Mojo
Roll Past Fury for Fourth Straight Home Win
SAN
DIEGO , California, March 1, 2026. – The San Diego Mojo climbed into
a tie for third place in the Major League Volleyball standings
Sunday night with a 25-13, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory over the
Columbus Fury at Viejas Arena.
San
Diego improved to 7-7 overall and 5-2 at home, recording its fourth
consecutive home win. The Mojo have won three straight matches
overall, tying a franchise record, and are 6-1 over their last seven
contests, the best seven-match stretch in team history.
Outside hitter Maya Tabron led the way with a team-high 19 points on
18 kills and a .380 hitting percentage, adding a block and 10 digs
for her third double-double of the year. Setter Marlie Monserez
recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 28 assists and 14
digs to guide a balanced Mojo attack.
The
Mojo totaled 14 blocks, tying for the ninth-most in a match in
franchise history. Middle blocker Marni Grote finished with 17
points on 11 kills, one ace and five blocks. Opposite Jovana
Brakočević added 12 points with nine kills and three blocks, while
Grace Loberg contributed 16 digs and libero Shara Venegas chipped in
13.
San
Diego set the tone early in the opening set. After the teams were
tied 2-2, the Mojo used a five-point run, highlighted by a Tabron
kill and back-to-back blocks from Grote, to build a 7-2 advantage.
The lead swelled to 13-4 behind a combination of blocks and Fury
errors.
Brakočević and Tabron powered the offense down the stretch, and
Tabron closed the set with a kill for a 25-13 win. San Diego held
Columbus to a negative hitting efficiency and 21 percent hitting in
the frame. Brakočević had five kills on a .455 clip, while Tabron
added four kills and Grote totaled four blocks.
Columbus responded in the second set, using a six-point run to seize
early control and eventually pushing its lead to 20-10. The Mojo
chipped away behind multiple kills from Grote and Tabron and an ace
from Grote that cut the deficit to 23-18, but the Fury held on for a
25-20 win to even the match and snap San Diego’s six-set winning
streak.
The
third set featured several ties and lead changes as the teams traded
momentum. Trailing 10-6, San Diego rallied with a block from
Brakočević and consecutive Fury errors to even the score at 10-10.
The Mojo regained control behind key blocks from Grote and McKenna
Vicini and took a 16-14 lead into the technical timeout. Tabron
delivered several timely kills late, including a pair of finishes to
secure a 25-20 set victory and a 2-1 match lead.
In
the fourth, Columbus grabbed an early 5-3 edge before San Diego
answered with a three-point run capped by consecutive Loberg kills.
After the teams were tied at 10-10, the Mojo took control for good.
An ace from Loberg made it 12-10 and forced a timeout, and San Diego
extended the margin to 16-12 at the break.
Tabron continued to swing freely, recording four late kills as the
Mojo stretched the lead to 23-17. Carly Graham earned match point
with a kill, and Morgan Lewis sealed the 25-19 victory to complete
the four-set win.
With
the victory, San Diego now leads the all-time series 9-1 against the
Columbus Fury and has won three consecutive meetings. Columbus fell
to 3-10.
San
Diego are back at home Saturday, March 7, to host the Atlanta Vibe
at 6 p.m. PT at Viejas Arena.
The
Columbus Fury will stay on the road and head to Orlando to face the
Valkyries on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. |