The Orlando Valkyries will square off against the Vegas Thrill on Thursday, February 22 at 10 p.m. The match will take place at Vegas’ Dollar Loan Center and will be streamed on YouTube.
This will be the second meeting between Orlando (2-3) and Vegas (2-2). The Valkyries got its first win in franchise history when the two teams faced off earlier this month. This time around, Vegas is coming off a win and Orlando looks to get back in the win column.
Valkyries Players to Watch:
Adora Anae missed the Valkyries’ last match against Omaha but scored 15 points the previous match against Columbus. Anae is the first Orlando player to clinch the Pro Volleyball Federation's Player of the Week title, winning the honors in week 3 of the 2024 season. She brings six years of professional volleyball experience from various countries including South Korea, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, and Greece to the team. 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 leader with 501 kills 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.
Jill Gillen led the Valkyries in points (14) and kills (13) against Omaha. In five matches this season, Gillen is averaging 14.2 kills per contest. 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.
Thrill Players to Watch:
Hannah Maddux is averaging 16.25 points, 13.25 kills per match. She has had at least three blocks in all her matches except one. Maddux was drafted by the Thrill as the 26th overall draft pick in the Pro Volleyball Federation's inaugural draft. She attended the University of South Alabama, where she led her
team to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Maddux ended her collegiate career by being third in the Sun Belt conference & 27th nationally in total kills, along with ranking third in the conference in total attacks.
Molly McCage is the Vegas Thrill’s sole player selected to the Pro Volleyball Federation’s Preseason All-League Team. In four matches, McCage has 18 blocks and is averaging 4.5 per contest. As a middle blocker, she represented the USA National Team, achieving a gold medal at the Pan American Cup in 2017. During her collegiate career at the University of Texas, she garnered numerous honors, including being named to the All-Big 12 First Team, two All-American titles, and a National Championship win in 2012. In McCage’s professional career, she played in the German Women’s Volleyball League earning medals of bronze, silver, and gold, and was named the league’s Best Blocker.
The two teams will face off two 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 www.OrlandoValkyries.com visit the Addition Financial Arena box office, or go to the Ticketmaster website: https://www.ticketmaster.com Fans can follow the team on Facebook or via Twitter Instagram, and TikTok - @ORLValkyries or visit OrlandoValkyries.com.
* Orlando Valkyries, Pro Volleyball, DIG IT! *