The Atlanta Vibe were within reach again Sunday afternoon, but the Dallas Pulse pulled out a 3–2 win in a tightly contested match that also marked a historic milestone for outside hitter Leah Edmond, who became the first player in Major League Volleyball history to reach 1,000 career kills.
It was another match defined by swings in momentum — and another one that slipped away just late.
“Another tough loss,” Head Coach Kayla Banwarth said. “Dallas is a good, well-coached team. We gave them too many freebies and made it harder on ourselves.”
Dallas opened with a 25–21 first-set win, but Atlanta responded with resilience in a marathon second set. The Vibe outlasted the Pulse 29–27 to even the match, powered by seven kills and a block from Edmond.
The Pulse reclaimed the edge in the third set, 25–21, before Atlanta delivered one of its most impressive stretches of volleyball of the season in the fourth.
Trailing 16–9, the Vibe mounted a furious comeback, storming back to win the set 25–21 and force a decisive fifth. Edmond led the surge with eight kills, while opposite hitter Anna Dixon added five of her own as Atlanta flipped the momentum completely.
Banwarth called that stretch a glimpse of what the team is capable of when everything clicks.
“When we go on a run like that, it shows what we can be,” Banwarth said. “We were consistent, scrappy on defense, and aggressive on offense — all the things we need to do to win.”
Atlanta found balance around Edmond throughout the match. Dixon finished with 13 kills, outside hitter Taylor Smith added 12, and middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye contributed across the board with eight kills, four blocks, and an ace in her fourth straight start.
Awoleye said comfort and confidence have grown with each match.
“I’ve gotten more comfortable as time goes on,” she said. “Just playing free and trusting it.”
Dallas ultimately sealed the match in the fifth set, pulling away for a 15–10 victory.
Despite the loss, the day belonged in part to Edmond, whose milestone performance underscored both her consistency and impact on the league. She finished with 22 kills, three blocks, six digs, an ace, and an assist.
Edmond reflected on the achievement with appreciation for the teammates who have empowered her to play aggressively since the start of her professional career.
“I just want to keep getting better,” Edmond said. “It’s a moment to reflect, but it also feels like just the beginning. This league is growing, and I want to keep helping my team win.”
Atlanta now heads west for its next challenge, traveling to face the San Diego Mojo on Saturday, March 7 at 9 p.m. Eastern, looking to turn close calls into results on the road.
