LOVB Madison just threw a haymaker at the reigning champs, LOVB Austin, with a four-set takedown that left the crowd in Madison, Wisconsin absolutely buzzing. Gong Xiangyu and Temi Thomas-Ailara came to play, and they werenât inviting Austin to their block party.
Madison Chooses Violence
The match kicked off with Madison edging out the first set 25-23, a nail-biter ending with a challenge that had everyone on the edge of their seats. But the real showstopper was the second set where Rebekah Allick went full beast mode. The rookie was a wall, serving up two blocks and four positive touches, holding Austin to a measly 12 points. Take that, Austin.
Head coach Matt Fuerbringer didnât mince words: âMy analogy is like boxing. You take a couple punches, then you're never at your best. I wanted us to come out throwing and see if we could land a couple punches, and we did.â Yeah, Madison threw punches alright, straight to the face.
Gong Xiangyu: Built Different
When it comes to match MVPs, Gong Xiangyu was the undisputed queen, like BeyoncĂ© at a talent show. She racked up 14 kills on a .481 hitting percentage, added three blocks, aced it once, and was a perfect 22-for-22 on digs. Thatâs not just playing; thatâs owning the damn court.
