By Annie Walker

January 16, 2025

ATLANTA, Georgia — The Columbus Fury (0-2) fell to the Atlanta Vibe (2-1) 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 16-14) in five sets on Thursday evening. Rookie Kaylee Cox and new signee Morgan Lewis led the way for the Fury with 22 points. Lewis provided 19 kills and three blocks while Cox added 18 kills, two blocks, and two aces. Megan Lush also had double-digit kills with 12.

Tori Stringer provided 53 assists, a top three match record in franchise history while defensively adding 19 digs. Lush provided assistance in the defensive end adding 18 digs while Paula Cerame had 15 digs.

SET ONE

Atlanta opened the match with a 3-0 run before a serve error gave the Fury their first shot at offense. Columbus failed to convert on the first offensive attempt and found themselves down 5-2 early on. The adversity was not a struggle for the Fury as the team rallied and scored four straight for a 7-6 lead. Both sides traded points before Columbus opened up and maintained a two-point advantage leading 16-14. The lead didn’t last long unfortunately as Atlanta came back to tie the set at 16-16 and then score lead 21-19. The Fury could never recover their lead and fell in the opening set 23-25.

SET TWO

The Fury found themselves in a similar situation down 5-2 early in the second set. The side didn’t get complacent, however, fighting back to tie at 10-10. The side then experienced their best offensive period of the game so far punishing Atlanta with a 10-0 run for a 20-11 lead. Atlanta tried to rally late scoring five to cut the Columbus lead to 22-17 but it was in vain as the Fury won the set 25-19.

SET THREE

The third set started similarly as the previous two where the Fury opened the set with a deficit but rallied back to tie. The sides traded points again, but an Atlanta 8-1 run opened a 17-11 lead the Fury couldn’t recover from. The home side responded by taking the third set 25-18 and a 2-1 lead in the match.

SET FOUR

Columbus were down 7-3 early in the fourth set and came back to tie the set 14-14. The sides traded points before Columbus took a 17-15 lead. The side maintained a two-point advantage staying one step ahead of the Vibe’s attempts to close out the match. Columbus won the set 25-22, extending the match to a fifth set for the first time this season.

SET FIVE

The Fury won the fifth set coin toss and opened with an 8-4 lead. The Vibe responded however with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 9-9. The sides remained tied up at 14-14 before two kills from Merritt Beason sealed the 16-14 set and 3-2 match win for the hosts.

The Columbus Fury return home to Nationwide Arena on Saturday, January 18 to face newcomers Indy Ignite (2-0] at 7 p.m. ET. The match begins a three-game homestand for the Fury.

For tickets please call 614-380-FURY(3879) or visit columbusfury.com

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COURTESY COLUMBUS FURY COMMUNICATIONS