Fury Hit the Road for Back-To-Back Away Matches
Published on February 18, 2026 under Major League Volleyball (MLV)
Columbus Fury News Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Fury hit the road for back-to-back away matches, starting against the Atlanta Vibe on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at Gas South Arena. The Fury will stay on the road and head to Orlando for a match-up with the Valkyries on Sunday at 4 p.m.
THE SERIES
This is the 10th meeting between the Columbus Fury and the Atlanta Vibe, with the Vibe holding a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series. Columbus opened the season with a win over the Vibe, marking the Fury's first win over the Vibe in Atlanta. The teams were scheduled to meet in Columbus on Sunday, January 25 but the match was postponed due to inclement weather and will now be played Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. at Nationwide Arena.
THE OPPONENT
The Atlanta Vibe roster features a near even split of additions and returners with seven Vibe veterans and nine players that are joining the Vibe for the first time. Outside Hitter Leah Edmond, who has played for the Vibe since the inaugural season, was named to the Preseason All-League Team. Middle Blocker Khori Louis, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, looks to build on her first season as a defensive force for Atlanta. The Vibe added two rookies in the top 10 of the MLV Draft in November - outside hitter Ava Martin (Creighton) and setter Averi Carlson (SMU). Head Coach Kayla Banwarth, the 2025 Coach of the Year, returns at the helm of the Vibe.
UNLEASH THE FURY
- The Fury features a roster filled with international experience, looking to improve on the foundation created over the first two seasons.
- Columbus' roster also features four Ohio natives, Megan Lush, Ashley Evans, Raina Terry and Abby Walker, who will once again be playing volleyball in the Buckeye State.
- Head Coach Ángel Pérez returns for his third season at the helm after signing a multi-year contract extension in August.
- The Fury lead Major League Volleyball with 2.92 blocks per set and are second with 108 total blocks. Columbus has had double-digit blocks in six matches, including a franchise record 17 blocks in the Jan. 10 loss to Omaha.
- Raina Terry has had a big start to the season, following up on her solid rookie year in 2025. The Marengo, Ohio native is third in MLV with 181 points and is first with 4.89 points per set. Terry has had double-digit kills in every match and has three double-doubles as well.
- Regan Pittman-Nelson has been a force at the net for the Fury this season, leading the league with 0.81 blocks per set and tied for second with 26 total blocks. Pittman-Nelson has also been an offensive threat, scoring double-digit points in six matches this season.
- The Fury join the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) and the Columbus Crew (MLS) as the major league teams representing the city.
BLOCK PARTY
The Columbus Fury's biggest strength this season has been the team's presesence at the net, stuffing a Major League Volleyball leading 2.92 blocks per set. Despite playing the fewest sets in the league so far this season, the Furty are second in the league with 108 total blocks. The team has posted double-digit blocks in six of the eight matches this season and in the narrow loss to Omaha the Fury set a franchise record with 17 total blocks. This has been a team effort by the Fury, as Regan Pittman-Nelson leads the team with 26 blocks while Raina Terry is right behind her with 24 blocks and three other players also have double-digit blocks.
THE RETURNERS
Megan Lush, Raina Terry and Abby Walker - all Ohio natives - return for another season with the Columbus Fury in 2026. The duo of Terry and Walker were drafted in 2024 and played big roles for the Fury as rookies last season. Terry made an immediate impact, finishing second on the team with 2.55 kills per set (194 kills) and 3.11 points per set (236) after being selected with the 11th overall pick. Walker led the team in blocks and hitting percentage after being taken with the 32nd overall pick. Lush, the two-time team captain and 2025 MLV All-Star, had another great all-around season for the Fury in 2025, finishing with 163 kills, 220 digs, 22 blocks and nine service aces.
THE NEWCOMERS
The Columbus Fury signed several high-impact free agents in August, adding more experience and size to the roster. Among those free agents is setter Ashley Evans - an Ohio native - who played last season for Bergamo in the Italian league after being the MLV assists leader during the league's inaugural season in 2024. Additionally, the Fury added middle blocker Rachel Gomez, setter Audrey Pak and middle blocker Regan Pittman in August. Columbus later signed middle blocker Rainelle Jones, an MLV veteran and Fury fan favorite from the 2024 season, outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge, libero Kamaile Hiapo and opposite Kashauna Williams.
THE ROOKIES
With a plan of adding "point scorers" to the roster during the 2025 MLV Draft, the Columbus Fury did just that by adding Flormarie Heredia Colon (Miami), Maya Winterhoff (App State) and free agent Akasha Anderson (Purdue). Heredia Colon, an outside hitter from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, led the NCAA in kills as a senior in 2025 and set the Miami record for career kills. Winterhoff, a middle blocker, led the Sun Belt in hitting percentage for a third-consecutive season in 2025, while Anderson, an outside hitter, was named All-Big Ten Second Team in her final collegiate season.
The Columbus Fury are scheduled to return home to Nationwide Arena to host Indy Ignite on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The Fury have several ticket options available for fans - including single match, partial plans and full season tickets. Click here or email columbusfury@columbusfury.com for more details. Fans can also call the ticket office at 614-380-FURY (3879).
Major League Volleyball Stories from February 18, 2026
- MLV All-Star Fan Voting Opens Thursday for 2026 Showcase in Orlando - San Diego Mojo
- MLV All-Star Fan Voting Begins on Thursday - Columbus Fury
- Atlanta Vibe Take on Columbus at Home Thursday - Atlanta Vibe
- Valkyries Celebrate Women in Sports Night March 7; Host Florida-UCF Spring Match Ahead of Showdown with Dallas Pulse - Orlando Valkyries
- Last Rise Student Rush Night on February 26 - Grand Rapids Rise
- Fury Hit the Road for Back-To-Back Away Matches - Columbus Fury
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