Vibes were high Thursday night in Duluth, GA, as the Atlanta Vibe opened their season at Gas South Arena against the Columbus Fury. The Vibe is one of eight teams competing in Major League Volleyball’s third season and is Atlanta’s second fully professional women’s sports team.
In a best-of-five match, Atlanta came out strong winning the first set 25-23 before narrowly dropping the second set 29-31. Columbus carried that momentum into the third and fourth sets, closing out the match 25-19.
Atlanta rookie setter Maddie Waak, fresh off an NCAA Volleyball Championship with Texas A&M last month, made a statement in her Vibe debut with 47 assists. Outside Hitter Leah Edmond, a member of the Vibe since the team’s inaugural season, led the team with 17 points and 16 kills.
The arena was filled with season ticket holders, local junior volleyball teams, Georgia Tech frats, and families eager to experience their first professional volleyball match. The in-arena hype crew kept fans engaged throughout the two-and-a-half-hour contest, interacting with the crowd and maintaining a lively atmosphere from start to finish.
Despite the 3-1 loss, the Vibe stayed in the arena for nearly 45 minutes after the match to sign autographs and take photos with fans, reinforcing the team’s commitment to building a welcoming, fan-first environment.
As professional volleyball continues to grow in the U.S., Major League Volleyball’s main competitor, LOVB Pro, begins its second season next week at the 1,300-seat OTE Arena in Atlantic Station.
For their second game of the season, Atlanta looks to bounce back on Sunday at 4 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Rise. The match will air on CBS Sports, and tickets are available here.
