Tag: Temi Thomas-Ailara

Madison, Wisconsin’s newest professional volleyball team releases 2025 schedule

Madison, Wisconsin’s newest professional volleyball squad releases 2025 schedule

The newly-formed LOVB Madison volleyball team released its 2025 season schedule in a social media post on Thursday.

League One Volleyball is set to launch in November 2024 following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. As of July 18, LOVB Madison Volleyball is one of six teams participating in League One action.

LOVB Omaha Volleyball, LOVB Salt Lake Volleyball and LOVB Austin Volleyball, LOVB Atlanta Volleyball and LOVB Houston Volleyball round out that list.

Beginning on Jan. 10, LOVB Madison’s season spans 13 weeks and concludes on April 4.

LOVB Madison is set to host six games in 2025. The group will open its home matches against LOVB Salt Lake and Omaha on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 in the Wisconsin Field House. All other home games will be played in Madison’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The team will also travel to Texas, Georgia, Utah and Nebraska throughout their 2025 window.

Three former Badgers are members of the 2025 roster, including Danielle Hart, 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Carlini and 2022 AVCA Second-Team All-American Temi Thomas-Ailara.

Founded in 2020, LOVB strives to include the nation’s most talented athletes and focuses on its player development from junior volleyball clubs to the pros.

Former Big Ten, Wisconsin volleyball star to play professionally in Madison

Former Big Ten, Wisconsin volleyball star to play professionally in Madison

Former Northwestern and Wisconsin volleyball outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara will play professional volleyball for LOVB Madison.

Founded by former Badger Lauren Carlini, an AVCA First-Team All-American and 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year during her four seasons in Madison, the league focuses on its player development from junior volleyball clubs to the pros.

Thomas-Ailara becomes the latest new athlete to join LOVB Madison, along with former ACC Player of the Year Claire Chaussee and former Ohio State Offensive Player of the Year Taylor Sandbothe,

Following four seasons at Northwestern, Thomas-Ailara transferred to UW for her fifth year of collegiate eligibility. The Glenwood, Illinois native appeared in 33 matches and played in 116 sets in 2023.

Her 2.31 kills per set were ranked fourth on the team. She also posted double-figure kills in 14 of her matches.

As a Wildcat, the 6-foot-2 outside hitter shined as a 2022 AVCA Second-Team All-American, two-time AVCA All-Region selection and 2020-22 First Team All-Big Ten team member. She played 101 matches at Northwestern and even led the Big Ten with 502 kills in 2022.

Thomas-Ailara joins Carlini, Dana Rettke and Sarah Franklin as Wisconsin volleyball’s latest success story. The program has appeared in two NCAA Championship games over the past decade and will look to avenge its lost to Texas in the 2023 national semifinals this fall.