LOVB Salt Lake pulled ahead in the 2026 LOVB Championship Series with a thrilling five-set victory over Austin on Thursday night, taking a 1-0 lead while shooting for a franchise-first League One Volleyball title.
The match delivered drama worthy of the championship stage. Salt Lake now stands one win away from claiming the second-year pro volleyball league's Tiffany Trophy.
"I thought we stuck together as a group and did what we could do even through the weird," said Salt Lake outside hitter Alexa Gray. "Just really proud of how we stayed in it and fought."
Austin showed resilience despite the loss. Middle blockers Asjia O'Neal and Molly McCage led the offense, with O'Neal registering 12 points while hitting .391 and adding five blocks. McCage contributed 13 points on .389 hitting, while Austin out-blocked Salt Lake 18-14.
However, Salt Lake's offense proved more efficient, hitting .253 compared to Austin's .190.
"It is disappointing to not get the win there, but I liked our resiliency, I like how we fought," Austin head coach Erik Sullivan said postmatch. "We have to win Saturday, that's the day that matters."
How to Watch 2026 LOVB Championship Series Game 2
Austin will look to stage a comeback in Saturday’s final series closer, hoping to force a decisive golden set for a shot at claiming the 2026 title.
Salt Lake takes on Austin tomorrow at 8 PM ET, live on USA Network.
Professional volleyball is back in action this week, with both League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV) kicking off their 2026 seasons as the sport's pro landscape continues to grow.
Featuring an Olympian-heavy player pool, LOVB is returning with its six inaugural teams as reigning champion Austin looks to run the title back this season before the second-year league adds three new clubs in 2027.
Meanwhile, following a blockbuster merger with the two-season-old Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), MLV will start serving with eight teams as 2025 PVF champs Orlando Valkyries embarks on their own title defense, all while the new conglomerate eyes more future expansion.
As NCAA volleyball continues to dominate the fall calendar, multiple pro leagues — each armed with top talent and broadcast deals — are forming in response to demand from both players and fans.
How to watch the 2026 season starts of LOVB and MLV
LOVB hits the 2026 court first with a rematch of the league's 2025 championship, with defending title-winners Austin facing runners-up Nebraska at 6 PM ET on Wednesday, airing on USA Network.
Then on Thursday, MLV enters the fray as the Atlanta Vibe hosts the Columbus Fury at 7 PM ET before the San Diego Mojo visits the Omaha Supernovas at 8 PM ET. Both MLV matches will stream live on YouTube.
LOVB volleyball is coming back to cable, as the pro volleyball league announced a Wednesday night primetime partnership with USA Network for its 2026 season.
From January through April, USA Network will air a "Match of the Week" nearly every Wednesday evening, starting with a 2025 championship rematch between runners-up LOVB Nebraska and title-winners LOVB Austin on January 7th, 2026.
USA Network will also broadcast a portion of LOVB's 2026 postseason, including one semifinal and both games in the league's new two-match championship series.
Gearing up for its second season, LOVB features a talented player pool amid an increasingly crowded pro volleyball market.
One in every five LOVB athletes are Olympians, with 90% of the league's international players and 75% of its US players boasting national team experience.
Even more, growing demand for the sport has expansion on the horizon for the six-team league, with LOVB preparing to launch its seventh franchise in Los Angeles — backed by Angel City and Chelsea FC investor Alexis Ohanian — in 2027.
How to watch the 2026 LOVB season on USA Network
The second season of LOVB opens when inaugural champions Austin take on runners-up Nebraska at 6 PM ET on January 7th, 2026.
Live coverage will air on USA Network.