It took a long time to get there. Ever since League One Volleyball (LOVB) was announced in 2021, excitement has been high to see what it brought to the table. The maiden season of the much-waited tournament finally began its journey in January this year. And so far, it’s been a joy to watch. And yet, it looks like some issues might still need ironing out to make the next season more enjoyable for the fans.

Starting last Wednesday, the new league action so far has been scintillating. From LOVB Omaha to LOVB Houston, almost all teams have put forth incredible performances. And have made each game a nail-biter. Yet, thanks to the sometimes confusing jerseys of the athletes, fans have struggled to tell the difference between the squad at times. And this, one volleyball veteran thinks, is what LOVB needs to address immediately.

Veteran star has a few pointers for LOVB to address

World Championship gold medalist and beach volleyball star Sarah Pavan recently noted her displeasure. She mentions how League One volleyball doesn’t seem to have put much thought into the jersey design of the teams. In a YouTube upload from January 13, the retired Canadian athlete also talked about how differentiating between the players at the recent matches of LOVB. “They all have very similar uniforms. All of their logos represent the city they play for, but they’re all kind of the same. It’s really hard when you watch to actually tell the teams apart on TV,” said Pavan’s co-host.

“The players’ names on the jerseys are really small and below the hair. It’s really hard to kind of get into a team.” He went on to mention how even keeping up with the movement of your favorite athletes can become a difficult thing to do. Pavan agreed, saying, “I don’t like that the uniforms are the exact same. The only thing that changes is like an accent color and maybe a sponsor name on the front,” and also stated that the giant LOVB branding everywhere has been a distracting thing for her.

“Almost every woman’s ponytail blocked their name. So if you didn’t know who the player was, it was very hard to figure out who they were,” said Sarah’s colleague, underscoring where LOVB is going wrong. However, others would claim that the jersey design is the least concerning thing that League One Volleyball needs to take care of.

Gaping holes in LOVB’s maiden run

The LOVB has roped in some of the most popular volleyball players from the USA’s collegiate volleyball circuit. From the Nebraska Huskers’ former captain Lexi Rodrgiez to multiple NCAA Championship winner Madisen Skinner, the roster is stacked. And yet, the broadcast situation wasn’t planned out properly, which led to many fans complaining that they couldn’t follow the action properly.

“I don’t know who at LOVB needs to hear this, but please stick with the sideline cameras. It is crisp and good. The cuts, the switches, the missing plays… it’s bad.” Avid Volleyball took to social media to share how even collaborating with ESPN+ isn’t helping LOVB.

Both LOVB and PVF are determined to elevate the country’s professional volleyball to new heights. That too, while providing athletes the opportunity to pursue their passion. However, the inaugural edition of LOVB is pointing out many flaws in the planning and coverage of the tournament. But will they be able to take note of the fans’ frustration and make the changes to get more volleyball connoisseurs on board? What do you reckon? Tell us!