HEAD COACH ÁNGEL PÉREZ
Opening Statement …
“Good win for us. I thought coming of a difficult road trip, you know, all the way from Vegas, a quick turnaround from playing Sunday to playing Wednesday. So, hats off to these girls that again never complained, come to work hard every single day and slowly, they're seeing the results of the last couple of months that we've been working our butts off. So, I'm really happy for this group. We know where we are, we know what's at stake and the things that we want to accomplish as a group and I think, we're all committed to try to do it. And that's all I can ask for at this part of the season. It feels good to have three wins in a row. I think it's second time, we've done it in the season. But this gives perspective, you know, to all the hours that we put in the gym, that finally the results are starting to come out. We knew that if we work hard the right way without looking to the left, or to the right and accomplish things will eventually arrive. And I think slowly things are turning around for us. We'll see if it's too little too late, but we're definitely going to try to go up that leaderboard as well as we can get from here. And the next six games that we have left.”
On some members of the team stepping up …
“Yeah, you know, I think, uh, let's start with this girl in the right. [talking about Janice Leao) You know, she's come into the last two games after being on the bench the whole season, you know, and Kaylee [Rammelsberg] suffers an injury and that's how it's been, you know. Next girl up. She has accepted the challenge not today, but the game before at Vegas, she also had an incredible match for us. So, starting with her again, she was really dominant with her presence on block. She controlled the middle of the net for us. I thought we won that battle today and, you know, she was effective with her serve which she's been working on. So that's great. Other than Janet, I thought Paula [Cerame] had a phenomenal match today. She's been slowly stepping up the last couple of games. And she gave us a lot of oxygen and a lot of moments where we couldn't put the ball down. And, you know, she kept digging those balls for us to give us energy. And then Kaylee, you know, Cox after being three sets on the bench in a tough situation. You know, in a tight ball game, hasn't played also in a couple of matches to step in and it's like if nothing happened. So again, everybody that comes in, is doing their job. The double block I thought was key today on the three sets that we won Wilma [Rivera] came in and press with the serve Morgan [Lewis], press with the block and the attack. So, I thought overall it was a again a great team win like you said and that's what we've been preaching all year that we don't have any player that will go 40 points every night and carry us. We really need to share the load and try to be good as a group. And I think I'm happy that slowly things are being seen.”
On the mindset going into the home finale …
“Yeah, you know, it hasn't changed for us even when we were O-7 and bottom of the table. We wanted to keep chipping and keep getting better individually and as a group every day and hoping that this kind of game and wins will come along the way, you know, so this gives us confidence to keep working hard. This gives us reassurance that the thing that we're working on are the right things to work on. And again, we have a tough battle on Friday here at home with Orlando, one of the top teams in the league. Last time we had them here we had a really nice opportunity to beat them and you know ended up losing in four, all of the sets really tight. So, I'm excited for a new opportunity to compete with them. We still have two games with them left, so I think if we can get those two, we're gonna go .500 with them. And so, we're in the situation that we are in. We're trying to set attainable goals for us to finish the best way possible. And, you know, we want to, like I told you before the game, we started 0-7 on the season, we want to finish 7-0, you know. Even if we don't end up making the playoffs, that would speak highly about this group and the way they train and the way they progress through the season. So that's our short-term goal. And you know, next team is Orlando for us to fulfill that.”
JANICE LEAO, #14, MB
On answering the call to play …
“I mean I've been waiting like all season just for like the moment and just like my opportunities to go on the court. My mindset is pretty much just to be ready every single match because you know the opportunity is going to come here and there and I think it has been like the past two matches, so pretty much just like having that mindset and obviously like just preparing and practice, you know, like all the girls are super competitive and we help each other out. So even coming off the bench like I seek their input and feedback so that's been really helpful. Uh, and just like on my teammates they just spend super helpful and everything that I've been doing in practice so that just makes it easier.”
IZABELLA RAPACZ, #2, OPP.
On the Mojo making adjustments …
“I know before the game, we prepare for every single player, we know that there's a probability of them coming inside the court and changing the game. So, we're prepared for all the players that come inside. I was really glad that it really didn't. We stayed in rhythm, no matter who came on San Diego’s side. So, I think we really did a good job with scouting and doing our job on the court.”
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.
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For more information contact: Kyle Jackson (kjackson@columbusfury.com)