LOVB GEARS UP FOR A JAW DROPPING PRO SEASON WITH THE ADDITIONS OF AMBER IGIEDE, KAYLA HANELINE, ANNA HAAK, JULIANN FAUCETTE AND SIMIN WANG TO ITS ROSTER
As the league accelerates towards the start of its pre-season, LOVB today revealed another group of internationally acclaimed pro players in its inaugural season: Amber Igiede, Kayla Haneline, Anna Haak, Juliann Faucette, and Simin Wang. These five celebrated athletes will bring the heat to the court, with individual team assignments to be announced soon.
"With the signings of Amber, Kayla, Anna, Juliann and Simin, LOVB continues to set the bar for the future of professional volleyball in the US,” said Tom Hogan, director of sport for LOVB Pro. “From their sportsmanship to killer talent to their interest in giving back to the community, we can’t wait to introduce new audiences to players who can bring the highest levels of pro play to the United States.”
An outside hitter from Angelholm, Sweden, Anna Haak played for Marquette University, earning multiple Big East honors. She helped Sweden win a gold medal at the 2014 NEVZA U19 tournament, where she earned a spot on the All-Tournament team, and a gold medal at the 2018 Women's Silver European Volleyball League, where she was named Best Outside Hitter.
A middle blocker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Amber Igiede played for the University of Hawaii where she was a 2x All-American. She earned Big West Championship MVP honors after leading her team to their fourth-straight Big West title. One of 13 players who has earned All-Big West first-team honors on four occasions, she was named the 2022 Big West Player of the Year. In 2022, she was selected for the US Women's Indoor Volleyball National Collegiate Team, and invited to US National Team Training in 2023. She played professionally in Italy.
“I am BEYOND excited and blessed for the opportunity to play professionally in the U.S.,” said Igiede. “I have a sense of peace making this decision knowing how caring and loving this professional league is. God has given me such a passion for volleyball and I am so excited to bring that passion to the U.S!”
A middle from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Kayla is a member of the US National Team that earned gold at the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six, and Bronze in the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup. Prior to her pro career, Kalya played for Northern Iowa, where she was named to All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team three times, and made the 2016 U.S. Collegiate National Team. She has played professionally in Germany, Hungary and Finland where she has been recognized as the Best Server in the German Bundesliga in 2022/2023 and the best Middle Blocker in 2021/2022, and the Best Spiker in the 2019/2020 Finnish Cup and the Finnish Mestaruusliiga.
“After 7 years having to play abroad, I am beyond excited to have the chance to play back on home soil,” said Haneline. “I cannot wait to be able to have my family and friends be able to come to a game and not just one game, but many games. They no longer have to watch only on a TV screen. I can’t wait to help grow the representation of professional sports for women and young athletes in my home country. Let’s get STARTED!!”
A three-time All-American and the 2010 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, Opposite Juliann Faucette helped lead Texas to three-straight NCAA Semifinals appearances. In her rookie season in 2007, Faucette was named Big 12 and AVCA National Freshman of the Year. Following her time at UT, the San Diego native had a successful six-year professional career competing throughout Europe and China. She then pursued a career as a recording artist, publishing her first EP in 2016, and launched a podcast, Behind the Athlete, in 2019 that spotlights high-level athletes and their passions outside of the sport they play. Juliann has also coached and given back to the community through coaching clinics, webinars and more.
"I couldn't be more thrilled to be part of this epic moment in volleyball history. I spent my entire 8 season pro career playing in different countries, and it was awesome, but to have the opportunity to stay home is a dream come true,” said Faucette. “So many family members and friends have never gotten the chance to see me play, and now they will. I stepped away from playing because I didn't think it was possible to balance playing overseas and raising a family. But LOVB changed that for me and I'm so grateful that my kids can see their mom getting after it on the court. It truly is an honor to be a LOVB athlete."
A libero from Beijing, China, Simin has played professional volleyball since 2015. She began her career playing for the Chinese club, Sichuan Jinlang Sports. She has played professionally in China and Italy, where she has helped lead teams to a gold in the 2022/2023 French Ligue A, silver in the 2022/2023 French Supercup and the 2019/2020 Italian Cup, and bronze in the 2016/2017 Chinese National Championship.
“Volleyball has changed my life and I’m thrilled to be playing for an American league like LOVB,” said Wang. “To me, the word “love” embodies the greatest affirmation and respect for yourself, as well as freedom and happiness. As I get to know multiculturalism outside of China, I am eager to dedicate my best self and my best game to my new teammates at LOVB.”
Founded in 2020, LOVB built the largest volleyball club business in the United States, in just four years, and has its pro league launching in November 2024. LOVB has been deliberate in its approach, focusing on building from the ground-up versus top-down like other leagues. By focusing on building its club business first and then strategically choosing markets where it can tie its pro teams to its clubs, LOVB is creating a real pathway for American professional volleyball to be built from the grassroots-up, and opportunities for club players to train alongside professional athletes, a first in American sports.
To enable LOVB’s Founding Athletes to focus on defending their 2020 Olympic gold medal, LOVB Pro is intentionally starting its inaugural season after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pre-season will start in November 2024, with first serve in January 2025 and the LOVB Pro Championships in April 2025, with teams in the volleyball-obsessed markets of Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha, and Salt Lake to start.
