Orlando Valkyries VS Vegas Thrill | HIGHLIGHTS | PVF 2025. For their final regular season match of 2025, the Orlando Valkyries defeated the Vegas Thrill in four sets by set scores of 25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19. With this win, the Valkyries have won their fifth match in a row, playing their best ball just in time for the playoffs next week. Finishing with an 18-10 record, Orlando has obtained a complete turnaround in just one season, going from 8-16 last year to an 18-10 record this year, with plenty more volleyball up for grabs.
Coming into tonight, the goal for the Valkyries was to continue the momentum that they’ve built over the last couple of weeks. With the playoffs being held in the same arena they played in tonight; Orlando used this match as a tone setter for the week ahead.
To kick off the match, the Valkyries offense stalled for the majority of the first set. Despite being out blocked 4-2 and losing the efficiency battle .216 to .125, Orlando was able to find success by finding ways to steal points. No one has a more lethal serve in the league than Natalie Foster who racked up 3 straight service aces to push their lead to 14-11, sending Vegas into a frenzy that got them out of their rhythm. Despite the low volume of offense at display and only recording 10 kills in the entire first set, that little run was all the Valkyries needed to stay ahead of Vegas and taking set one 25-22.
Looking to go up 2-0 in the match, Orlando started out fast in the second set, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. After an opportunity was opened from a service error by Natalie Foster, Vegas found a way to go on a four-point run of their own, with Hannah Maddux leading the charge. Despite being better offensively than their first set, Orlando couldn’t find a way to get the momentum back on their side. With three reception errors and four attack errors, Orlando created self-inflicted wounds that Vegas took advantage of. They would not allow Orlando to get within one point the rest of the way and won 25-21 because of that.
Out of the break, the Valkyries knew they needed to be tougher and turn up the intensity. With Orlando having a 11-8 lead, they would go on a 6-3 run to lead 17-11, in large part due to Vegas making key mistakes and Kaz Brown grabbing three straight kills. However, Vegas would scratch and claw themselves back in it, getting the score to as close as 20-16, but with the early hole they dug themselves in, it just wasn’t enough, as Orlando took the set 25-19.
To finish off the match, Orlando would generate its highest efficiency of the night, hitting .342 with Natalie Foster, Lindsey Vander Weide and Brittany Abercrombie all grabbing three or more kills. Adding three more service aces, one by Elli McKissock and two by Kaz Brown, Orlando finished off the night with a 25-19 set four win, feeling good heading into next week’s playoffs.
Playoff Preview: With the playoff order now set, the Valkyries are slated to face the Atlanta Vibe, while the Indy Ignite will face the Omaha Supernovas on May 9 in a single elimination bracket. The Supernovas will take on the Ignite starting at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the Valkyries vs. Vibe, which is scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. ET. In four meetings this season, both Orlando and Atlanta have gone 2-2 against each other, with the last matchup resulting in an Atlanta sweep back on April 12. All playoff matches will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network.
Shampoo, good pard.
Seeing a complete turnaround.
Back row, Jardim gets some help from the tape,
and it's a 2.6.
The Throves really want to run that quick
big down the middle of the court.
They feel very comfortable having an offense
down the pipeline, opening up back to the sideline.
Watch as Maddox is able to open back to that sideline,
getting a little bit lucky off the top of that tape.
Well, you can see Hannah reach back
and try to get a couple extra MPHs on that serve.
Acer Air coming into the red zone.
Got to push the envelope, and I respect that serve.
So we go from one top server to the other.
Natalie Foster had a 6-0 run early in this set
with three aces, and she's got a fourth!
63.
Leading to that consistent contact every single time.
Two points from the opening frame here on the road
as Vegas will get to 20.
I've heard some buzz about it.
What do you think about it?
Buskirk with a dangerous dipping serve
as Sis on the give and go, handled by Maddox.
Oh, the block is formed,
and the league's best blocker, Kaz Brown,
from a season ago is there.
Abercrombie and Brown are a big block at the net.
Both these athletes standing at 6'4",
taking a lot of space with their hands,
pressing across the top of the tape.
They are not reaching up to the ball.
They're going fast across the plane,
grabbing that ball and throwing it down.
And they are joined by the 6'3'' setter,
Melanie Schaffmaster, who comes in as a blocking sub.
As Schwan's serve is long.
So good pard.
That might be it for her.
One strong set for the starting setter.
Schaffmaster, who had 44 assists,
a career high a few days ago at Grand Rapids.
See if she can close out this set.
Out to Sis.
Vegas still breathing in set one.
Anai with a sharp cross, pulls within two.
Anai does a really great job of challenging
the angle and the sidelines,
swinging outside her shoulder.
She's very comfortable with range outside of her midline,
and that's why she's able to tag those sidelines.
Well, I'll tell you what,
that Schaffmaster entrance was short-lived.
Good pard comes right back in.
Pauly wants to win it right here.
Sis down the line, and the good pard to Sis' connection
closes the first set for Orlando.
Canadian national team middle with 10 points.
First ball side outs,
they're starting to tally up for both sides
as Schwan has Orlando back within two.
That's usually a...
Georgia Murphy tore her ACL.
McKissick just happened to text that week.
All about time and place.
And Stout, time and place dwell on the slide.
Stout doing a great job of extending
and taking half a beat in the air,
giving her that opportunity to then swing
high off the hands of the Valkyries.
Stout with three kills on seven swings.
And Buskirk, five kills on nine swings.
An efficient start to the middles.
Oh my goodness, I'd love to get a gun
on the speed of Abercrombie's swing.
It is so fast, and why she's so lethal
is because there's no delay in her arm swing.
It's copy and paste every single time.
Watch her elbow and hand to ball contact,
fully extending through using all of her torque,
her core to swing at that ball,
much like an MLB pitcher throws.
It's a great visual as Orlando uses another sub
and good pard in to serve.
And an off balance, a little bit unsuspecting on that set.
She's able to pick up another kill.
I call that a solution play.
It's not a green light swinging away.
It's the solution.
You have to find a way to score, be crafty with it.
Keep playing that chess game at the net.
That serve might've been going wide,
but Anai gets the ace and Vegas has set points.
Orlando needs a timeout and that smile.
Hands rise on set point, with a good serve.
Abercrombie able to find a touch on that cross court swing.
The Thoreau have to expect the Valkyries to serve area five
where Hannah Maddox is standing.
She needs to pass this ball in forward, just like that.
Maddox wants the touch,
and we will see a challenge from Vegas
to try to put the set away.
The Thoreau think they have it.
Let's see.
Of course, the ball went long.
Our head referee, William Thornburg.
The fans know what the challenge is from coach Cruz.
A touch is wanted from Vegas and their fans.
And a touch is given.
Quickly.
Abercrombie just quietly does her thing, doesn't she?
13 kills, six digs here tonight.
19 to 13, Orlando starting to spread out
this lead here in set three.
Oh, that's one way to do it.
Graham deceives Brown,
and it's a serve-receive kill like you'll never see.
We knew that the Thoreau had the vocals,
but did we know they had actors as well
for a Broadway show?
Just completely selling that play.
So Maddox will get a dig,
and I believe a kill there.
They're going to give Brown the free ball error.
I think you got to go with the diggle on that one.
As Schwan back in for Van Der Weide.
Or check that, they're both in there now.
So Schwan able to deliver the kill.
So Van Der Weide in for Siss.
And now we'll see MK White,
Mikayla White, come in.
There's a little fire, isn't it,
from Schwan, you used to play with her.
I did, we played on the sand together.
And yes, she does get fiery.
Good quick set to Stout,
who welcomes in Mikayla White
with an emphasis in Vegas within five.
Vegas has to try to control the tempo offensively here,
keep working for those first ball side outs,
especially with the Valkyries closing into the red zone,
where the Thrill can succeed.
Trying to push this set
and potentially earn momentum into the next
is just play heavy transition defense.
Childress serving in rotation one.
Shaft master to White,
and it's grabbed nicely by Van Der Weide.
Able to get it through the block.
Her third kill.
Fresh off of winning a national championship
with Penn State,
Hannah, no stranger to taking big swings,
and she'll do that on the right side for the Thrill.
Does a really great job
of getting to the apex of the ball every time.
Similar to the first set,
Coach Pauly doesn't want to mess around too much,
brings back in the starting setter in Shampoo.
And it works out as she'll tee up
her all-star teammate Abercrombie.
Abercrombie with an open net, no block to be found.
The Thrill really have to prioritize Abercrombie
as an offensive threat
when she's in the back row as well.
Nothing but open range, all-you-can-eat buffet there.
Grabbed by Abercrombie.
There is Alicia Go.
Back to Stout.
Three swings in the third.
The charmer for Morgan Stout.
Run a first tempo set on a controlled ball in transition.
That's exactly what Childress did,
finding Stout in the middle of first tempo set,
meaning it's a quick set.
Finding that seam, catching Orlando off guard.
Teardrop serve works out for a nine.
But a set to Stout.
Not the prettiest,
and Childress takes credit immediately for that mistake
as White, the JMU All-American,
able to make her entrance.
Kayla White in her second season with Orlando.
Also an assistant coach at American University in D.C.
A terrific cover.
And an even better swing from Maddox
to keep Vegas within distance.
That's how Maddox has been able to level up her game
second year playing in the PBF.
Her range, being able to tag that high sideline going line
is really impressive.
So now Allison Mayfield will come in and serve for Stout.
You see the numbers for Maddox.
It's her 19th match of the year with double-digit kills.
When you watch Van Der Weide,
she swings with her entire body.
And on the flip side, Abercrombie makes it look like
she's swimming so effortless.
Because she's done it many, many times.
It's Foster's six-foot-four frame with a strong serve.
Thick dig by Shampoo.
That's gonna play.
Orlando wanted a lift on Van Busker.
And it won't matter.
Abercrombie trying to plead her case,
says she touched it four times, Victoria.
Imagine the response if they didn't win the point.
I don't wanna see it.
23-18, Orlando looking good here in set three.
Check that, 24-18.
19 on that serve long.
Gotta go for the A-service for set point.
That's exactly what Foster did,
trying to push the envelope.
All three attackers are in the front row
for Orlando right now.
Watch for Abercrombie to get this set.
And on cue, and it's Brittany Abercrombie.
Favorite for MVP this season
with 17 kills through three sets.
We'll see if she comes back out for a fourth,
but it has been a day at the office.
Josh Good in the truck as well as so many more.
Graphics directors and the amount of people
you think to put together a production,
you could multiply it by three most likely.
And they make Victoria and I look and sound
a little bit better than we really are.
As Orlando three points away.
How about Lane going out on top?
That's her 10th kill.
Van Busker on the gap set again.
Great vision from Childress seeing the block
up in that of Orlando, even though it shifted,
it created that window of opportunity
back to the sideline for Van Busker.
Does Hannah Maddox have a service run in her?
Strong pass by Scully.
Shaftmasters in in that front row.
An eye on her, a joust handled.
Lane got that same call again on the lift.
It's 23-19.
I'm not sure if I 100% agree with that call.
It was close, but she did contact.
A few weeks ago, back out to Abercrombie.
Oh, played off the net.
What a charm that was to see from Childress.
20th dig from DeFalco, but it's blasted long from an eye.
At this point, you might as well challenge
if you're Vegas, right?
Looks like they're going to be challenging.
Here's a look, and that is as close as it can get.
The shadow going over the left hand of Shaftmaster,
but no block touches the call.
So Orlando's gonna have match points
here on this Friday night.
Fancier thinking that there was a block touch,
but not much William Thornburg can do,
but here's some complaints.
Kisic to serve, match point for Orlando.
And it is an ace to finish off the regular season.
The Valkyries with their ninth ace
and their fifth consecutive victory.
