By Annie Walker
3 27 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Fury (5-5) are back in the win column after a massive win over the league-leading Atlanta Vibe (9-4) on Sunday afternoon. The two teams did not have to wait long to see each other again as Columbus heads to the ATL to face the Vibe once again. The Vibe are 4-2 at home and will be looking to protect home court after the Fury snapped their five-match win streak.
Fury Players to Watch
Asjia O’Neal was just named the Player of the Week for Pro Volleyball Federation after two monster performances last week. O’Neal returned from injury against Grand Rapids and despite the loss posted 13 kills on 26 swings. She put together an even better performance against the Vibe with 17 kills on a .556 hitting percentage. O’Neal averaged 4.25 points per set on the week and looks like she is just getting started.
Kaitlyn Hord has not started the last two matches, but she has been in to finish them. She played in the fourth set against Grand Rapids where she totaled three kills and three blocks in the set. Against the Vibe, Hord entered the match in set two and played the rest of the way tallying five kills and four blocks for the match.
Fury Fast Facts
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Reagan Cooper had 22 kills in the win over Atlanta, her highest total since posting 29 in the win over Orlando. She is averaging 4.28 kills per set on the season.
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Tori Stringer has settled in quickly for the Fury. Stringer posted her two highest assist totals of the year in the first two matches with Columbus, including a 51-assist outing in the win over her former team, Atlanta.
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Columbus is third in the league in blocks per set averaging 2.56 behind only Atlanta (2.82) and Vegas (2.62).
Notes on the Vibe
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Leah Edmond leads the league with 219 kills on the season and is one of only two players who have reached the 200 kill mark.
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The Vibe are averaging a league-best 18.53 digs per set led by libero Morgan Hentz who is averaging just over four digs per set.
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Atlanta also leads the league in opponent kill percentage allowing just a .315 clip, nearly 30 points better than the next team (Omaha, .340).
COURTESY COLUMBUS FURY COMMUNICATIONS
