Columbus Fury winning over fans of pro women's volleyball
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
/2024/02/27/1709061834705.gif?w=3840)
Valeria León sets up Reagan Cooper for a spike. Clip: Tyler Buchanan/Axios
It was not the ear-splitting rock music typically heard at professional sporting events, but a more literal refrain for the Columbus Fury's first timeout: Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
Why it matters: Our new pro women's volleyball team is inspiring a new generation of women's sports fans, furthering a regional goal to become an inclusive sports hub.
State of play: The Fury are one of seven inaugural teams in the Pro Volleyball Federation, the first U.S. league of its kind since the 1980s.
- Most players, like middle blocker Jenna Rosenthal, are former collegiate stars previously forced to continue their careers in Europe.
- Now they get the chance to compete domestically and grow the sport in America, Rosenthal says.
How it works: Matches are played in a best-of-5 format, with the first four a race to 25 points and a deciding fifth set (if needed) played to 15.
- Each team has a 24-match schedule over four months. The best four of seven teams will advance to the postseason.
Between the lines: New traditions are forming through the franchise's first two home matches at Nationwide Arena.
- A pre-match video montage shows children reading the text of Title IX, the landmark 1972 civil rights law that spurred a women's sports boom.
- The "Mystery Seat Monday" promotion upgrades a few fans from the cheap seats to courtside views.
- During timeouts, the floor is cleaned by four dancing gentlemen in sunglasses and hats known as "The Mopsters."
Matches move quickly. After a point ends, the serving team has just 15 seconds for the ball to hit the air.
- Fans chant "We! Are! Fury!" in sync with the bump, set, spike of the ball, with a rising swell of cheers as a rally progresses.
- It culminates in a loud celebration if Columbus wins the point, then fans quickly sink back into a hush for the next serve.
What they're saying: "A crescendo of enthusiasm. That's one of the best parts about (volleyball)," announcer Neil Sika tells us.
- He'll soon be calling Fury games on the Bally Sports Network, with prior experience broadcasting Big Ten volleyball, the Columbus Crew and many other sports.
The intrigue: There are no line judges to determine if shots are "in" or "out." Instead, a camera system relays calls to a referee in real time.
- Coaches use tablets to challenge calls, substitute players and call timeouts.
Our thought bubble: The match-viewing experience for fans is excellent, but Nationwide Arena could use some improvement.
- Axios walked the concourse before Monday's match and noticed a lack of Fury banners, wall pieces or volleyball-themed decorations.
- Only hockey is on display, but an arena that's home to the Blue Jackets and Fury should start to look like it.
Meet some of the team:
The former Buckeyes: Libero Valeria León and outside hitters Ashley Wenz and Jenaisya Moore played a combined 10 seasons at OSU.
- León spent six seasons in the pro Puerto Rican League and is a defensive specialist, while Wenz and Moore look for spikes at the net.
The civil engineer: Middle blocker Jenna Rosenthal played overseas in Finland and Germany before returning to pursue an engineering career.
- She then jumped at the chance to continue her career with the Pro Volleyball Federation and mentor younger players.
- "It's not about my career anymore, it's about their career," she said in a team bio. "I still got it, I'm not old, but it's really about building something special. Engineering is cool, but the parks and public space design can wait."
The coach: Ángel Pérez is a legend of Puerto Rican men's volleyball and captained the national team for six years before turning to coaching.
- He was a setter by trade — dishing the ball for teammates to spike — and now hopes to set up the Fury for success in the new league.