COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The newest professional sports team in Columbus is playing its inaugural game on Thursday.
The Fury will begin its first season in the new Pro Volleyball Federation with a match at 7 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Rise. The PVF is attempting to bring professional volleyball into the fold for American sports fans, with big-name investors coming in to give the league a strong start.
One of those investors is Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and his family, who are part of the Columbus ownership group. The Fury will play two away games before its first match at Nationwide Arena on Feb. 21 against the Omaha Supernovas.
To get you ready for Columbus Fury volleyball, here are things to know about the sport, league, and the team:
What are the PVF’s rules?
The league will follow the same scoring system that is used in the NCAA and the Olympics. For a team to win a match, they must win three out of five sets. To win a set, a team has to reach 25 points or win by two points. The only exception is if a match goes to a fifth set, where the required score to win the set drops to 15.
Each team has six players on either side with five specialized positions and tactical formations used by teams. The positions are as follows:
Setter: Primary role to set up attackers on offense for spike chances to earn points.
Middle Blocker: Primary defender at the net, looking to block the opposing team’s spikes. Also used for attacking opportunities.
Outside Hitter: Left-side attacking player. Commonly hit spike shots and earn the most points for a team.
Opposite Hitter: Right-side attacking player that plays a balance of offensive and defense.
Libero: A defensive specialist that has a specific rule set. Liberos wear different colored jerseys to the rest of the team, can only play in the back row, and cannot attack the ball at the net. Libero’s rarely are ever subbed out during a match.
How many teams are in the league?
The PVF will start with seven teams who will each play 24 regular games from January to May. The top four teams in the regular season standings will advance to the PVF playoffs. The playoffs will begin on May 16 and end with the championship match on May 19.
Teams span across the country, with the Fury being one of two Midwest teams in the inaugural season alongside the Grand Rapids Rise in Michigan. In the south will be two teams in city’s with both NBA and MLS franchises — the Atlanta Vibe and Orlando Valkyries.
In the central part of the country will be the Omaha Supernovas in Nebraska. The Cornhusker State has adopted volleyball as one of its favorite sports and turned out in droves for an August college outdoor match between Nebraska and Omaha. More than 92,000 fans attended to set the world record for the most attended women’s sporting event.
The West Coast will have two teams with the San Diego Mojo giving the California city a third professional sports team. Las Vegas will have the Thrill as its team to continue the ever-expanded landscape of professional sports teams and events in the city.
In 2025, the PVF will add teams in Dallas, Indianapolis, and Kansas City.
Players to watch for the Columbus Fury
Columbus’ roster consists of a mix of experienced professional players and a few rookies with extensive NCAA resumes.
One of the main stars is rookie Asjia O’Neal, the team and league’s first draft pick. The Texas middle blocker won two national championships with the Longhorns and is a multiple-time All-American. O’Neal is the daughter of retired NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal and overcame an open-heart operation she had when she was 13.
The Fury has multiple professionals who were NCAA All-Americans. Outside hitter Megan Lush had an accomplished collegiate career at Penn State and plays for the U.S. national team. Former Ohio State libero Valeria Leon comes back to Columbus after six seasons in Puerto Rico. The team’s first signing, Jenna Rosenthal has played professionally in Europe and with the U.S. team.
Columbus’ coach is Angel Perez, a former international player for Puerto Rico who played across Europe. He is considered one of the best Puerto Rican male volleyball players ever.
How to watch Fury games
PVF games will be available to watch on multiple platforms. The league has media rights deals with CBS, Stadium, and Bally Live.
Games on Stadium and Bally Live will be available to stream for free, with CBS Sports Network set to broadcast matches as well. The Fury’s opening game Thursday night against the Rise will be streamed on Stadium.
