance with 3 kills on 7 swings, 4 blocks, and 2 digs. Known as one of the best blockers in the game, McCage also proved herself as an efficient and reliable attacker, keeping Omaha’s defense off balance all night.
We got a block party in Set 1, ready to see what Set 2 brings! pic.twitter.com/9lSFzFkVEi
— LOVB Austin Volleyball (@lovbatx) January 26, 2025
What made Austin’s performance even more impressive was their tactical shift to a 6-2 offensive system. By keeping three front-row attacking options in every rotation, Austin forced Omaha’s blockers to spread thin and respect every hitter. Omaha head coach Suzie Fritz admitted her team struggled to adjust.
“I thought they played incredibly well, probably as well as we have seen them or scouted them. They did things a little bit different. Ran a 6-2 most of the time, giving them more physicality to them, which I think we really struggled with,” Fritz said.
McCage’s physical presence in the middle was pivotal, not only for her scoring but for the opportunities she created for her teammates. Her ability to stay an option in every play forced Omaha’s blockers to stay honest, opening up the offense and allowing Austin’s attackers to capitalize. As a team, Austin hit an incredible .409, highlighting just how effective their balanced attack was.
With this win, LOVB Austin is starting to gain serious momentum and will be a tough opponent moving forward. With their chemistry firing on all cylinders and players like McCage leading the way, Austin has officially put the league on notice. They’ll take on LOVB Salt Lake in Atlanta on February 1st at 4:30 PM ET, with the match streaming live on LOVB Live. You can expect to see eight Athletes Unlimited players in the matchup:
LOVB Austin:
- Molly McCage
- Khat Bell
LOVB Salt Lake:
- Tori Dixon
- Dani Drews
- Claire Hoffman
- Heydi Casanova
- Manami Kojima
- Mary Lake
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.
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