San Diego Mojo

San Diego Mojo
SportVolleyball
Founded2023
LeaguePro Volleyball Federation
Based inSan Diego, California
ArenaViejas Arena
ColorsNavy, light blue, yellow and gold
       
OwnerKerri Walsh Jennings
Head coachTayyiba Haneef-Park
Websitesandiegomojovb.com

The San Diego Mojo are a professional indoor volleyball team based in San Diego, California, that competes in the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF). The Mojo began play in the league's inaugural 2024 season. The team plays its home games at Viejas Arena.

History[edit]

On May 25, 2023, San Diego was announced as the sixth city to receive a Pro Volleyball Federation franchise for the league's inaugural season, owned by beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings.[1] Two-time Olympic silver medallist Tayyiba Haneef-Park was hired as the team's head coach, later joined by assistant coach Deitre Collins, a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.[2][3] The Mojo name, logo, and colors were announced on November 9, 2023.[4]

In their inaugural match on February 1, 2024, the Mojo were swept by the Atlanta Vibe in three sets, 17–25, 15–25, 16–25.[5] The Mojo went on to earn their first victory in team history on February 23, defeating the Grand Rapids Rise in four sets, 36–34, 25–27, 25–23, 25–23, in their home opener in front of a crowd of over 6,000.[6] They set a new team attendance record on April 7, beating the Columbus Fury in four sets in front of an announced crowd of 8,938.[7] After losing eight of their first 12 matches,[8] the Mojo finished their inaugural season with a record of 13–11 and earned the third overall seed in the PVF playoffs.[9] San Diego faced the second-seeded Omaha Supernovas in the semifinals and were defeated in five sets, 20–25, 16–25, 25–18, 25–8, 15–11.[10] Haneef-Park was named the Coach of the Year while Nootsara Tomkom won the Setter of the Year award.[10][11]

Roster[edit]

Current as of April 3, 2024.[12]

Number Player Position Height
1 United States August Raskie Setter 6'0"
2 Puerto Rico Shara Venegas Libero 5'7"
3 United States Kendra Dahlke Outside hitter 6'0"
6 United States Kylie Cole Setter 6'1"
7 United States Ronika Stone Middle blocker 6'2"
8 United States Hannah Tapp Middle blocker 6'2"
9 United States Grace Loberg Outside hitter 6'3"
10 United States Alison Bastianelli Middle blocker 6'3"
12 Italy Valeria Papa Outside hitter 6'2"
13 Thailand Nootsara Tomkom Setter 5'5"
16 United States Lindsey Vander Weide Outside hitter 6'3"
17 United States Lindsay Stalzer Opposite hitter 6'1"
19 United States Temi Thomas-Ailara Outside hitter 6'6"
23 Puerto Rico Nomaris Vélez Libero 5'4"
30 United States Morgan Lewis Opposite hitter 6'3"
42 United States Karson Bacon Middle blocker 6'3"

Practice squad[edit]

Number Player Position Height
42 United States Karson Bacon Middle blocker 6'3"

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hoke, Mateo (May 25, 2023). "Kerri Walsh Jennings and the PVF Bring Pro Volleyball to SD". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "San Diego Pro Volleyball Team Names First Coach, Olympian Tayyiba Haneef-Park". Times of San Diego. June 8, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Finley, Ryan (December 12, 2023). "Mojo acquire 6 in draft, trade, add former Aztecs coach to staff for inaugural season". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Finley, Ryan (November 9, 2023). "Meet the Mojo: San Diego's pro women's volleyball team reveals name, logo, colors". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "San Diego Mojo swept in first-ever Pro Volleyball Federation match". The San Diego Union-Tribune. February 1, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Meehan, Tim (February 23, 2024). "Mojo beat Grand Rapids in first-ever home game, thrill 6,000-plus fans". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Lamb, Lisa (April 8, 2024). "Mojo Victorious in Front of Record-Setting Crowd – San Diego Women's Pro Volleyball (Updated)". The Coronado Times. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Trujillo, Hector (April 15, 2024). "Red hot San Diego Mojo moving up in standings". SDNews.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "Mojo close regular season with win, head to playoffs Wednesday". SDNews.com. May 13, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "San Diego Mojo's season ends in PVF semifinal loss". The San Diego Union-Tribune. May 16, 2024. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Murphy, Kate (May 20, 2024). "San Diego Mojo's Tayyiba Haneef-Park wins coach of the year". Axios. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "Roster". San Diego Mojo. Retrieved April 3, 2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=San_Diego_Mojo&oldid=1233454971"