Fairbanks signs with LOVB Atlanta

[phijo]

I was wondering what she was going to do. One of the best Panthers ever, in all sports.

Rachel Fairbanks Signs with LOVB Atlanta for First Pro Season - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Rachel Fairbanks is primed to be an integral part of LOVB Atlanta's inaugural season in 2025.

pittsburghpanthers.com

 

[vantheman1976]

I was wondering what she was going to do. One of the best Panthers ever, in all sports.

Rachel Fairbanks Signs with LOVB Atlanta for First Pro Season - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Rachel Fairbanks is primed to be an integral part of LOVB Atlanta's inaugural season in 2025.

pittsburghpanthers.com

Very nice....happy to know she's staying in the US. I knew that at one time she was considering playing in Europe.......wishing her all the best.

 

[Pitt MD]

I was wondering what she was going to do. One of the best Panthers ever, in all sports.

Rachel Fairbanks Signs with LOVB Atlanta for First Pro Season - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Rachel Fairbanks is primed to be an integral part of LOVB Atlanta's inaugural season in 2025.

pittsburghpanthers.com

I don’t understand. Why was she not drafted like VVG ?

 

[phijo]

I don’t understand. Why was she not drafted like VVG ?

different league. There are now 3 pro volleyball leagues. LOV has most of the UWNT players in it.

 

[Pitt MD]

different league. There are now 3 pro volleyball leagues. LOV has most of the UWNT players in it.

Thank you for the explanation. Is her league better than the one VVG and Debeers are going to ?

 

[PittMan2003]

Why type of salary will she get for this?

 

[phijo]

Hard to say if it will be better since they haven't played a match yet. Salaries will vary from 60K to 175K with incentives added.

 

[chrisran24]

Thank you for the explanation. Is her league better than the one VVG and Debeers are going to ?

Yea LOVB is considered the higher tier league of the two US leagues. Only a handful of 2024 graduates made teams - in addition to Fairbanks, Madison Skinner, Lexi Rodriguez, Sarah Franklin, Jess Mruzik, Sophie Fischer, Onye Ofegbu. All the olympians playing in the US are in LOVB

 

[Pitt MD]

Yea LOVB is considered the higher tier league of the two US leagues. Only about a dozen 2024 graduates made teams - in addition to Fairbanks, a few are Lexi Rodriguez, Sarah Franklin, Jess Mruzik, Sophie Fischer, etc. All the olympians playing in the US are in LOVB

Thank you.

 

[pittdan77]

Should also be noted that LOVB is set up much differently in that it mirrors the European development model. This league has been in the works for a long time and they spent most of it setting up alliances with juniors programs. Like, Atlanta's team is affiliated with A5 which is one of the best clubs in the country. Not sure on how the affiliations work, precisely, but it's an interesting way of doing things.

 

[HOF Coach]

LOVB Atlanta is on ESPN+ tonight at 7:30 pm.

 

[phijo]

LOVB Atlanta is on ESPN+ tonight at 7:30 pm.

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Thanks for the heads up. Not sure Rachel will be playing but worth looking into.

 

[MartyInLawrenceville]

LOVB Atlanta is on ESPN+ tonight at 7:30 pm.

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Thanks, Coach, I will be tuning in.

 

[chrisran24]

LOVB Atlanta is on ESPN+ tonight at 7:30 pm.

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Serena Gray plays for Salt Lake too, much more likely to see her on the court than Fairbanks. SL has 3 experienced MBs, and I expect Haleigh Washington will be MB1, but Gray has more upside than Dixon IMO for MB2. Doubt Sophie Fischer is ready for this level of competition yet.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Congratulations!

 

[chrisran24]

Big Dan Fisher shout out by the broadcast after a Serena Gray block! Talked about his contract extension today and Pitt’s final fours

 

[chrisran24]

Fairbanks got in for one serve for Atlanta in the first set, double subbed her in to set from the back. Had a nice serve but couldn’t dig an attack in the back. Subbed back out after the one serve. Still pretty cool for her to be the first 2024 grad to see the court in that league

 

[MartyInLawrenceville]

Fairbanks got in for one serve for Atlanta in the first set, double subbed her in to set from the back. Had a nice serve but couldn’t dig an attack in the back. Subbed back out after the one serve. Still pretty cool for her to be the first 2024 grad to see the court in that league

She’s getting a little more time in the second set. Takes a while to get used to this, but it’s pretty interesting.

 

[chrisran24]

She’s getting a little more time in the second set. Takes a while to get used to this, but it’s pretty interesting.

It’s a very different style than college - super fast offenses, way less substitutions so no littles aside from the libero, all the pins play all the way around. Less long rallies than college for sure

 

[pittdan77]

It’s a very different style than college - super fast offenses, way less substitutions so no littles aside from the libero, all the pins play all the way around. Less long rallies than college for sure

I thought it looked slow for a pro game. Timing sets were very limited. I'm sure it's because it's early. Game lacked some energy because the crowd wasn't really into it but the quality of play looked pretty good.

 

[chrisran24]

I thought it looked slow for a pro game. Timing sets were very limited. I'm sure it's because it's early. Game lacked some energy because the crowd wasn't really into it but the quality of play looked pretty good.

Agreed, I was more referring to the style of a pro game in general compared to college. Overall felt a bit sloppy for a while but got progressively better. Fun watching Serena Gray again, she’s so good