ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Valkyries are set to host the Grand Rapids Rise on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. The match will take place at Addition Financial Arena and will be streamed on YouTube. Tickets for the match are still available and fans can visit the Orlando Valkyries website for additional information.
Friday’s contest will mark the first meeting between Orlando (3-4) and Grand Rapids (3-2). The Valkyries and coming off a 3-1 (30-28, 17-25, 25-23, 25-18) loss to the Omaha Supernovas. The Rise are also looking to bounce back from a 3-1 (34-36, 27-25, 23-25, 23-25) loss to the San Diego Mojo.
Valkyries Players to Watch:
Jill Gillen led both teams in total points (22) and kills (18) in the Valkyries last contest against the Omaha Supernovas. In seven matches this season, Gillen is averaging 15.7 kills. The 5-foot-7 outside hitter was acquired via trade during the league's College Player Draft. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she made an impact immediately as an outside hitter and was selected to the SEC All-Freshmen Team. During the rest of her time with the Razorbacks, she was named to the AVCA All-South Region Team and the All-SEC Team three times each.
Adora Anae recorded a double-double against the Supernovas — 12 kills and 18 digs. She had a total of 16 points, with two aces and two blocks. Anae’s all-round game has been vital for the Valkyries. She leads the team in points (20) and kills (17) per match. Anae is the first Orlando player to clinch the Pro Volleyball Federation's Player of the Week title, winning the honor in week 3 of the 2024 season. She is a sixth-year pro, with experiences from various countries, including South Korea, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Ukraine and Greece. Prior to her professional career, Anae excelled at the University of Utah, where she earned recognition as the first-ever player named to the 1st-Team Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She holds the record for the school's all-time single season kills (501) and was the first player in program history to achieve consecutive AVCA All-American honors, as well as being named to the All-AVCA First Team.
Rise Players to Watch:
Emiliya Dimitrova, an opposite hitter, is leading Grand Rapids in total points (18) and kills (16.4) per match. In the Rise’s last contest against the San Diego Mojo, she recorded 17 kills. Dimitrova, who made her pro debut in 2007 at 16 years old, is in her seventeenth professional season. She has played for 13 different clubs in six countries: Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, Romania, Japan and France. Dimitrova is also a member of the Bulgarian National Team and has capture five medals, including two gold.
Claire Chaussee, an outside hitter, is second on the Rise in total points (17) and kills (15.6) per match. Chaussee has had double-digit kills in all five matches this season. In Grand Rapids last contest against San Diego, she recorded 10 kills, a block and an ace. This is Chaussee’s third professional season. She attended the University of Louisville, where she won the 2022 ACC Player of the Year, in addition to being named a AVCA First Team All-American, the AVCA All-East Region Player of the Year and Final Four All-Tournament Team honoree.
The two teams will face off three more times in the 2024 season.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world-class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT ORLANDO VALKYRIES
The Orlando Valkyries, proud member team in the Pro Volleyball Federation – the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. The Valkyries will play out of Addition Financial Arena, located in the heart of the University of Central Florida campus, and will begin play in January 2024. Home opener and season tickets for the inaugural season are on sale now. For more information on how to get tickets, contact the Orlando Valkyries sales department at (321)-244-4600 Ext. 113, email Tickets@OrlandoValkyries.com, click on OrlandoValkyries.com, visit the Addition Financial Arena box office, or go to the Ticketmaster website: Ticketmaster.com. Fans can follow the team on Facebook or via X, Instagram, and TikTok - @ORLValkyries or visit OrlandoValkyries.com.
* Orlando Valkyries, Pro Volleyball, DIG IT! *