LOVB Austin reloads its roster with goal of defending LOVB championship

LOVB Austin’s Madisen Skinner (16) points to Logan Eggleston after a point during the League One Volleyball championship game on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the KFC Yum! Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. (Jed Jacobsohn photo courtesy of League One Volleyball)

From staff reports

LOVB Austin took its first step towards defending its League One Volleyball championship, with a reloaded roster designed for a title defense.

The team announced its 2026 roster Thursday, which includes several familiar faces for Texas Longhorns volleyball fans and several impactful newcomers.

Founding Athletes Logan Eggleston and Carli Lloyd, will return for 2026. Eggleston did it all for LOVB Austin last year at outside hitter, and Lloyd started during Austin’s thrilling title run and was named player of the match in the championship match.

Also returning to Austin is Texas Longhorn great Madisen Skinner, who finished among the league’s top four in points, points per set, kills and kills per set last year and claimed LOVB Finals MVP to round off the season.

Fellow former Longhorn Chiaka Ogbogu accepted a lucrative overseas offer for the season and will not return. However, Molly McCage and Asjia O’Neal will and lead what was the best block in the league. Molly totaled 39 blocks in 2025 – fourth-best in the league – while Asjia posted a .457 positive touch percentage.

Also returning are the defensive duo of Kotoe Inoue and Zoe Jarvis, outside hitter Leah Hardeman and opposites Khat Bell and Juliann Faucette.

There will be four newcomers on the team, including an Olympian, national teamer and two U.S. collegiate standouts.

Magdalena Jurczyk, who represented Poland at the 2024 Olympic Games, comes to LOVB Austin fresh off leading her country to bronze at the 2025 Volleyball Nations League finals.

Canadian setter Brie O’Reilly provides another international superstar option at setter, and the University of Texas connection continues with Bella Bergmark joining LOVB Austin after winning a pair of national championships with the Longhorns in 2022 and 2023.

Transferring in from LOVB Nebraska is Madi Banks, who was a consistent presence at outside hitter for the LOVB finalists.

Overall, LOVB Austin’s 2026 roster features two Olympians, 12 athletes with national team experience and an astounding 11 NCAA Division I titles. Currently at 14 players, the roster will be rounded out later this year.

The squad is stacked with world-class volleyball talent and is set to run it back in 2026.