The Orlando Valkyries celebrate their second victory in a row against the Columbus Fury on Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Courtesy of the Orlando Valkyries
The Orlando Valkyries narrowly escaped the Columbus Fury in a close fifth-setter at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday evening.
The Valkyries delivered their second win in a row on the road and now hold a 3-0 record when playing away from their home stadium.
The five-setter was full of momentum for both teams, but the Valkyries triumphed 3-2 after winning the first set 25-19, the third set 23-13 and the fifth set 15-11. The Fury secured the second and fourth sets 25-16 and 25-2, respectively.
The first set saw a great start from the Valkyries. The team secured a lede through the first six points, 5-1, which led to the Fury’s first timeout. The back-and-forth game prevailed until opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie closed the set with a kill.
The Fury saw a momentum gain in the second set after a favorable challenge that put them ahead 9-3, allowing Columbus to keep its distance and close out the set, 25-16. Outside hitter Raina Terry had a powerful set for the Fury with nine points, six kills, two digs and two blocks.
The Valkyries gained an early lead, 9-3, in the third set that forced the Fury to call their first timeout. Their second timeout came after a 13-4 difference in favor of the away team. The game continued with the Valkyries in front, closing the set 25-13 after an opponent’s error.
The fourth set continued with a momentum swing for both teams. It was the closest set of all five. Middle blocker Regan Pittman-Nelson registered six points, four kills, one dig and one block in the 25-21.
The fifth set close battles favored opposite hitter Charitie Luper, who registered a career high of 24 kills to help the Valkyries win the game. Luper was the most notable player in the match with 24 points, 24 digs and 10 digs.
The Valkyries play back at Addition Financial Arena on Friday at 7 p.m., facing the Atlanta Vibe for the first time in the 2026 season.