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 alrightâstraight 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.
Temi Thomas-Ailara wasnât playing sidekick either. She led in points with 19 kills, one ace, and two blocks. This duo? Different animal, same beast.
The Fans: Madison's Secret Weapon
Rookie middle blocker Rebekah Allick felt the love: âThe fans, they really wanted that win tonight, and you could just feel it. They've always been rooting for us, but they feel the losses just as much as we do.â Madison fans, youâre the real MVPs.
Next up is a showdown with LOVB Houston on March 21. Get your popcorn ready, because Madisonâs revenge tour is just heating up.
Prediction: Madison closes out the season with a home win streak that even the Avengers would envy.
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Source: oursportscentral.com
