MADISON, Wis. — April 2, 2026 — Entering the week, LOVB Atlanta had an outside shot at winning League One Volleyball’s regular season title.
After a five-set win at LOVB Madison, they still have that chance.
Atlanta (11-8) downed a feisty Madison squad, 23-25, 25-14, 25-18, 21-25, 15-11, Thursday night at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The win clinches a top-two finish for Atlanta and sets up a showdown against LOVB Houston (12-7) for the 2026 regular season title.
The odds still point Houston’s direction. Atlanta must sweep Houston while overturning a 21-point deficit to clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker. However, Atlanta has swept five opponents this season, and Houston has had one defeat at such a deficit.
To preserve that chance at a trophy, the women in pink had to battle past a pesky Madison squad. Madison eeked out a win in the first set, but Atlanta used mid-set surges in both the second and third to take the match lead.
That momentum carried over into the fourth set. Atlanta raced out to a 12-7 lead at the media timeout, but Madison’s lineup changes paid off, and they clawed their way to a 25-21 set victory to force a deciding fifth.
In that fifth, the home team enjoyed a slight advantage until Magdalena Jehlárová scored back-to-back points to level the score at 8-all. Eva Hudson then landed a kill for Atlanta’s first lead of the frame, and after a Madison sideout re-tied the score, Hudson and Ivonee Montaño made back-to-back kills to give Atlanta a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“It’s important for the future to [persevere] through those moments that Madison put us in,” said Atlanta head coach Paulo Coco. “The attitude from the first two sets came back. That’s the mindset we need to continue for the end of the season.”
Jehlárová earned Player of the match honors by scoring 17 points – 10 kills on 17 errorless swings, six blocks and one ace – while Montaño led all scorers with 22 points; 18 kills and four blocks. McKenzie Adams added 15 points and 12 digs, while both Hudson and Tia Jimerson scored 11 points apiece.
Paced by setter Rachel Fairbanks, Atlanta hit .256 as a team while outblocking Madison 14-10, outdigging them 58-55, and outserving them eight aces to three.
Atlanta’s showdown against Houston takes place Saturday, April 4 at 5 p.m. Eastern at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
