by ORLANDO—The Columbus Fury are on a roll as they moved to 4-2 on the season with their fourth-consecutive win. The last time Columbus faced the Valkyries, they took the first set but were unable to bring home a win, falling in four sets. The Fury earned another first set win and went on to trade sets with Orlando for their first five-set match of the season. The Valkyries got out to a dominant start in set five, but the Fury battled back to earn the 17-15 win, pushing their winning streak to four.
Set 1
The Fury opened up the match 3-0 behind kills from Samantha Drechsel and Reagan Cooper and pushed their lead to 7-2 forcing the Valkyries timeout. Rainelle Jones recorded the first ace of the match for the Fury, pushing the lead to 20-13 and forcing a second timeout from Orlando. Columbus closed out the set 25-17 behind a near-perfect performance from Ray Santos. Santos dished out 15 assists with four different hitters totaling three or more kills.
Set 2
Set two was competitive throughout with no team leading by more than two until late in the set. The Valkyries made plays late to get separation. After a lights out first set, the Fury totaled just nine kills in the second but kept the score close. Orlando led 21-20 and closed out the set on a 4-1 run to even the match at 1-1.
Set 3
Set three was a marathon with neither team able to build much of a lead. The Fury held a four-point lead on two occasions but each time the Valkyries were able to get back within a point. Columbus was the first team to have a set point at 24-23, and each team had three set point opportunities with the Fury coming out on top on an ace from Drechsel.
Set 4
Orlando would not lie down easily, as they built a quick 7-4 lead to start the set. The Fury were able to tie the set at 7-7 and kept it close for the next few points. Columbus’ serve receive struggled over the next few points and Orlando was able to build a 19-12 lead. Rainelle Jones helped get the Fury back into the set with a back-to-back block and kill that cut the Valkyries lead to three, 21-18. Orlando closed out the set 25-21 to send the Fury to the fifth set for the first time this season.
Set 5
Orlando carried their momentum over from the fourth set and jumped out to the early 7-3 lead, forcing a timeout from coach Pérez. Cooper went back to the service line with the Fury down 8-4 and started her service run with an ace. The team went on to tie the set at 8-all behind a kill from Drechsel and a block from Megan Courtney Lush. Cooper put the team up 14-12 on a kill, but the Valkyries came back to send the set to extra points. Lush would close out the match with a kill that just touched the line to give the Fury the set and match.
Standout Stats
- Reagan Cooper continued her dominance with a 29-kill effort, tying the league-high for kills in a set for the season. She also had a season-high for digs with 16.
- Valeria Léon had a team-high 24 digs which also marks the highes dig total for any member of the Fury this season.
- Ray Santos put up 15 assists in the first set alone and totaled 59 for the match to go along with 10 digs and three kills.
- Rainelle Jones had a season-best 12 kills, her first outing in double-figure kills, and had a match-high five blocks.
