LOVB Houston Unveils Star-Studded 2026-27 Roster After Regular-Season Championship Run
After finishing atop the League One Volleyball standings last season, LOVB Houston is keeping much of its championship-caliber foundation together while adding another wave of international and emerging talent for 2026-27.
The newly announced LOVB Houston roster features four Olympians and nine current or former national team players representing five countries. For Houston-area volleyball families, young athletes and fans of women’s professional sports, the lineup offers another opportunity to watch some of the world’s most accomplished players compete close to home.
Head coach Sanja Tomašević, named the 2026 LOVB Coach of the Year, will return to lead the club after Houston claimed the 2025-26 regular-season championship and advanced to the league semifinals. The finish strengthened the team’s position in a Houston sports market where professional women’s volleyball is still relatively new but quickly finding an audience.
“We're incredibly excited about the group for Season 3,” Tomašević said. “This roster reflects the standard of excellence we're building in Houston, combining proven leaders and emerging elite competitors who share a commitment to winning. Our returning athletes provide a strong foundation with their experience, while our new additions bring a fresh and competitive mindset. Together, this group has the talent, character and work ethic to continue elevating our club to compete at a championship level. We're eager to get back on the court and build on the momentum we've created.”
Olympic Core Returns to LOVB Houston
The returning group is led by founding athletes and Olympians Jordan Thompson, Micha Hancock and Justine Wong-Orantes, three players who have helped establish the identity of professional volleyball in Houston.
Thompson delivered what the club described as the most dominant individual season in LOVB history during the 2025-26 campaign. The opposite hitter scored more than 120 points and earned both league MVP and Best Opposite Hitter honors.
Hancock, a setter and two-time Olympic medalist with Team USA, finished last season as the league leader in aces while directing Houston’s offense. Wong-Orantes, widely regarded as one of the sport’s top liberos, returns with extensive Olympic and international experience and gives Houston an established defensive presence in the back row.
USA National Team players Jessica Mruzik and Amber Igiede are also returning, along with Slovakian National Team standout Karin Palgutova. Igiede was named the league’s 2026 Middle Blocker of the Year after becoming one of Houston’s most dependable forces at the net, while Mruzik and Palgutova contributed scoring, experience and stability throughout the regular-season title run.
Six New Players Join Houston’s Professional Volleyball Team
LOVB Houston’s six newcomers expand the team’s depth across several positions.
German National Team player Isabel Martin joins a group of outside hitters that also includes Mruzik, Palgutova and Erika Pritchard. Pritchard arrives with a reputation as a powerful attacker capable of contributing from both the front and back rows.
Houston also added three middle blockers: Bulgarian National Team player Nasya Dimitrova, Ukrainian National Team member Svitlana Dorsman and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla. Their arrival gives Tomašević several options at the net alongside Igiede as the team looks to maintain its blocking strength against an increasingly competitive league.
Gillian Grimes joins Wong-Orantes at libero, adding another defensive specialist to the roster.
LOVB’s Popularity Continues to Grow
LOVB, pronounced “love,” launched its professional league in January 2025 as part of a broader effort to create a sustainable home for elite women’s volleyball players in the United States. Houston was among the league’s original markets, connecting the professional team with the region’s large youth and club volleyball community.
That connection has become increasingly significant as volleyball grows among Texas families and sports fans. LOVB describes itself as the nation’s largest community of youth volleyball clubs, with its professional league designed to create a visible pathway from junior competition to the highest level of the sport.
The league’s television audience has also expanded. A reported 7.5 million viewers watched LOVB matches on USA Network during the 2026 season, an increase of 133% from 2025, while four of the five most-watched matches in league history aired during the season.
LOVB broadened its reach through a 2026 broadcast and streaming schedule that placed all 66 league matches across USA Network, ESPN platforms and Victory+, giving Houston fans more ways to follow the team beyond its home matches.
Houston’s rise has unfolded alongside that larger growth. After finishing second during LOVB’s inaugural season, the club climbed to first place in the 2026 regular-season standings, giving local fans a contender built around recognizable U.S. national team players and international stars.
What Comes Next for LOVB Houston
During the 2025-26 season, LOVB Houston hosted home matches at the Berry Center in Cypress and the Fort Bend County Epicenter in Rosenberg, giving fans from across Greater Houston access to professional women’s volleyball. The complete 2026-27 schedule and venue information have not yet been announced.
Season tickets are now available through the team, and fans can also register as LOVB Houston Insiders for schedule announcements, exclusive events and club news. Ticketing and customer service questions may be sent to ticketing@lovbhouston.com.
With award-winning players returning and six newcomers joining the lineup, the next challenge will be turning individual credentials into the chemistry required for another title chase. For Houston’s growing volleyball community, the roster announcement offers an early look at a team attempting to move from regular-season champion to LOVB Finals contender.
2026-27 LOVB Houston Roster
- Liberos: Gillian Grimes, Justine Wong-Orantes
- Middle Blockers: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Nasya Dimitrova, Svitlana Dorsman, Amber Igiede
- Outside Hitters: Isabel Martin, Jessica Mruzik, Karin Palgutova, Erika Pritchard
- Opposite Hitters: Jordan Thompson
- Setters: Micha Hancock
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on the LOVB Houston 2026-27 schedule, home venues, ticket information and community events.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
