Orlando Valkyries middle blocker, Kaz Brown (11), executes a spike after a pass from setter, Chompoo Guedpard (3), during a high-stakes match against Dallas Pulse Saturday at Addition Financial Arena.
Courtesy of the Orlando Valkyries
The Orlando Valkyries were swept in three sets by the Dallas Pulse during their third matchup this season on Saturday night at Addition Financial Arena.
The Pulse (10-5) now holds a record of 2-1 against the Valkyries (8-8) in the current season. The teams first met Jan. 25 in Orlando, when the Valkyries took the win 3-2. The second time they faced Feb. 27, the Pulse battled through to a victory.
The Pulse sits second overall in the league, just behind Indy Ignite (12-2) and right before the Valkyries.
Head coach Amy Pauly said inconsistency was the Valkyries’ weak spot.
“I think we were a collective unit two nights ago,” Pauly said. “I think tonight it was one person good for five points and then another person would be good for five points, and we could never get it all.”
Both teams started the match with the same starting lineup as their last game in Dallas.
In the first set, Dallas outside hitter Mimi Colyer opened scoring with the first kill despite the loud arena. The Pulse took an early lead in the first set, leading 16-11. The set ended in a 25-23 thriller that kept the public engaged from the first serve.
Both teams were tied more than six times in the second set. The Valkyries took an early four-point lead at 14-11, but the set soon became a tight battle. The Pulse issued two challenges — one unsuccessful and one inconclusive. The set ended 28-26.
Dallas Pulse head coach Shannon Winzer said there were some adjustments made between timeouts and the set. These adjustments led to “making them play the game they didn’t want to play.”
At halftime, the Orlando Valkyries recognized 16 organizations that work to create more opportunities for women in the City Beautiful and Central Florida. They all received a signed Valkyries jersey.
The third set began just like the last two ended: with back-and-forth rallies until the Dallas Pulse went up by four points, and forced the Valkyries to take their first timeout.
The momentum was with Dallas, which secured a six-point advantage at 23-17. Orlando used its second timeout but could not maintain the pace of the Pulse, who won the set 25-19.
Winzer explained how important it was for the focus to be on the game, not on past matches.
“It doesn’t matter what’s happened,” Winzer said. “I just try to keep them as present as possible.”
Winzer also praised Colyer, who was the leading player for the Pulse with 18 kills, 14 points and hit for a .400 efficiency.
Middle blocker Natalie Foster led the Valkyries with nine points, seven kills and .500 efficiency. Foster is two aces away from becoming the first player to ever record 100 aces in her Major League Volleyball career.
The Valkyries visit Fishers Event Center to face No. 1 Indy Ignite on Thursday at 7 p.m.