Vibe Fall Short in Five-Set Battle Against Dallas Pulse

The Atlanta Vibe came up just short on the road Thursday night, falling 3–2 to the Dallas Pulse in a tightly contested, five-set battle that never lacked intensity.

Atlanta set the tone early, taking a 1–0 lead in a back-and-forth opening frame that required extra points to decide. Behind five kills from outside hitter Pia Timmer, the Vibe edged out a 28–26 win and looked poised to control the match.

Dallas responded in the second set, evening things at 1–1 with a 25–19 victory. The Pulse carried that momentum into the third, again taking a 25–19 set to move ahead 2–1 and put Atlanta on the brink.

Facing pressure, the Vibe answered.

Atlanta extended the match with a gritty fourth-set performance, outlasting Dallas 27–25 in another extra-point thriller. Opposite hitter Anna Dixon delivered in key moments, recording five kills in the set to force a decisive fifth.

But in the final frame, Dallas pulled away. The Pulse closed out the match with a 15–8 win to secure the 3–2 victory.

Despite the loss, Atlanta saw strong individual performances across the board. Timmer led the way with a season-high 16 kills while adding 11 digs and two aces in a well-rounded effort off the bench. Setter Averi Carlson, returning to her home state of Texas, orchestrated the offense with 48 assists and contributed 22 digs, marking her ninth match this season with 40 or more assists.

Middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye and Dixon each added 10 kills, with Awoleye also leading the team at the net with four blocks. Newly signed middle blocker Maggie Mendelson made her Major League Volleyball debut and finished with four kills in her first appearance.

The Vibe now turn their attention back home, where they will host a pair of matches at the Georgia State Convocation Center on April 2 and 4, looking to build momentum in front of their home crowd.