We are only two matches into the inaugural League One Volleyball season, and the Texas rivalry is already established. Tonight, LOVB Houston hosted fellow Texas state team LOVB Austin at the Fort Bend County Epicenter in Houston. The presence of NCAA icons such as Texas Longhorn Madisen Skinner and Nittany Lion Jess Mruzik generated hype. However, no one could’ve guessed just how exciting the game would get.

In fact, League One Volleyball may have an instant classic on their hands after just two games. That’s because despite falling behind on the first and second sets, Houston found a second wind. Mruzik’s side halted Austin’s momentum and etched the first reverse sweep victory at the beginning of LOVB’s record books. “REVERSE SWEEP COMPLETE!!” posted Houston after winning the fifth set.

The thrilling five-set match started in Austin’s favor as they won the first two sets 27-25 and 26-24. However, one thing that anyone watching could notice is the sheer competitiveness of the first two sets. While LOVB Houston had dropped the sets, the gap wasn’t too wide. However, just as some thought it would end up a clean sweep, Houston answered the challenge.

The Penn State alum’s team cracked the code in the third set, beating Austin 25-22. Despite Austin’s best effort to close out the game in set 4, Houston dragged the set to overtime, winning it 27-25. It may be safe to assume that by this point, the former Nittany Lion was having flashbacks of the 2024 NCAA Championship semifinals against Nebraska.

Penn State found themselves in a similar predicament against the Husker after losing two sets. However, Mruizik and her team dug deep to pull off the reverse sweep, as she led the scoreboard with 13 kills and 13 digs. It was a tough night for LOVB Houston, but they ultimately defeated Austin 16-14 in the final set. However, despite losing the game, Mruzik’s rival also made a mark.

Both Madisen Skinner and Jess Mruzik shined, although only one walked away as the victor

Besides Jess Mruzik’s effort to help Houston bag the victory, Madisen Skinner also gave it her all to help Austin cross that final barrier to victory. Although Skinner’s efforts ultimately fell short, the former Texas Longhorn was the better offensive player of the match. So how did the two rookie pros stack up against one another?

League One Volleyball named Jess Mruzik the Player of the Game in her very first game as a pro. And after seeing the numbers, it’s difficult to argue against the LOVB Houston player’s case. The outside hitter scored 19 points, showing her adaptability to both defense and offense, with 13 kills, 13 digs, and 5 blocks. Meanwhile, Skinner established herself as the MVP of Austin’s attack.

Skinner scored a whopping 22 kills, achieving a higher kill percentage of 37.3 over Mruzik’s 30.2. The 2023 NCAA champion also matched her fellow hitter on blocks but fell behind in digs with 8. However, despite ultimately losing the match, Madisen Skinner nearly led LOVB Austin to victory in her very first game. Needless to say, both volleyball icons’ stock rose massively after tonight’s clash.

Fans and even League One Volleyball couldn’t help but praise the contest. “You couldn’t have asked for a better start to this @lovbhtx @lovbatx RIVALRY!!” they posted on X. It may be too soon to compare LOVB Houston and Austin to the NCAA rivalry between Texas Longhorn and Texas A&M, where the Longhorns lead with an all-time record of 77-23. Yet who knows? We may be looking at the building blocks of the first great same-state rivalry in women’s pro volleyball.