The Omaha Supernovas are a professional indoor volleyball team based in Omaha, Nebraska, that competes in the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF). The Supernovas began play in the league's inaugural 2024 season. The team plays their home games at CHI Health Center Omaha.
 | |
| Sport | Volleyball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| First season | 2024 |
| League | Pro Volleyball Federation |
| Based in | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Arena | CHI Health Center Omaha |
| Colors | Pink, light blue, purple, navy blue |
| Owner | Nebraska Pro Volleyball (Chris Erickson, Danny White & Jason Derulo) |
| President | Diane Mendenhall |
| Head coach | Laura "Bird" Kuhn |
| Championships | 1 (2024) |
| Playoff berths | 1 (2024) |
| Website | supernovas.com |
History
editOn April 12, 2023, Omaha was announced as one of the cities to get a Pro Volleyball Federation franchise for the league's inaugural season, led by an ownership group headed by Omaha businessman Danny White and R&B/pop singer Jason Derulo.[1] The Supernovas name, logo and colors were announced on July 20.[2]
The first match, of both the Supernovas’ season and the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation, was played on January 24, 2024, at home, with the Supernovas losing to the Atlanta Vibe in five sets. The attendance mark of 11,624 set a record for both a women's professional volleyball match in the United States, and in the Pro Volleyball Federation. The previous attendance record for a women's professional volleyball match in the United States was 10,213 fans, at an Olympic qualifier on January 9, 2016.[3]
2024 Season
editBefore the season began, the Omaha Supernovas announced that head coach Shelton Collier would serve as an advisor to the organization. Assistant coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn was named as the interim head coach, with Jazz Schmidt joining the staff as an assistant coach and operations assistant.[4]
The team broke the record for the highest attendance at a women's professional volleyball match in the United States three different times throughout the season. The current attendance record was set on Saturday, March 16, 2024, when 12,090 spectators watched the Supernovas beat the Valkyries at the CHI Health Center. The team posted the highest attendance in the PVF, with an average home attendance of 9,656, and a total attendance of 134,969 over the entire season.[5]
In the playoffs, the Supernovas beat San Diego and Grand Rapids to become the inaugural champions of the PVF.[5]
| DATE | OPPONENT | FANS |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Jan. 24 | Atlanta | 11,624[7] |
| Saturday, Feb. 3 | San Diego | 11,403 |
| Wednesday, Feb. 7 | Vegas | 9,076 |
| Sunday, Feb. 18 | Orlando | 11,918 |
| Thursday, March 14 | Atlanta | 8,114 |
| Saturday, March 16 | Orlando | 12,090[8] |
| Thursday, March 28 | Grand Rapids | 7,505 |
| Saturday, March 30 | Vegas | 10,315 |
| Thursday, April 4 | Columbus | 7,411 |
| Saturday, April 20 | San Diego | 11,303 |
| Friday, April 26 | Grand Rapids | 7,107 |
| Thursday, May 9 | Columbus | 8,009 |
| TOTAL | 12 Matches | 115,875 |
| Average | 9,656 | |
| PVF Semifinals | San Diego | 8,416 |
| PVF Championship | Grand Rapids | 10,678 |
| TOTAL | 15 Matches | 134,969[5] |
2025 Season
edit| Date | Team | Home/ Away | Location | Time/ Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/10/25 | Atlanta Vibe | Home | CHI Health Center | Won in 5 sets[9] |
| 1/12/25 | Grand Rapids Rise | Away | Van Andel Arena | 3pm CT |
| 1/17/25 | Vegas Thrill | Away | Lee's Family Forum | 9pm CT |
| 1/19/25 | San Diego Mojo | Home | CHI Health Center | 3pm CT |
| 1/24/25 | Columbus Fury | Away | Nationwide Arena | 6pm CT |
| 1/31/25 | Columbus Fury | Home | CHI Health Center | 7pm CT |
| 2/2/25 | Orlando Valkyries | Away | Addition Financial Arena | 2pm CT |
| 2/6/25 | Indy Ignite | Away | Fishers Event Center | 6pm CT |
| 2/8/25 | Atlanta Vibe | Away | Gas South Arena | 6pm CT |
| 2/16/25 | San Diego Mojo | Home | CHI Health Center | 3pm CT |
| 2/20/25 | San Diego Mojo | Away | Viejas Arena | 9pm CT |
| 2/27/25 | Orlando Valkyries | Home | CHI Health Center | 7pm CT |
| 3/2/25 | Indy Ignite | Home | CHI Health Center | 3pm CT |
| 3/5/25 | Columbus Fury | Away | Nationwide Arena | 6pm CT |
| 3/13/25 | Indy Ignite | Away | Fishers Event Center | 6pm CT |
| 3/15/25 | Orlando Valkyries | Away | Addition Financial Arena | 6pm CT |
| 3/22/25 | Indy Ignite | Home | CHI Health Center | TBD |
| 3/28/25 | Vegas Thrill | Home | CHI Health Center | 7pm CT |
| 3/30/25 | Grand Rapids Rise | Home | CHI Health Center | 3pm CT |
| 4/5/25 | Orlando Valkyries | Home | CHI Health Center | 6pm CT |
| 4/10/25 | Vegas Thrill | Away | Lee's Family Forum | 9pm CT |
| 4/12/25 | San Diego Mojo | Away | Viejas Arena | 8pm CT |
| 4/17/25 | Grand Rapids Rise | Home | CHI Health Center | 7pm CT |
| 4/19/25 | Atlanta Vibe | Home | CHI Health Center | 6pm CT |
| 4/25/25 | Columbus Fury | Home | CHI Health Center | TBD |
| 4/27/25 | Vegas Thrill | Home | CHI Health Center | 3pm CT |
| 5/2/25 | Grand Rapids Rise | Away | Van Andel Arena | 6pm CT |
| 5/4/25 | Atlanta Vibe | Away | Gas South Arena | 2pm CT |
2025 Roster
editCurrent as of January 10, 2025.[10]
| Number | Player | Position | Height | College/Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Natalia Valentín-Anderson
|
Setter | 5'10" | Florida International |
| 4 | Valeria Vázquez Gomez
|
Outside hitter | 6'1" | Pittsburgh |
| 5 |  Brooke Nuneviller
|
Outside hitter | 5'10" | Oregon |
| 6 | Kendra Wait
|
Setter | 5'10" | Creighton |
| 8 | Reagan Cooper
|
Outside hitter | 6'2" | Texas Tech, Kansas |
| 9 | Mac Podraza
|
Setter | 6'2" | Ohio State, Penn State |
| 10 |  Camila Gómez
|
Libero | 5'2" | Miami Dade, Texas A&M |
| 11 | Kelsie Payne
|
Opposite Hitter | 6'3" | Kansas |
| 14 | Ally Batenhorst
|
Outside hitter | 6'5" | Nebraska, USC |
| 17 | Phoebe Awoleye
|
Middle blocker | 6'2" | Georgia, LMU, Minnesota |
| 20 | Allison Whitten
|
Libero | 5'2" | Morehead State, Creighton |
| 21 | Toyosi Onabanjo
|
Middle blocker | 6'1" | Iowa, Kansas |
| 22 | Lindsay Krause
|
Outside hitter | 6'4" | Nebraska |
| 23 | Kaitlyn Hord
|
Middle Blocker | 6'4" | Penn State, Nebraska |
| 27 | Emily Londot
|
Opposite hitter | 6'3" | Ohio State |
| 28 | Kayla Caffey
|
Middle Blocker | 6'0" | Missouri, Nebraska, Texas |
Coaching staff
edit| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Laura 'Bird' Kuhn[11] | Head Coach |
| Thomas Robson[12] | Assistant Coach |
References
edit- ^ "Pro Volleyball Federation Team Coming to Omaha". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ "Nebraska Pro Volleyball Reveals Official Team Name: OMAHA SUPERNOVAS". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ "SMASHED! First Pro Volleyball Federation Match Sets Attendance Record". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "Supernovas Announce Coaching Staff Promotions". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b c "Supernovas Welcome Over 134,000 Fans in Championship-Winning Inaugural Season". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ Omaha Supernovas. "Omaha Supernovas Match Notes" (PDF).
- ^ Sjuts, Kevin (2024-01-25). "Record crowd welcomes Pro Volleyball Federation's inaugural season". www.1011now.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ Parsons, McKenzy (2024-03-17). "Omaha Supernovas, defeat Orlando Valkyries, break another attendance record". KETV. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
- ^ Boyles, Grace (2025-01-10). "Nuneviller's 22 kills power the Supernovas to five-set win over the Vibe, while setting another attendance record". wowt.com. Omaha, Nebraska: WOWT. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ^ "Omaha Supernovas Roster". Pro Volleyball Federation.
- ^ "Supernovas Officially Hire Laura "Bird" Kuhn as Head Coach, Drops Interim Title". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ "Supernovas Re-Sign Thomas Robson as Assistant Coach". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-11-08.