By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
There’s new faces and a new coach, but the mission remains the same – win the league championship.
Now in its second season, LOVB Austin is positioned to defend it’s League One Volleyball Championship in 2026. LOVB Austin will kick off the new season on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at home against Nebraska at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park.
Key pieces from the league’s inaugural title run return, including founding athletes Logan Eggleston and Carli Lloyd. Eggleston, a former Texas Longhorn, was a do-it-all force at outside hitter during the 2025 championship season, while Lloyd started throughout the postseason and earned player of the match honors in the finals.
They are joined by fellow former Longhorn Madisen Skinner, who finished among the league’s top four in points, points per set, kills and kills per set in 2025, and capped the season by claiming LOVB Finals most valuable player.
The defending champions will open the new season under the direction of Erik Sullivan, who takes over as head coach while also leading the U.S. Women’s National Team.
A two-time Olympian and former U.S. Men’s national team libero, Sullivan brings elite international experience to Austin after guiding Team USA to gold at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six and a quarterfinal finish at the FIVB Women’s World Championship. Before his national team appointment, Sullivan spent 14 seasons at Texas, helping the Longhorns to three national titles and eight Final Four appearances.
Austin’s strength at the net remains a cornerstone.
While Chiaka Ogbogu accepted a lucrative overseas opportunity, middle blockers Molly McCage and Asjia O’Neal return after anchoring the league’s top blocking unit. McCage ranked fourth in the league with 39 blocks in 2025, and O’Neal posted a .457 positive touch percentage.
The backcourt remains intact with liberos Kotoe Inoue and Zoe Jarvis, while outside hitter Leah Hardeman and opposites Khat Bell and Juliann Faucette also return to a deep, versatile lineup.
Austin added significant international and collegiate firepower in the offseason.
Middle blocker Magdalena Jurczyk, a 2024 Olympic representative for Poland, arrives after earning bronze at the 2025 Volleyball Nations League Finals. Canadian national team setter Brie O’Reilly gives Austin another high-level option at setter.
Former Texas standout Bella Bergmark joins after winning national championships with the Longhorns in 2022 and 2023. Outside hitter Madi Banks, a former standout at Nebraska, transfers in from LOVB Nebraska after being a steady contributor for the league runner-up.
In all, the current 14-player roster features eight former Longhorns, two Olympians, 12 athletes with national team experience and 11 NCAA Division I titles, with one additional roster spot to be filled later this year.
After two dramatic reverse sweeps fueled their run to the inaugural championship, LOVB Austin enters 2026 as the favorite to repeat as champions.
