Fury look to continue winning ways to close out homestand
The Columbus Fury return to the court Friday evening looking to accomplish something it hasn't done since late February, establish a winning streak. The Fury were victorious against the league leading Atlanta Vibe last Friday claiming a 3-1 win and snapping a lengthy six match losing streak. Despite the negative results, head coach Àngel Pérez praised his team for the effort it exhibited during the down stretch.
“I think life is just and fair," he said. "We’ve been struggling for the last two-three weeks for a million reasons. Injuries, flu, virus, all kinds of stuff we’ve gone through and these girls never stopped fighting. These girls never stopped working hard at the gym, these girls among the struggles still want to get better, still want to find a way to get out of it. I think when you do that, when you work hard like that, when you have good energy, and you provide that every time in practice, in games, life will pay you back at some point.”
Pérez and his team hope that repayment continues as Columbus welcomes the Orlando Valkyries to town on Friday, before closing out its three-match home stand against Grand Rapid Rise on Sunday afternoon.
The Fury come into the busy weekend with a week of rest, allowing the team to nurse ailments and refocus on the playoff push ahead of them.
Opposite hitter Kendall Kipp has been electrifying since arriving in Central Ohio following the conclusion of her season in Italy. Just three matches into her Fury career she's notched 20-plus kills and was dominant in the Columbus victory against Atlanta. She credits the team's welcoming nature for allowing her to get acclimated so quickly.
“They’ve been so welcoming. I feel like I immediately felt a part of the team and they are such amazing girls to play with, it’s been so fun," Kipp said of her new squad. "I think it’s been taking a few days to kind of just adjust to playing with new people and a new style of play. I feel like they’ve brought me into the team immediately.”
Kipp isn't the only player that has shined in recent appearances. Outside hitter Jenaisya Moore has stepped up in the absence of teammate Reagan Cooper, who missed the game against Las Vegas will an illness, and was limited in action against Atlanta. Jumping at the opportunity she notched her first professional double-double and was consistent with her service reception.
Former Maryland standout Rainelle Jones will be one to watch when Columbus welcomes Orlando to Nationwide Arena. In early March, she totaled 12 kills and five blocks, which are season bests for the middle blocker.
Orlando sits just above Columbus in the standings with a record of 7-12 (4-5 on the road) this season. Collecting a win against the Valkyries would be a critical first step in the Fury's assent up the standings to grab that coveted fourth and final playoff position.
Columbus battles Orlando this evening with first serve scheduled for shortly after 7 PM. You can catch the game on YouTube. Neil Sika will be on the call alongside hall-of-famer Audrey Flaugh.