'I think we're pretty gritty': Momentum fuels Columbus Fury home win vs. Vegas Thrill
With the Columbus Fury trailing by 10 in the middle of the second set Monday, the message from the bench was loud and clear: “One point at a time.”
And while the Vegas Thrill won the battle that was the second set, the Fury created enough fuel to win the war. A seven-point second-set swing helped turn the tide for the Fury, who beat the Thrill in four sets (25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23) to earn their second home win at Nationwide Arena.
“I can’t be more proud about this team,” Fury coach Angel Perez said. “About the way they show grit and resilience every day. Not only in the game, but in training and practice. … That team on the other side didn’t practice the day after, didn’t practice this morning. They wanted to rest because they thought that was the right choice to do. Good for them. We did the opposite. And we’re showing that. We’re showing grit. We’re showing resilience. And slowly, I think that’s going to build.”
After a first set that had 10 ties and no team taking a lead larger than three points, the Thrill (2-5) seemed to take over by securing eight of the first 10 points of set two and amounting to as large as an 11-point lead.
Perez said the Fury (3-2) were “expecting” the Thrill to give his team the win early in the second set after beating the team on the road in three sets Saturday. But as the double-digit deficit was erased by taking 12 of 15 points, Perez said the Fury showed a level of confidence that remained for the rest of the match.
“We knew we had to fight, obviously down 10 points,” Fury opposite hitter Ashley Wenz said. “Gabby (Blossom) came in and put in an amazing serving run. And we really used everyone. And we needed everyone for that set.”
Even after losing the second set by three points, the Fury responded with back-to-back set wins to secure their second home win.
Outside hitter Reagan Cooper led the Fury with 21 kills, while setter Raymariely Santos recorded 38 assists and 16 digs.
“I think we’re pretty gritty,” Wenz said. I think that we’re good at bouncing back and encouraging each other and utilizing everyone to really get to that final end result that we want
After more than 9,000 fans attended the Fury’s home-opening win against the Omaha Supernovas Feb. 21, 2,714 fans were at Nationwide Arena Monday night.
After their second home win, the Fury are back on the road Sunday against the Orlando Valkyries.
Asjia O’Neal injury update
The Fury were without middle blocker Asjia O’Neal for the majority of Monday’s win against the Thrill.
After twisting an ankle against the Supernovas on Wednesday, O’Neal did not travel for the Fury’s road sweep of the Thrill on Saturday. O’Neal checked in late in the fourth set, but played for only two points.
“She’s progressing,” Perez said. "She wanted to play today. The doctor said a week, a week and a half, so we’re not in a hurry.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Fury secured four-set home win vs. Vegas Thrill
