MVP Jordan Thompson was inconsolable after her LOVB Houston team was forced to conclude their current season after a semifinal loss. Thompson and the team squared off with LOVB Salt Lake on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Freedom Hall.
The LOVB Salt Lake team bested the LOVB Houston after dominating straight four sets with 25-20, 25-23, 25-13, and 19-17. The golden set featured 36 points of the season, including 14 tie scores and five overturned set points. LOVB Houston players showed a brave effort, with Thompson leading the team’s offensive side with 24 points, eight of which were recorded in the golden set alone.
The team’s middle blocker Amber Igiede, outside hitter Madi Rishel, and setter Kaisa Alanko posted 12 points, 10 kills, and 10 digs; and 41 assists, respectively. Following the match, MVP Thompson was seen leaving the court in tears.
She was devastated to the extent that her teammates’ efforts to cheer her up went in vain.
The LOVB Salt Lake have earned a spot to compete in the LOVB Championship in Los Angeles on April 16 and 18. They will lock horns with LOVB Austin, who defeated Atlanta in a golden set on Saturday. Thompson was announced as the Most Valuable Player and Opposite Hitter of the Year on Friday. She dominated the league in both points (455) and kills (423).
Jordan Thompson Opens Up On The Importance Of Professional Volleyball League Like LOVB
Jordan Thompson once opened up on the importance of LOVB in building the country’s volleyball system. She highlighted that since the young female volleyball players were initially confused about how to start playing the sport professionally, LOVB has given them a stage and a route to enter the national team.
“One of the goals of LOVB and Athletes Unlimited is to bridge the gap between he college game and professional game. And so, for a long time girls didn’t realize that there was even an opportunity to continue playing volleybal professionally and they didn’t know about going overseas and how to get an agent and where to start off and what’s the best place to be and so now to have it more accessible and more visible I think only going to continue to grow.”
“I think it’s so special because it’s going to help our national team become stronger, she added.
Thompson helped the American team to win a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She also clinched a silver medal with the team in 2024.
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