MADISON, Wis. —The regular season is coming to an end for the first year of pro volleyball in Madison.
With the new League One Volleyball pro league, also known as LOVB, the dream of pro volleyball is alive for those that want to keep playing in the U.S. after college.
What You Need To Know
- This is the first season Badgers star Sarah Franklin has played professional volleyball
- This is also the inaugural season for LOVB volleyball
- Many of the LOVB athletes are thankful to see the sport grow in the U.S.
This is former Wisconsin Badgers star Sarah Franklin’s first year as a professional volleyball player. She said being able to compete near her alma mater instead of overseas is a blessing. Franklin said the support players have received this season has been remarkable.
“I think the whole league has brought volleyball to so many people and seeing all of the girls and all of the fans come to the games and write love letters and get balls and signs and posters and all these things that LOVB is providing and doing,” said Franklin. “I think it just it makes the next generation of volleyball girls so excited to be a part of it.”
Franklin said the transition to being a professional has been smooth with the help of veterans, including former Olympian and Badgers legend Lauren Carlini. Franklin said the first thing she noticed when stepping on the court for Madison is how talented and skilled everyone is at all times.
“I can see people consistently hitting that same ball over and over again,” said Franklin. “You have to make that adjustment and you have to be able to respond to whatever the other team is doing. And in college, it wasn’t like that because the skill level is just not as high.”
Wisconsin native Claire Chaussee has experience playing professionally overseas in Spain. She said it was tough living by herself in an unfamiliar environment and having to deal with a language barrier right out of college. She said being able to play near her hometown surrounded by family has been nice.
“I think we’re trying to bring what they have over there to the U.S. and I think LOVB is a great representation of what you don’t see overseas,” said Chaussee. “I think they’re very similar.”
Franklin said she has made many memories and learned a lot in the few months that she has been a pro but said she has had a lot of growing pains too.
“Being a professional, you have to kind of take ownership of a lot of the things you’re doing,” said Franklin. “You don’t have someone kind of on your back, so I’ve had to find my own groove and things of like how much I want to live, how much I want to work out, how early I want to get to practice.”
The inaugural season of League One Volleyball concludes with the finals. All six teams will take part in the tournament, which begins play on April 10 in Louisville.
