Omaha Supernovas

Omaha Supernovas
SportVolleyball
Founded2023
First season2024
LeaguePro Volleyball Federation
Based inOmaha, Nebraska
ArenaCHI Health Center Omaha
ColorsPink, light blue, purple, navy blue
       
OwnerNebraska Pro Volleyball (Chris Erickson, Danny White & Jason Derulo)
PresidentDiane Mendenhall
Head coachLaura "Bird" Kuhn
Championships1 (2024)
Playoff berths1 (2024)
Websitesupernovas.com

The Omaha Supernovas are a professional indoor volleyball team based in Omaha, Nebraska. The team 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.

History

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On 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 the Supernovas’ season and the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation game was played on January 24, 2024, at home. In a 5-set match, the Supernovas lost to the Atlanta Vibe by a score of 26–24, 25–23, 25–17, 25–19, 15–13.[3] 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. The contest, held at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, was a 3–0 U.S. Women's National Team victory over the Dominican Republic. It concluded the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament and earned the United States a berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.[4]

2024 Season

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The Omaha Supernovas have announced head coach Shelton Collier will serve as an Advisor to the Organization and named assistant coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn as the interim Head Coach. Additionally, former Creighton volleyball standout, Jazz Schmidt joins the Supernovas’ coaching staff as an assistant coach and operations assistant.

During its championship run in the inaugural PVF season, the Supernovas became the league's shining star, hosting 134,969 fans across the 15 matches held at the CHI Health Center. That includes a whopping 9,656 average mark for the 12 Supernovas’ home matches, plus the 19,094 spectators who attended the PVF Semifinals and Championship.  

The Supernovas erased any doubt that professional volleyball could happen in the United States with their 9,656 match average the No. 1 mark amongst professional volleyball teams in the world.  

Omaha broke many of its own attendance records across its historic season, starting with 11,624 fans attending the first-ever PVF match on Jan. 24 between Omaha and the Atlanta Vibe. That mark was broken a few weeks later on Sunday, Feb. 18 as 11,918 fans showed up to watch the Supernovas take on the Orlando Valkyries. The newest and most current attendance record was set on Saturday, March 16 with 12,090 spectators packing into the CHI Health Center to see the Supernovas beat the Valkyries in four sets.  

In total, Omaha hosted crowds of 10,000 people or more in seven of the 15 matches hosted at CHI this past season, including five-digit crowds in six of the 12 regular season contests.

The Supernovas took advantage of the partisan crowd, going 9-3 at home during the regular season before winning two-straight at CHI to become the inaugural champions.  [5]

Home Attendance Records[6]
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[9]

2024 Roster

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Current as of April 21, 2024.[10]

Number Player Position Height
1 Puerto Rico Natalia Valentín-Anderson Setter 5'10"
2 United States Sydney Hilley Setter 6'0"
3 United States Kendall White Libero 5'7"
5 United States Brooke Nuneviller Outside hitter 5'10"
6 United States Tori Dixon Middle blocker 6'4"
7 United States Gina Mancuso-Prososki Outside hitter 6'0"
10 United States Jess Schaben-Lansman Outside hitter 6'2"
11 Bulgaria Hristina Vuchkova Middle blocker 6'2"
12 United States Kyla Swanson Middle blocker 6'4"
13 United States Paige Briggs Outside hitter 5'10"
14 United States Nia Kai Reed Opposite hitter 6'2"
15 United States Allison Mayfield Outside hitter 6'1"
18 Dominican Republic Bethania de la Cruz Outside hitter 6'2"
23 United States Gabby Thompson Libero 5'7"
25 United States Maggie Cartwright Opposite hitter 5'11"
81 United States Danielle Hart Middle blocker 6'3"

Practice squad

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Number Player Position Height
24 United States Sophie Davis Middle blocker 6'2"

References

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  1. ^ "Pro Volleyball Federation Team Coming to Omaha". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  2. ^ "Nebraska Pro Volleyball Reveals Official Team Name: OMAHA SUPERNOVAS". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  3. ^ Collier, Clayton (2024-01-25). "Omaha Supernovas open with 5-set loss to Atlanta Vibe in epic Pro Volleyball Federation debut match". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  4. ^ "SMASHED! First Pro Volleyball Federation Match Sets Attendance Record". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  5. ^ "Supernovas Welcome Over 134,000 Fans in Championship-Winning Inaugural Season". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  6. ^ Omaha Supernovas. "Omaha Supernovas Match Notes" (PDF).
  7. ^ Sjuts, Kevin (2024-01-25). "Record crowd welcomes Pro Volleyball Federation's inaugural season". www.1011now.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  8. ^ Parsons, McKenzy (2024-03-17). "Omaha Supernovas, defeat Orlando Valkyries, break another attendance record". KETV. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  9. ^ "Supernovas Welcome Over 134,000 Fans in Championship-Winning Inaugural Season". Pro Volleyball Federation. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  10. ^ "Roster". Omaha Supernovas.
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