Buckeye coach and Olympic gold medalist added to Fury roster

David DeGuzman
·2 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Fury has seen a fury of new faces added to the team in recent days but their latest addition brings Olympic gold medal experience to Columbus.

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, an assistant coach for Ohio State and an Olympic gold medalist, joins the Fury as the team’s newest outside hitter. The 34-year-old helped the United States win its first women’s indoor volleyball Olympic title at the Tokyo games in 2021 and was named the Best Outside Hitter of the competition.

After nearly two years away from the court as a player, she returns to professional volleyball by joining a club that just snapped a three-match losing streak over the weekend with a win over the Atlanta Vibe, which had its five-match win streak broken by the Fury.

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“I think it’s a really fun sport and a lot of people take it too seriously sometimes,” Bartsch-Hackley said. “I think just bringing that joy and having fun while doing it is something I want to bring because a lot of them are new and they don’t know and it’s not a lot of experience. And of course, I bring experience and I can do that but having fun while doing it is good.”

Volleyball: 2020 Summer Olympics: USA Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (14) in action vs Brazil during Women’s Final at Ariake Arena. USA wins gold. Tokyo, Japan 8/8/2021 CREDIT: Kohjiro Kinno (Photo by Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163753 TK1)
Volleyball: 2020 Summer Olympics: USA Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (14) in action vs Brazil during Women’s Final at Ariake Arena. USA wins gold. Tokyo, Japan 8/8/2021 CREDIT: Kohjiro Kinno (Photo by Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163753 TK1)

Bartsch-Hackley is the third of three high-profile players the Fury has added in the span of ten days. Tori Stringer made her Columbus debut last week after getting traded from the Vibe. The two-time All-American and two-time ACC setter of the year helped lead Louisville to the NCAA national semifinals in 2021.

The Fury also signed Nikoleta Perovic from Montenegro over the weekend. A 16-year pro, Perovic began her professional career in 2008 and most recently played in China before arriving in Columbus.

Stringer has played in two matches so far for the Fury while Bartsch-Hackley made her Columbus debut in the Fury’s four-set win over the Vibe. Perovic is set to make her Pro Volleyball Federation debut on Wednesday night when the Fury take on Atlanta on the road.

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