Four Huskers Highlight Omaha Supernovas Roster Heading into Year Two of PVF

The second season of the Pro Volleyball Federation begins this week as the reigning champion Omaha Supernovas host the Atlanta Vibe on Friday.

Fans who show up at CHI Health Center Omaha on Friday night may see some familiar faces on the court as four former Huskers made the roster for the 2025 Supernovas: middle blockers Kayla Caffey and Kaitlyn Hord and outside hitters Lindsay Krause and Ally Batenhorst.

Add in two former Creighton Bluejays in setter Kendra Wait and libero Allison Whitten and the local college players hold six of Omaha’s 16 roster spots. While talent was a key factor in targeting those six as free agents or draft picks, the built-in ties to the fan base are a bonus for a league still looking to establish its footing in this country.

“I think it’s huge for our team, this community, obviously our organization,” Omaha coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn said. “We were talking about the draft for weeks leading up to it. Obviously, it’s always a focus. There is a ton of talent right here, and we love to have them rooted in our community.”

The two middles were free agent pick-ups heading into their third professional season while the two pins are rookies, having just wrapped up their collegiate careers last month.

Caffey began her college career at Missouri before transferring to Nebraska for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. She was a second-team AVCA All-American in 2021, averaging 2.41 kills per set on .363 hitting and 1.11 blocks per set while helping the Huskers reach the national championship match. She finished her college career at Texas, where she won a national title with the Longhorns in 2022.

Outside of Athletes Unlimited, professional volleyball in the United States didn’t exist when Caffey completed her college career, so she went to Puerto Rico to begin her pro career with the Criollas de Caguas. That’s where she first heard about the PVF.

“I was sitting on the couch and two of my roommates that played at Penn State were actually talking about PVF, and I was like, ‘What’s PVF and why have I never heard of it?’” Caffey said. “They were like, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a league back home.’ And I was like, ‘Really? That’s awesome.’ So I just think it’s really cool and really special to finally just be able to be at home to play. My family’s able to come to a lot more games, and it’s just really cool to make those connections.”

Caffey spent the inaugural PVF season with the Grand Rapids Rise, averaging 1.19 kills and 0.56 blocks in 19 matches with 17 starts.

The Chicago native said she appreciates the way the PVF takes care of its athletes and that re-signing with the league was a “no-brainer” for her, especially once the opportunity to return to Nebraska materialized. Having played in front of several different fan bases throughout her career, she said the dedication of fans in Nebraska sets them apart from others.

“I don’t know a fan base that is so invested in their team, when it comes to gear, just following all of us, supporting us,” Caffey said. “It’s really special and it’s really cool.”

As far as the Supernovas fan base specifically, she experienced it firsthand as a visitor when the Rise played in Omaha.

“It was actually really nice,” Caffey said. “They still cheered for me, and I was so surprised that they cheered for me, but it felt really good and warm, and it made it a no-brainer to come back and play here … A lot of them actually came to our open practice the other day and they were all like ‘We’re so happy we can actually cheer for you this year.’ I was like, ‘Wow, guys, wow.’ It’s nice that they’ll be supporting me again.”

Hord, who spent her final season of college at Nebraska in 2022, had a similar experience visiting the CHI Center as a member of the Columbus Fury last season.

“It just reminds me of the GBR fans, Go Big Red,” Hord said. “Nebraska fans are unbelievable. Their support, especially for volleyball, is insane in the best way possible. When I played here last time, the atmosphere was amazing. They were cheering every point. They just love volleyball, whether it’s their team, the other team. They’re going to cheer if it’s a good play, no matter what. I loved playing in front of the crowd and am glad to be on the right side this time.”

The Lexington, Kentucky, native spent four years at Penn State before transferring to Nebraska for her extra season of eligibility where she led the country in blocks at 1.61 per set. She began her professional career in 2023 with Romanian club CSM Volei Alba Blaj. Hord joined the Fury for the inaugural season of the PVF, averaging 1.54 kills per set on .332 hitting (third in the league) and 0.58 blocks per set.

“I definitely think that they did their research in terms of what they need to be successful right off the bat, and I think they excelled at that,” Hord said of the PVF. “I’m really excited to see what the league even has to build on in year two. Overseas is just a journey no matter where you are, so it’s amazing to be able to stay home with friends and family.”

Whereas the two middles are seasoned pros, the pins are both beginning their careers this winter.

The Supernovas drafted Batenhorst in the second round of the PVF Draft, 15th overall. She spent three seasons at Nebraska before transferring to USC for her senior season.

“Obviously the Supernovas are amazing,” Batenhorst said. “I came to a game last year, actually, and the environment is so exciting. I think just overall, in general, having opportunities for women to play sports in the States is amazing. I’m just happy to be here.”

While Batenhorst is from Houston, she has deep family ties to Nebraska and said returning to the state “means everything” (even if she had to stop at home to pick up her winter clothing on her way to Omaha).

“Nebraska has been home to me,” Batenhorst said. “My whole family’s from here, and just seeing that support, even when I did transfer and came back, and just the consistent love and support from all the fans is just unique and just so special.”

Batenhorst was a rotation player during her first three years at Nebraska, but at USC she got a chance to be the team’s go-to hitter and thrived, averaging 3.94 kills per set en route to first-team All-Big Ten honors.

“I think I grew so much as a person and a player, and I think just being able to experience something new and just be a part of a different culture is just great in all ways,” Batenhorst said. “I think I’ve learned a lot and just even sharpened my skills a little bit, so it’s been great.”

The other rookie was a true hometown pick. Krause, a Papillion native, won four Class B state championships at Omaha Skutt Catholic before spending all four years of college as a Husker.

“I am so excited to be playing in Omaha,” Krause said. “It’s something that I never would have imagined being possible even just a couple years ago, with these pro teams just coming into existence in the last few years. And so not only getting to play volleyball in my home country, which is something that is so amazing, but getting to play in my hometown is something I will never take for granted. It’s something that I’m so grateful for, and it is so amazing to have this opportunity.”

Krause said she was lying on her bed watching the PVF draft ahead of Husker practice when she saw her name pop up. The Supernovas selected her in the third round, 19th overall. She knew she was on the Supernovas’ radar and had hope Omaha would pick her, but she wasn’t certain how it would play out going into the draft.

“I couldn’t believe it, honestly, and just the idea of this professional volleyball even being in America is still something that is hard to believe, that they’ve made it and they’ve done it, and so I’m just so grateful,” Krause said. “I immediately was just so elated. Even getting to have that kind of next five or six months, I guess, planned out once college ended, was almost also kind of a relief, because I feel like any person nearing the end of their college experience is almost kind of having a crisis of just like, ‘What’s next? I don’t really know what I’m going to do next.’ So even just getting to have that kind of feeling of security, of just, ‘I know what’s next,’ that was really big for me.”

Krause averaged 2.36 kills per set on .248 hitting throughout a career filled with adversity. She earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2021 then stepped her game up as a sophomore, splitting time at opposite hitter in Nebraska’s 6-2 system. She was playing the best volleyball of her career as a junior before a serious ankle injury ended her season after 14 matches. She opened her senior season as a starter but lost the spot midseason and didn’t play in Nebraska’s last four matches in the NCAA Tournament.

Krause said everything she experienced during her college career has given her a valuable perspective heading into the pros.

“I think it prepares me, because I’ve had to experience a lot of different things as a college athlete,” Krause said. “I’ve been injured, I’ve been playing, I’ve been not playing. I’ve been all the above that you can really do in college. I feel like, once you get to this level, there’s a lot of people who have maybe not really experienced being in those different positions. I feel like a lot of people are used to kind of like the best player at their colleges or anywhere at those levels.

“I obviously was not happy with the situation I was in — it sucked — but I feel like getting that experience and getting to see teams and being a part of teams and everything from every different perspective, basically, is something that’s really just going to do me good in the future.”

All four former Huskers said having familiar faces on the team has made the transition easier. Batenhorst said Krause was her first roommate back when the two attended Nebraska’s Dream Team camp together and the two are like sisters at this point. They were both teammates with Caffey and Hord as well, and Hord said she and Batenhorst do almost everything together, including carpooling to practice.

“It’s awesome,” Batenhorst said. “These are some of my best friends, actually, and just having those friendships and that bond before transitioning into professional life is just awesome. I think that’s going to give us an edge on some other teams. Everyone’s at such a high level.”

Add Merritt Beason with the Atlanta Vibe and Leyla Blackwell with the San Diego Mojo and there are six former Huskers in the PVF, plus another six Nebraska alumnae playing for LOVB, the second pro league in the United States launching this month. Five of those former Huskers in LOVB are playing for the Omaha team. Batenhorst said the number of Huskers playing high-level pro and Olympic volleyball is incredible and a credit to the program Coach John Cook has built in Lincoln.

“It’s so cool, and I think it’s a testament of everyone wants to be here,” Krause said of the heavy Husker presence in Omaha. “I think anybody who has played in Nebraska, even like Kaity and Kayla, who signed with them last summer, they knew what the feeling was like playing here, and they wanted to come back to that just because it is something that is so special and you really don’t get it anywhere else.

“I think that just shows how much Nova nation has already shown up over the last year. And then also just the support staff, the coaches, everything — everybody wants to be a part of this program.”

While each of the former Huskers is happy to be back in Nebraska, the Supernovas are just as happy to have them in the fold.

“I think every one of these players, let alone them being just kind of grassroots here, they have their own personality, their own experiences that they’re bringing into this team, because every year, it’s going to be different, no matter how many people are returning, or are coming in new,” Kuhn said. “So I think getting to have their unique perspectives and experiences to add is huge.”

Omaha came in third in the preseason poll released on Monday, one of four teams to earn a first-place vote. Beason’s Vibe is the preseason favorite. Only two players — outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller and setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson — are back from last year’s Supernovas team that captured the inaugural championship, but this year’s group is confident in its ability to make another run at the title, especially with the fans in Omaha backing them up.

“I’m super excited just for the season,” Caffey said. “It’s going to be a good one. All the fans are super excited. We’ve been out in the community, talking with them and just listening. How many of them have season ticket holder passes and stuff is really getting me amped up for the season.”

Batenhorst called Omaha the volleyball capital of the world (as evidenced by last year’s team setting a worldwide attendance record for professional volleyball), and all eyes will be on the CHI Health Center Friday when the Supernovas and Vibe battle it out.

Local fans who don’t have tickets can watch the match on Nebraska Public Media. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CST.