Story by the Omaha Supernovas Communication
Nebraska’s first major league professional volleyball team with the Pro Volleyball League, the Omaha Supernovas, announced the signing of three-time All-American, and former Cyclone, Jess Schaben-Lansman. A 6-foot-2inch outside hitter graduated in 2019 as one of the best players in Iowa State history, becoming the first player in program history to have more than 300 kills in all four of her seasons.
Schaben-Lansman said, “I’m so excited for the opportunity to join the Omaha Supernovas. Omaha is the perfect place for professional volleyball because there are so many amazing fans and young athletes who will be impacted by the sport.”
“I'm super excited for Jess, she was one of the best players to ever play at Iowa State and is such a good worker and great volleyball player,” said Iowa State head coach and former Nebraska national champion Christy Johnson-Lynch. “I always felt like she was well-suited to play professional volleyball because she can adapt and work with anybody. It's such an honor to be a part of the inaugural season and inaugural teams, particularly in Omaha and being close to her hometown and Iowa State fans. It's going to be exciting to follow her career and we wish her the best.”
Supernovas head coach, Shelton Collier, said, “Jess had a tremendous career as a very talented, high-level and competitive player at Iowa State. She has an impressive all-around skill set as both a strong attacker and as an exceptional backrow player, and also as a high-level beach player. It’s certainly exciting for us to sign an Iowa-native to the Supernovas.”
A three-time All-American for the Cyclones, Schaben-Lansman also earned three-straight AVCA All-Midwest Region Team selections from 2016-2018. Schaben-Lansman proved to be one of the best in the Big 12 Conference, being named First Team All-Big 12 three times while picking up both offensive and defensive player of the week nods throughout her career. Schaben left her mark from the start as she was named AVCA Midwest Region Freshman and Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2015. As a senior, the outside hitter had her most outstanding season notching 516 kills at 4.20 per set. She ranks fourth in school history with 1,548 career kills, achieving the total at an average of 3.57 per set, the second-highest average in program history. Schaben-Lansman also brought in 1,005 digs and 148 blocks throughout her Cyclone career. She is one of only three players in ISU history to reach 1,500 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Following her stellar career at Iowa State, the Defiance, Iowa, native parlayed her hardcourt success to the beach. Schaben-Lansman competed for the #1 ranked LSU Tigers Beach Volleyball Team and garnered a gold medal playing for the 2018 USA Collegiate National Beach Team.
REAL Pro Volleyball competition will officially begin in the United States with the Omaha Supernovas hosting the Atlanta Vibe in the first match in League history at The CHI Center on January 24, at 7p.m. CT. The State of Nebraska supports volleyball better than anyone, as evidenced by the more than 92,000 fans that turned out this season for a collegiate match at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium in August, setting a new world record for women’s sporting attendance.
The Supernovas are one of seven U.S. teams for the inaugural season: Omaha Supernovas, Atlanta Vibe, Columbus Fury, Grand Rapids Rise, Vegas Pro Volleyball, and San Diego Pro Volleyball. An 8th team, Dallas Pro Volleyball, has been announced as the League’s first expansion team for Season Two in 2025. Overall, in Season One, the League will be showcased in three different time zones in the United States. Matches will take place on 67 different dates between January and May 2024 as opponents will be competing on every day of the week.
The Supernovas will play 12 home matches and 12 away matches, with the full season available on the team’s website: www.Supernovas.com.
After the regular season, the Supernovas are aiming to be one of the top four squads in the standings that will compete for the Pro Volleyball Federation Championship during the weekend of May 16-19, 2024. The location of the championship will be determined and announced at a later date.
The Supernovas roster includes Olympians, National Champions, and All-Americans. After adding Schaben to the roster, it brings the Supernovas squad to 13 professional players. She joins teammates Bethania de la Cruz, Tori Dixon, Danielle Hart, Sydney Hilley, Gina Mancuso-Prososki, Brooke Nuneviller, Yossiana Pressley, Nia Reed, Natalia Valentín-Anderson, Hristina Vuchkova, Lindsey Vander Weide and Kendall White.
Season Tickets are currently on sale through the team’s website, Supernovas.com, and on the team’s app, available for download on smartphones and tablets.
ABOUT OMAHA SUPERNOVAS
The Omaha Supernovas aims to be the premier home of professional volleyball throughout the world. The team is owned by global music sensation Jason Derulo and entrepreneurs Danny White and Chris Erickson, Co-Founders of City+Ventures, an investment and business acceleration organization headquartered in Omaha.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL pro volleyball and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.