The volleyball world is on fire! It is a new era of leagues, new faces, and enormous energy that has taken the scene to the next level. The Pro Volleyball Federation began its second season on January 9, and LOVB entered the arena for the first time ever on that day! And to top it off, Major League Volleyball (MLV) just announced its arrival, proving the sport’s growth shows no signs of slowing down. But let’s shine a spotlight on the PVF’s Orlando Valkyries, who’ve been turning heads this season. With four games under their belt, they’ve had quite the rollercoaster ride—kicking things off with a win, dropping the second match, bouncing back with another victory, and then a heartbreaker in game four.

On January 19, the Valkyries played against the Vegas Thrill in a very close five-set match that ended 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 21-25, 12-15. Brittany Abercrombie was an absolute beast, scoring 33 points, with 30 kills, 2 blocks, and 11 digs, all in her career-best performance! But wait, there’s more, and PVF has just pulled a fast one–a former NCAA star has joined the league mid-tournament!

The Orlando Valkyries brought the heat to X on January 20, dropping some exciting news that had fans buzzing! They posted, “JUST IN: The Orlando Valkyries announce the addition of former Creighton standout Maddy Bilinovic, who will be designated to the practice squad. Welcome to Orlando, Maddy!” With that, the Valkyries have officially added another ace to their team, not really for the games at the moment but for practice indeed!

Maddy Bilinovic had an amazing senior year playing for the Creighton volleyball team and she did get some awesome achievements! She was awarded as a Third Team All-American by VolleyballMag.com—this can only mean that she’s a star. Oh, and let’s not forget her 2024 All-BIG EAST and the recent AVCA All-West Region team. Girl was on fire! That, coupled with her impressive digging skills, placed her fifth overall in the BIG EAST in digs per set.

In conference play? She improved her standing, rising to third-best in digs per set and seventh-best in aces. And against those powerhouse Top 25 teams, she was averaging a cool 3.87 digs per set as if it was nothing. And guess what? It was Creighton only that reignited her love for volleyball.

From Creighton Volleyball to PVF!

Maddy bid farewell to her collegiate career in December last year in an emotional Instagram post. Her final game was a sort of homecoming as she went up against Penn State where she attended volleyball camp as a kid. While it was not Creighton’s day, Maddy did not disappoint as she put on a brilliant defensive performance with 16 digs against the top-seeded team.

She may not have won on the scoreboard, but her determination and zeal won her flowers and many compliments before she left. And what drove that fiery spirit? Not rivalry, but sheer gratitude for the team that reignited her love for the sport. Reflecting on her journey, she wrote, “To be lucky enough to have this fifth year at Creighton University where I fell back in love with the game is something I will forever be grateful for.”

Fast forward to now, Maddy’s stepping into the pro volleyball scene, and the Orlando Valkyries couldn’t be more thrilled. Head Coach, Amy Pauly also got very excited about her new signee by stating, “Adding Maddy gives us added flexibility when it comes to the back row. As we progress into our season, Maddy will be another key young piece that will provide valuable depth to our team. I’m excited for her to join us and excited to see her compete at the highest level.” It’s clear that Maddy’s journey from Creighton to the pros is just getting started—and we can’t wait to see her soar! What do you think about her addition? Let us know in the comments!