The play replayed in Brooke Nuneviler’s mind nonstop over the last few days.
Trailing 25-24 in the third set against Orlando on Thursday, Omaha’s outside hitter took an off-balance swing that the Valkyries dug and transitioned for a kill to close out the match.
On Sunday afternoon, Nuneviller didn’t waste her opportunity. With the third set tied at 25-all, the 5-foot-10 All-Star swung away and delivered her 16th kill to set up match point versus the Indy Ignite on the following rally.
Omaha setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson delivered the final point with a block to give the Supernovas a 25-19, 25-23, 27-25 victory in front of 9,523 fans at the CHI Health Center.
“The last point where I got the ball in the Orlando match, it’s not that I took it off, but I could have gone in harder. I’ve literally replayed things like that in my head all the time because if I get the last point, I want to put the ball away, period,” Nuneviller said. “Tonight, I wasn’t going to let that chance get away. I was either going to get stuff blocked or get a kill. I’m glad that (Valentin-Anderson) trusts me enough in those moments to give me the ball.”
Omaha libero Camila Gomez passes the ball against Indy Ignite. She finished with seven digs. Photo by John S. Peterson.
The Supernovas also cleaned up its passing after giving up franchise-record eight aces against Orlando. Nuneviller finished with nine digs, while Cooper and libero Camila Gomez finished with seven digs each.
Omaha coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn said they matched up well against Indy (7-6), played much cleaner and converted the easy plays into points.
“We know our personality — it’s a grind team, but we need to execute and be locked in on the simple things,” Kuhn said. “We focused on that the last two days, just the communication and even just starting certain ways, like how they’re standing, so we cleaned things up.”
After failing to convert two set points against Orlando, the Supernovas (9-4) didn’t waste their opportunities in Indy’s first visit to Omaha. The Supernovas saw their 11-4 lead trimmed to 12-11, but they responded by winning six of the following seven points to take control.
Omaha led most of the second set but fell behind 20-19. Outside hitter Reagan Cooper recorded back-to-back kills, and then an Ignite hitting error prompted a timeout. That was all the margin the Supernovas needed as the teams traded side outs over the next six rallies as Nuneviller, who hit .324 for the match, notched two kills before Emily Londot finished the set with a kill.
Emily Londot goes back to serve for the Supernovas. She recorded five kills, four blocks and an ace. Photo by John S. Peterson.
Londot highlighted the early part of the third set with a personal 4-0 run on three blocks and a kill to put Omaha in front 8-5.
Later, the Supernovas were up 23-21 before Leketor Member-Meneh powered a 3-0 burst with a kill and ace. Anna DeBeer notched a kill to give Indy a set point. However, Omaha didn’t need a swing to stay alive, as the run ended with a service error to set up Nuneviller’s finish.
Lydia Martin led the Ignite with 11 kills on 17 errorless swings. Member-Meneh added 10 kills and two aces.
Indy coach George Padjen said they are figuring out their best lineup now that everyone is back on the court. Member-Meneh returned to the court after missing the last two weeks with an injury. DeBeer appeared in her third match of the season after she suffered an ankle injury in the NCAA national semifinal match in December.
“It’s not just fitting the pieces of their health; it’s that you have that many talented players on a team,” he said. “Just top to bottom, it’s quality players in the gym. So it does become a real tough decision at times, who’s going to be out there.”
The match was also the homecoming for Indy setter Sydney Hilley, who earned the MVP last year leading the Supernovas to the inaugural championship.
Hilley expected a few jeers from the crowd but appreciated how she was welcomed back. She enjoyed seeing Nuneviller but was frustrated with how well her former teammates played.
Brooke Nuneviller led Omaha with 16 kills in a sweep of the Indy Ignite. Photo by John S. Peterson.
“She played out of her mind,” Hilley said.
Nuneviller appreciated the crowd’s warm welcome to Hilley during introductions and their reunion in the building where they won the title last year.
“When the crowd gave her an ovation, I literally started tearing up because she’s just one of my best friends,” she said. “She’s a great player but a great person as well. It’s always great to see her, but when we’re across the net, we’re always competitors.”
