Story by Omaha Supernovas Communication
OMAHA, Nebraska – The first professional volleyball league in the United States, the Pro Volleyball Federation, has announced the match schedule for its inaugural season, to include 24 matches for Nebraska’s first and only major professional team, the Omaha Supernovas. Omaha will host the inaugural match for the League on Wednesday, January 24 at the CHI Health Center.
Supernovas outside hitter Gina Mancuso-Prososki said, “Not only is this historic, but this is an honor and a true gift for the State of Nebraska that the Supernovas will host the first Pro Volleyball Federation match. I’m incredibly excited that my hometown, my home state and my home people will be the making of this monumental moment in women’s sports. Maybe I’m biased, but they deserve this without a doubt because they are the best volleyball fans in the world. The Supernovas are eager to not only mark their spot in history, but to make their fans proud.”
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 7 p.m. CT. The State of Nebraska supports volleyball better than anyone, as evidenced by the 92,000+ 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.
Pro Volleyball Federation CEO, Jen Spicher, said, “We are excited to launch this world-class league and make sports history - starting with the Omaha Supernovas facing off against the Atlanta Vibe. The seven teams we have for 2024 are stacked with the very best world-class athletes and we know fans will show up to support these teams and their top-level play.”
Supernovas President Diane Mendenhall shared, “What an honor for Nebraska to be selected to host the inaugural match for major professional volleyball in the United States! We are honored
to be part of this movement sweeping our country. This January 24 historic match pays homage to the Nebraska legends who have paved the way for Nebraska to be the ‘Epicenter of
Volleyball’ on the world’s stage -- Doctor Hibner, Coach Pettit, Coach Cook, and all the great high school, club, and college coaches across Nebraska. Plus, all the communities that supported and embraced this sport since the first days of Title IX.”
The Supernovas join six other U.S. teams for the inaugural season: Atlanta Vibe, Columbus Fury, Grand Rapids Rise, Vegas Pro Volleyball, and San Diego Pro Volleyball. An eighth 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.
“There was no question as to where we wanted to place our historic first match,” said Dave Whinham, co-founder of Pro Volleyball Federation. “The state of Nebraska’s support of
women’s volleyball speaks for itself. We were in attendance when more than 92,000 people
packed Memorial Stadium in Lincoln to set a world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event, and we look forward to Omaha setting a record for attendance at a professional women’s volleyball match in North America, if not the world.”
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. To date, 12 world-class professional players have been announced to includes 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.
Supernovas Head Coach, Shelton Collier, said, “It is so exciting for us to be able to see our Supernovas schedule as we prepare to compete in season one of the Pro Volleyball Federation. Our coaches and players are fired up for the challenge. We’re looking forward to having some great matches and awesome home crowds at the CHI Center, as well as competing in the other cities. Every team in the league has talented, experienced players, so fans can expect an unprecedented level play and competition here in the U.S. throughout the entire season.”
Mendenhall added, “Attendance records are tumbling across the country since that historic evening on August 30. We are seeing the proof that the Nebraska Effect is real in our season ticket sales, which have been unbelievable even prior to having a schedule. We know now, with this schedule, season tickets will soar.”
Season tickets are currently on sale through the team’s website, Supernovas.com, and download the Omaha Supernovas app for your smartphone and tablet devices.
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.
2024 OMAHA SUPERNOVAS SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time (CT)
01.24 Atlanta 7:00 p.m.
02.03 San Diego 6:00 p.m.
02.07 Las Vegas 7:00 p.m.
02.12 at Grand Rapids 6:00 p.m.
02.15 at Las Vegas 9:00 p.m.
02.18 Orlando 1:30 p.m.
02.21 at Columbus 6:00 p.m.
02.25 at Orlando 2:00 p.m.
02.29 at Atlanta 6:00 p.m.
03.09 at Orlando 6:00 p.m.
03.14 Atlanta 7:00 p.m.
03.16 Orlando 6:00 p.m.
03.28 Grand Rapids 7:00 p.m.
03.30 Las Vegas 6:00 p.m.
04.02 at San Diego 9:00 p.m.
04.04 Columbus 7:00 p.m.
04.13 at Atlanta 6:00 p.m.
04.20 San Diego 6:00 p.m.
04.23 at San Diego 9:00 p.m.
04.26 Grand Rapids 7:00 p.m.
05.04 at Columbus 6:00 p.m.
05.06 at Las Vegas 9:00 p.m.
05.09 Columbus 7:00 p.m.
05.12 at Grand Rapids 3:00 p.m.
*All times subject to change*