When the Omaha Supernovas hang the championship banner for winning the inaugural season of the Professional Volleyball Federation on Friday night, only two of the players responsible for the title will be in uniform for the Supernovas.
Omaha’s roster includes two returners, five players who played for different PVF teams last season, two newcomers to the league and seven players who just completed their college season. Despite the roster turnover, Omaha will open the 2025 season against Atlanta Vibe on Friday night, looking to defend last season’s championship.
For the two remaining players, setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson and outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller, the Supernovas are still the reigning champs until someone else wins the title. Valentin-Anderson welcomed the challenge and said the expectations of winning last year’s championship were a privilege.
“We earned that last year,” she said. “Whether it’s the same people or not, the Supernovas won the championship. So that we fight for. I love that type of pressure. It will push us to be the best that we can be this year.”
Nuneviller said it is 100 percent their title to defend. While the players are different, the coaching staff remains the same and many of the people behind the scenes were with them when they lifted the trophy.
“Even though we have a new roster, you’ll see a ton of new people on the court,” she said. “Our depth is still really immense. We have a ton of girls that can make an impact, and just a lot of girls that have a ton of different professional experience are really ready to come in and defend.”
Nuneviller returns as captain and was named to the preseason all-league team. Valentin-Anderson split time at setter with Sydney Hilley, now with the expansion team Indy Ignite. In addition, Gina Mancuso-Prososki was on the opening-day roster before she went on the inactive list because she was pregnant. The former Nebraska All-American is back this season as an assistant coach.
Omaha coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn said even with all the new faces, they are working on creating a new culture together. She approaches every team as a different endeavor.
“It’s still a new team, and there’s still going to be new dynamics that you have to navigate and build,” she said to the Omaha World-Herald. “To me, it’s the pro level, and it’s high-level players that we get to be in the gym with, and it’s so fun training.”
Outside hitter Reagan Cooper headlined the newcomers for Omaha. She earned Rookie of the Year honors with the Columbus Fury last season and was named to the preseason All-League team.
The Supernovas will feature many familiar faces for local fans. Omaha added four former Nebraska players to the roster as it drafted outside hitters Ally Batenhorst and Lindsay Krause while signing middle blockers Kaitlyn Hord and Kayla Caffey as free agents after they played for Columbus and Grand Rapids last year, respectively. They also selected Creighton setter Kendra Wait in the draft and added former Bluejay libero Allison Whitten.
Kuhn will be reunited with several players from her previous coaching stops at Kansas and Texas A&M.
Libero Camila Gomez, who played for the Aggies in college and with Grand Rapids last season, joined Omaha as a free agent. Opposite Kelsie Payne, the 2016 Big 12 Player of the Year at Kansas, will play her first year professionally in the United States after spending the last six years playing in Türkiye, Italy, South Korea, Switzerland and Brazil. In addition, the Supernovas used their first-round draft pick on middle blocker Toyosi Onabanjo from Kansas, where she was a teammate of Cooper in 2023.
The Supernovas also selected opposite Emily Londot (Ohio State) and Valeria Vazquez Gomez (Pittsburgh) in the draft. Middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye (Minnesota) was signed as an undrafted free agent. Setter Mac Podraza also played with Gomez and Caffey last year with Grand Rapids.
Valentin-Anderson said they focused on building connections during the training camp and helping many players adjust to being professionals for the first time.
“These girls all have personal goals, and the majority of them are starting their professional career, and they want to succeed,” she said. “They are willing to do whatever it takes to help this thing and achieve what we can achieve.”
With all the new players coming from the college ranks, whose season ended less than a month ago, Kuhn said they will face plenty of challenges as they get used to playing together.
As the league enters its second season, the players and coaching staff have some familiarity and expectations for another go-around. Still, they are looking forward to the journey ahead.
Omaha set the standard for home matches last season, setting a women’s professional record for attendance three times. It maxed out at 12,090 spectators for a March 16 match against the Orlando Valkyries. The Supernovas are trying to set a new record in their opening match and avenge a season-opening loss to the Vibe from last year.
Nuneviller said she couldn’t wait to play in front of a packed CHI Health Center and the banner reveal on opening night, while Valentin-Anderson said she is looking forward to welcoming back ‘Nova Nation.
Valentin-Anderson, who lives in Omaha year-round, said she was recognized more during the off-season, and people approached her to talk about the Supernovas. Kuhn said as the PVF enters the second season, the league continues to build on its inaugural season.
“There’s still growing and development evolving around the league and things happening, but that’s what keeps it exciting,” she said. “We’re excited about all of it. I love this group, I love this organization and No. 1 Omaha — this place is special.”
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