The Columbus Fury (1-7) clinched their first win of the 2025 regular season defeating the Grand Rapids Rise (4-5) 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 26-24, 22-25, 15-8) on Friday evening. Izabella Rapacz finished the night with a .364 hitting percentage, 24 points, 23 kills, and 14 digs. Janice Leao led the team in blocks with a franchise-tying five total and ranked first for the team's hitting percentage sitting at .500 for the night.
SET ONE
Columbus and Grand Rapids opened the match evenly before the visitors opened a 5-3 lead. The Rise pushed the lead to 8-4 before a successful block touch challenge, a Megan Lush ace and a Kaylee Cox kill allowed the Fury to tie things up at 7-7. The visitors scored six straight points after that for a 13-7 advantage. The Rise opened their biggest lead of the set at 17-9. The Fury rallied towards the end of the set scoring six straight points of their own to cut the lead to 24-21. Columbus failed to wrap up the comeback and lost the opening set 25-21.
SET TWO
The Fury started the second set with a better groove moving into a 5-2 lead. The home side faced some long rallies but keep the fight alive making it 9-4. The Fury pushed the lead to 14-6 and had the biggest lead of the set at 17-7. The Rise pushed back but couldn’t touch the Fury, who win their first set since January 26th.
SET THREE
Columbus and Grand Rapids traded points at 5-5 before the Rise hit three straight to take a 7-5 lead. The Rise maintained a two-point advantage for much of the set before a block from Leao tied things up at 12-12. The teams continued to go back and forth before Grand Rapids had a 24-20 lead. The Fury dug deep and finished the set with seven straight points to earn the comeback victory at 26-24 and took a 2-1 game lead.
SET FOUR
The fourth set was another back-and-forth affair before the Fury took an 8-5 lead. The Rise fought back to tie things at 9-9 and eventually took a 13-10 advantage. The Rise ran away with much of the set leading at 22-14 before a five point run saw the Fury cut the lead to 21-23. The Rise managed to fend off the comeback attempt however to win the set at 25-22 and force a fifth set.
SET FIVE
Both sides remained deadlocked through the first 16 points of the set with things tied at 8-8. The Fury, feeding off the crowd scored seven straight points to end the match and earn the first victory of the 2025 season.
UP NEXT
The Columbus Fury continue their homestand as they welcome the Orlando Valkyries [4-4] on Wednesday, February 12 at 7 p.m. ET.
For tickets please call 614-380-FURY(3879) or visit columbusfury.com
For the latest on the Columbus Fury, follow the Fury on Facebook, Instagram, and on X @ColumbusFury or visit at columbusfury.com
For media inquiries and interviews, contact Kyle Jackson at kjackson@columbusfury.com.
ABOUT THE COLUMBUS FURY
The Columbus Fury is a professional volleyball team in Columbus, Ohio and a founding member of Pro Volleyball Federation, the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. The Fury are one of eight teams in the league, joining the Atlanta Vibe, Grand Rapids Rise, Indy Ignite, Omaha Supernovas, Orlando Valkyries, San Diego Mojo and Vegas Thrill for the 2025 season. The Fury play their home matches at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus. Tickets for all Columbus Fury matches can be purchased by visiting ColumbusFury.com or by calling the ticket office at (614) 380-FURY. The Fury will begin play at Nationwide Arena on January 11, 2025. For more information about the Fury and season tickets, visit www.columbusfury.com and @columbusfury on social media.
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.
For more information contact: Kyle Jackson (kjackson@columbusfury.com, 380-276-9744)