Vegas Suffers First Loss to Atlanta in Straight Sets

HENDERSON, Nev. - The Vegas Thrill (1-1) rounded out the season-opening weekend with a three-set loss to the Atlanta Vibe (1-1) on Sunday night at Lee's Family Forum.

Atlanta charged ahead early from the start and never looked back, totaling a .262 hitting percentage compared to Vegas' .124 hitting percentage.

The first two points came from back-to-back service aces, including one from Vegas' Hannah Maddux. After Vegas tied the first set at 6-6, Atlanta went on a strong run to push the lead to 16-11. The Vibe would go on to record seven straight points for a 22-11 cushion and pulled away for the first set victory, 25-13. Nebraska All-American Merritt Beason led the Vibe in set one with four kills and a .375 hitting percentage, while 2024 PVF MVP Leah Edmond posted six digs.

Vegas and Atlanta traded points throughout the first half of set two, with neither team holding more than a two-point advantage through the media timeout. The Thrill cut the lead to 19-18, but the Vibe closed the set with a 6-4 run to take the 25-22 win.

Atlanta runs were the key in the match, including the third set as they started things off up 4-1. Vegas' best run of the match came when they went on a 5-0 run, as Berkeley Oblad posted her fourth kill of the match to square things at 5-5 and Allison Mayfield posted a kill of her own to put the Thrill ahead, 6-5.

Alisha Childress extended the lead, 7-5, with her first kill of the match. After Atlanta ended the run to cut the lead to 11-7 Vegas, they would climb back and score five straight points to tie it up, 13-13. After a back-and-forth latter half of the third set, the Vibe tacked on six straight points to extend their lead to 21-16. The Vibe never looked back and secured the third and final set, 25-20.

The Thrill were led once again by outside hitter Charitie Luper's 13 digs and five kills. Mary Shroll joined Luper with double-digit digs as the libero notched 10 digs. Alisha Childress dished out 23 assists. Vegas had a total of six blocks, with Layne Van BusKirk leading the charge with three blocks.

The Vibe were paced by outside hitter Leah Edmond's match-high 12 digs. Merritt Beason posted a match-high 14 kills and collected six digs on one block. Morgan Hentz joined the double-digit digs with 10 of her own, while setter Marlie Monserez dished out 35 assists.

NEXT FOR THE THRILL: Vegas will continue its four-match homestand at the Lee's Family Forum against the defending PVF champion Omaha Supernovas on Friday at 7 p.m. PT followed by the Orlando Valkyries on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT.

ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is the leading professional volleyball league in the United States. PVF sets the standard for the sport, offering the largest number of franchises, unmatched attendance, extensive broadcast coverage and substantial championship prize money. It combines top-tier talent, including NCAA stars and international athletes, with cutting-edge production and technology to provide fans with an unmatched viewing experience. As a vital link between collegiate volleyball and the professional stage, PVF is dedicated to shaping the future of the sport and increasing visibility for its athletes. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.

ABOUT VEGAS THRILL
From the city that never sleeps, known for its high energy and even higher stakes, Vegas Thrill embodies the spirit of Las Vegas as its new generation of professional athletes and world-class entertainment. The Vegas Thrill is one of eight professional volleyball teams in the second season of the Pro Volleyball Federation, priding itself on respect for athletes and providing fans with the world-class experience for which Vegas is known. For more information and to stay up to date on the latest news, please visit VegasThrill.com.