Pro Volleyball Spotlight: Venegas, Skinner Deliver Standout Performances
Week 13 carried postseason implications across League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV), with the MLV’s San Diego Mojo closing in on playoff positioning and LOVB Austin securing its spot in the League One Playoffs. Two multi-match performances stood out, driven by defensive consistency in MLV and a record-setting offensive showing in LOVB.
Here’s a look at the performances that defined the week.
Shara Venegas Anchors San Diego Defense in 2-0 Week in MLV
San Diego opened its two-match week on the road with a sweep over Columbus (26-24, 25-21, 25-20). Venegas led the team defensively with 11 digs and added four assists across three sets, averaging 3.67 digs and 1.33 assists per set. Her presence in the back row helped limit Columbus’ offense while San Diego hit .375 as a team in the win.
She followed with a standout performance in a five-set victory over Dallas (25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 25-27, 15-11), snapping the Pulse’s eight-match winning streak. Venegas recorded 28 digs, tying for the most digs in a five-set match by any MLV player this season and marking the second-most digs in a match in franchise history. The total also surpassed her previous season high of 25 digs. She added three assists and posted a 70% positive reception rating in serve receive.
Her defensive performance proved worthy of MLV Player of the Week Honors after she anchored a San Diego effort that matched a franchise record with 101 team digs in the win. Across the week, the Puerto Rico native averaged 4.88 digs and 0.88 assists per set. The two wins, including San Diego’s seventh home victory of the season, moved the Mojo into postseason position.
Madisen Skinner Sets LOVB Single-Match Points Record, Clinches Playoff Berth
Skinner helped LOVB Austin open the week with a 3-0 win over Salt Lake (25-18, 29-27, 25-21), finishing with a team-high 15 kills on 30 attempts for a .400 hitting efficiency while adding seven digs. The win came against a Salt Lake team that had already secured its playoff spot, keeping Austin in position heading into the regular season finale.
She elevated her performance in a crucial matchup on the road at Nebraska, leading Austin to a five-set victory (22-25, 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 15-10). Skinner recorded 34 points, setting a LOVB single-match record, with 28 kills, four blocks, and two aces while adding six digs. She earned Player of the Game honors in front of a packed crowd for Jordan Larson’s final home match.
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Across the two matches, Skinner totaled 49 points and 43 kills on a .341 hitting efficiency, averaging 6.13 points per set. The second-year opposite closed her sophomore regular-season campaign ranked second in the league with 332 points and 297 kills after recording at least 20 points in nine matches this season. The performance secured Austin’s playoff berth and marked her first-ever Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
