9 Key Roster Updates for AU Stars Entering the 2026 MLV Season
The 2026 Major League Volleyball season is taking shape, and several Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship standouts will be suiting up in new uniforms this season. While some athletes are returning to their original teams, nine AU stars will take the court with brand-new squads after two signed their first MLV contracts, and seven made moves following the 2025 season.
Here’s a closer look at all of the roster updates for AU standouts transitioning from this fall’s championship into the upcoming MLV season.
New Faces in MLV
Sarah Wilhite Parsons joins Omaha Supernovas
Sarah Parsons has joined the Omaha Supernovas for her first MLV season. The 2016 AVCA National Player of the Year and U.S. Women’s National Team member was an alternate for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has competed professionally in Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Japan, and Germany.
Parsons made her AU debut this fall in her first competition since welcoming her son in January. She finished 18th on the leaderboard with 1,750 points while recording 42 kills, five aces, and 85 digs in 12 matches.
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Taylor Sandbothe joins San Diego Mojo
Taylor Sandbothe will take the court with the San Diego Mojo for her first MLV season after playing for LOVB Madison last year. The 11-year pro led Madison with 15 service aces, which ranked third in LOVB, while her .366 aces per set ranked second. She also contributed 84 kills and 42 digs.
Sandbothe finished 13th on the AU leaderboard this fall with 2,107 points. She recorded 53 kills, 13 aces, 88 digs, and 23 blocks across 12 matches.
Roster Changes
Natalia Valentin-Anderson: Omaha Supernovas > Dallas Pulse
Natalia Valentin-Anderson has joined the Dallas Pulse after spending the last two seasons with Omaha. The Puerto Rico native has competed professionally across Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan, France, Poland, and Italy, earning four Best Setter of the Year honors in the Puerto Rican League and league MVP recognition in 2012-13.
Valentin-Anderson finished sixth on the AU leaderboard this fall with 2,502 points and earned a spot on the 2025 All-Position Team for the second time in her career. She led the league with 434 assists and ranked fourth with 130 digs.
Morgan Hentz: Atlanta Vibe > Omaha Supernovas
Morgan Hentz has moved to the Omaha Supernovas after two seasons with the Atlanta Vibe. The four-time AU Pro Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year won back-to-back MLV Libero of the Year awards with the Vibe and led the league in digs per set in both seasons. She holds the league’s single-season records for total digs (508) and digs per set (4.50).
Hentz will enter her first season with the Supernovas after finishing eighth on the AU leaderboard this fall with 2,355 points and leading the league with 169 digs. She was the only libero to serve as captain during the 2025 AU season.
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Sydney Hilley: Indy Ignite > Omaha Supernovas
Sydney Hilley is back in Omaha after spending one season with the Indy Ignite. The Wisconsin graduate and five-time All-American earned Playoff MVP honors for the Supernovas when they won the inaugural Pro Volleyball Championship in 2024. She led the league last season with 11.30 assists per set while guiding the Ignite to the league championship match.
Hilley finished 10th on the AU leaderboard this fall with 2,226 points. She ranked second in the league with 334 assists and added 85 digs across 12 matches.
McKenna Vicini: Atlanta Vibe > San Diego Mojo
McKenna Vicini is suiting up with the San Diego Mojo after two seasons with Atlanta. The middle blocker previously played for Mojo head coach (and 2025 AU coach) Alisha Glass Childress at Stanford, where she won the 2019 NCAA Championship, and the pair were teammates with the Vegas Thrill in 2024.
Vicini helped the Vibe to a 19-9 record last season and appeared in 26 matches. She recorded 134 kills, six aces, and 48 blocks, which was the 10th-most in the league. Vicini finished 15th on the AU leaderboard this fall with 2,036 points.
Carly Graham: Vegas Thrill > San Diego Mojo
Carly Graham also joined the San Diego Mojo after spending last season with the Vegas Thrill. She recorded 369 assists over 77 sets and also shared time on the court with Mojo head coach Childress. Before joining Vegas, she played for the Orlando Valkyries in 2024 and began her professional career in Montenegro in 2023.
Graham finished 24th on the AU leaderboard this fall with 1,631 points while recording 128 assists and 42 digs across 12 matches.
Kayla Caffey: Omaha Supernovas > San Diego Mojo
Kayla Caffey is another middle blocker who joined the Mojo after appearing in 25 matches with the Omaha Supernovas last season. She helped the Supernovas to a league-best 21-7 record and posted career highs with 111 kills, 44 blocks, and 18 service aces. Her 18 aces ranked sixth in the league, while her 40.8 percent kill percentage ranked eighth.
Caffey finished 35th on the AU leaderboard this fall with 1,274 points while recording 47 kills, 15 blocks, and three aces across 12 matches.
Marlie Monserez: Atlanta Vibe > San Diego Mojo
Marlie Monserez arrived in San Diego after leading the Atlanta Vibe offense for the last two seasons. The setter earned All-League Second Team honors last year while ranking third in the league with 998 assists and 10.62 assists per game, which was the fifth-most in a season in league history. She appeared in 25 matches and 94 sets for Atlanta.
Monserez finished 31st on the AU leaderboard this fall with 1,402 points. She recorded 182 assists, 62 digs, and four aces across 12 matches.
The first serve of the upcoming MLV season is set for January 8, 2026.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
