League One Volleyball Unveils San Francisco Team Name and Inaugural Roster

LOVB San Francisco will officially be branded as the San Francisco Signal.

Kelsey Robinson-Cook is joining the San Francisco Signal in 2027. / LOVB Atlanta

As League One Volleyball (LOVB) rolls out four new expansion teams, which are set to debut in January 2027, the Bay Area’s professional team has taken on a twist. 

The league revealed earlier in July that LOVB San Francisco will officially be branded as the San Francisco Signal, marking the only team currently to have a nickname, versus being called after its respective city or region. 

San Fransicso Signal is dedicated to honoring the Bay Area’s role as a city where ideas gain momentum, communities unite, and movements reach far beyond their point of origin. As a majority women-led ownership group, this franchise aims to grow the game at every level. 

The term “signal” holds strong value within the sport of volleyball, as it represents communication, trust, and quick decisions athletes must make. Off the court, the term aims to reflect the belief that one idea shared by a community can inspire something much bigger. 

"We couldn't be more excited about the name Signal, what it represents and the incredible way our community embraced the journey,” Stephanie Martin, President and Co-Founder of LOVB San Francisco, said in a press release. “One of the greatest joys has been watching people across the Bay Area share ideas, debate their favorites and help shape our identity. That's exactly how we hoped this team would begin, with the community building it alongside us.” 

This is more than a team.

This is your Signal. #SFSignal #ThisisYourSignal #LOVB pic.twitter.com/d509ivrpko

— San Francisco Signal Volleyball (@sf_signal) July 8, 2026

As the countdown to the season opener in January is on, the Signal has built a roster that represents six total countries and brings together major international experience. Three Olympic medalists, five athletes with league MVP honors and 11 NCAA All-Americans highlight the lineup. 

The roster is also a homecoming for four Bay Area natives, who will play professionally in front of their hometown for the first time in their careers. 

LOVB San Francisco Signal Roster  

• Kelsey Robinson- Cook, Outside Hitter, Tennessee and Nebraska
• Hali Bah, Outside Hitter
• Carter Booth, Middle Blocker, Minnesota and Wisconsin
• Giorgia Faraone, Libero 
• Kari Geissberger, Opposite Hitter, Loyola Marymount and Oklahoma
• Serena Gray, Middle Blocker, Penn State and Pitt
• Chompoo Guedpard, Setter
• Julia Haggerty, Middle Blocker, Boston College
• Kara Hallock, Outside Hitter, Washington
• Maddie Haynes, Outside Hitter, Cal Berkeley
• Allison Jacobs, Outside Hitter, UCLA and Michigan
• Wang Mengjie, Libero 
• Sachi "Jaja" Minowa, Middle Blocker 
• Ella May Powell, Setter, Washington

Meet your inaugural San Francisco Signal roster. 📶

These athletes are more than extraordinary competitors. They're the first to shape our identity, build our culture, and write the opening chapter of Signal history. 🚨#SFSignal #ThisIsYourSignal #LOVB pic.twitter.com/znB0JRtp4c

— San Francisco Signal Volleyball (@sf_signal) July 16, 2026

Meet Head Coach Alfee Reft

Alfee Reft joins the San Francisco Signal from UCLA, where he spent the past three seasons as head coach of the Bruins’ women’s volleyball program. He’s a former collegiate and professional player who spent over 12 years with the U.S. National Team as both a player and coach. 

Reft’s international resume includes serving on Karch Kiraly’s coaching staff and assisting Team USA in grabbing a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

This is just the beginning.

Hear from Head Coach Alfee Reft on the elite talent that will write the first chapter of SF Signal history. 👏👏#SFSignal #ThisIsYourSignal #LOVB pic.twitter.com/9JNFbjZey2

— San Francisco Signal Volleyball (@sf_signal) July 20, 2026

The San Francisco Signal will join three other expansion teams, Miami, Minnesota and Los Angeles. These teams join the already built teams (Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Nebraska and Salt Lake), in an effort for the league to introduce an Eastern and Western Conference format. 

More information on the coaching staff and schedule will be released at a later date. Fans can get ahead with a 2026/27 San Francisco Signal Season Membership.