Akari Chargers captain and setter Michelle Cobb officially retired from volleyball, prompting a heartfelt tribute from her fiancé Vito Sotto, who praised her legacy of leadership, grace, and unmatchable dedication on the court.
Akari Chargers team captain Michelle Cobb annunced on Wednesday that she hung up her jersey, drawing the curtain on a storied volleyball career defined by leadership, poise, and perseverance.
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While the volleyball world tipped its hat to one of the sport’s steadier figures, no message struck more deeply than that of her fiancé, Vito Sotto.
In an emotional tribute shared shortly after the setter's retirement announcement, Sotto praised Cobb not just for her impact on the game, but for the kind of person she is—on and off the court.
"You truly are the embodiment of what it means to be a world-class athlete," he wrote on Instagram.
"Leadership, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, humility, and the elegance you bring to the court could never be, and will never be replicated. Michelle, you are the best."
Cobb’s final season was a quiet yet graceful farewell for the veteran setter, who led Akari through several campaigns with a calm command and unshakable presence.
Known for her precise playmaking and dignified demeanor, Cobb made her mark as a player who led by example—never loud, always respected.
Though she steps away from playing competitive volleyball, the legacy Cobb leaves behind continues through those she inspired. And with Sotto by her side, her next chapter promises to be as meaningful as the one she closes.