(Omaha, Neb.) In cooperation with the Pro Volleyball Federation, Nebraska Pro Volleyball is bringing a women’s professional team to Omaha. Today, the Omaha-based team, led by Head Coach Shelton Collier, added three prominent veteran professional players to the roster: veteran Olympic setter Natalia Valentín-Anderson, powerful professional veteran opposite hitter Nia Reed, and experienced, skilled outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide.
The “pro veteran trio” brings a combined 22 years of experience playing professionally in international leagues around the world. Valentín-Anderson, Reed and Vander Weide have all had highly successful experiences playing professional volleyball in various countries in addition to having record setting collegiate careers.
Coach Collier stated, “With this group we have added players who have played high level collegiate volleyball, but more importantly, they will bring a level of savvy and experience to our Omaha team, which I believe will be a very important factor in the inaugural season not only for Nebraska Pro Volleyball, but for the entire Pro Volleyball Federation.”
Natalia Valentín-Anderson, who is from Puerto Rico and now lives in Omaha, has played internationally for more than a decade representing Puerto Rico in multiple world championships and NORCECA Volleyball Confederation tournaments—where she was named “Best Setter” in 2021. Valentín-Anderson has played professionally in Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan, France, Poland, Italy and, most recently, in the U.S. She has won championships in the Azerbaijan league in 2016, and with Saint Raphael Var Volleyball, winning the French Cup in 2019. Valentín-Anderson was named MVP of Puerto Rico’s volleyball league in 2013 and has been named “Best Setter” of the league four times. She was recently named “Winning Setter” by Athletes Unlimited (AU). After finishing her career at Florida International University as the all-time leader in assists and digs, she captained the National Team of Puerto Rico in the 2016 Olympic games. On signing to the Omaha team, Valentín-Anderson said, “To say that I’m excited and fired up about playing in Omaha is an understatement. I never thought I would have the opportunity to play professional volleyball in the place I’ve called home for the last five years. To be able to play in front of my husband, our family and in his hometown is an honor. I will wear this jersey proudly and represent Omaha to the best of my abilities alongside my future teammates. I am from Puerto Rico, where there is a professional volleyball league, and I grew up watching amazing volleyball players play at the highest level. Being a part of the first-ever professional team in Nebraska and to be able to give that experience to all the young girls and boys here will be a role I’ll take seriously and strive to be the best example to the next generation. After 12 years of playing abroad, I have to say ‘thank you’ to Omaha and to Coach Shelton Collier for giving me this incredible opportunity to do what I love here at home. Now, let’s bring the championship ‘a casa!!!’”
Regarding Valentín-Anderson, Coach Collier stated, “Natalia is a perfect setter in so many ways for our new Omaha team. She brings experience as an Olympian and as captain of the Puerto Rico National Team, along with being a highly regarded setter in several international professional leagues. She is a skilled and charismatic setter, and she lives right here in Omaha, which is a huge bonus for us. She has incredible personal qualities and will certainly be influential in promoting our team throughout the community.”
Nia Reed is a member of the USA National Team program and will be competing for a position on the USA Pan American team in July. She is a seasoned professional in international play. This past season, playing with the prestigious South Korean club Gwangju Al Peppers, she was a dominating player and all-star selection. Before South Korea, she led San Pablo’s Sesi Vôlei Bauru team to the championship in the Brazil professional league, where she was the top scorer and was named “Best Opposite Hitter” in Brazil. Additionally, Reed has had successful professional seasons in Turkey and France. Playing for legendary college coach Russ Rose at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), she was an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American and a key player on the NCAA national championship team.
On joining Nebraska Pro Volleyball, Reed shared, “Playing professional volleyball in the U.S. has always been a dream of mine, so to be a part of the Pro Volleyball Federation’s first season in the United States with Nebraska Pro Volleyball is monumental and a dream come true. I’m honored and extremely excited to be joining the Omaha pro team. Playing in the Big Ten conference and playing at Nebraska was always a challenge. The game atmosphere was always unmatched and hands down some of the most diehard volleyball fans I’ve ever seen. I’m looking forward to the fans bringing that same energy for this Omaha pro team. Coach Collier has been nothing short of amazing in building this roster and I’m confident that he’s putting together a championship team. I can’t wait to compete and grind it out with this team this upcoming season and make Omahans proud.”
Regarding Reed, Coach Collier said, “One of the most important aspects of any high-level professional volleyball team is having an experienced and elite player at the all-important opposite hitter position, and with Nia, we have exactly that. She was outstanding in her recent season in Korea and has had several very strong seasons playing internationally since graduating from a hugely successful career at Penn State. I anticipate that she will have a huge impact with her front row and backrow attacking and her elite blocking ability.”
Lindsey Vander Weide played collegiate volleyball for the University of Oregon. As an Oregon Duck, she was thrice selected for the All-Pac-12 Team and twice named a third-team All-American, becoming only the 6th Duck to receive multiple career All-American awards. She finished her career as Oregon as the No. 4 all-time scorer with 1,687 points, as No. 5 in total attacks (3,985), and as No. 6 in both kills (1,447) and digs (1,242). She earned two AVCA Pacific North All-Region honors. Vander Weide started her professional career Volley-Ball Nantes, a Champions League team in France. She continued her stint in Europe joining Békéscsabai RSE, a Hungarian Champions League club. Both teams were set to play for the championship, but were cut short by the Covid-19 global pandemic. Her last European season was played in Greece with AEK, one of the biggest sports clubs in Greece. In the fall of 2022, she played for Petro Gazz in the Philippines where she led her team to win the championship and received MVP and “Best Import” awards. Her latest season was in Puerto Rico with the Changas de Naranjito team. She plans to play for AU in the fall.
On joining the Omaha team, Vander Weide shared, “I couldn’t be more excited to join this exciting new pro league in the United States in one of the biggest volleyball fan bases in the nation. Coach Collier has done an excellent job of building up a powerful team in a short period of time which makes me even more excited for what’s to come in season. Being able to play against, and with, some of the best on my own home soil is an opportunity I could not pass up. I cannot wait for this Omaha team to come to life in 2024 with a renowned coach leading the way.”
Regarding Vander Weide, Coach Collier said, “As we were evaluating top players from across the country, we felt it was important to have an experienced player who had played in several other pro leagues, who has already proven that she has a successful skill set. Lindsey brings that level of experience and a refined all-around game to Omaha. There will be many talented attackers in the league, however, Lindsey has high level serve reception skills in addition to her offensive power which certainly will make her a valuable player.”
Nebraska Pro Volleyball’s Omaha team roster, to date: Tori Dixon, Danielle Hart, Sydney Hilley, Gina Mancuso-Prososki, Brooke Nuneviller, Yossiana Pressley, Nia Reed, Natalia Valentín-Anderson, Lindsey Vander Weide and Kendall White. Pro Volleyball Federation is expected to launch its first season in early 2024. Six of the team markets have been announced: Omaha, Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando, Grand Rapids and Columbus, and are currently building their teams.
ABOUT NEBRASKA PRO VOLLEYBALL Nebraska Pro Volleyball aims to be the premier home of women’s volleyball throughout the world. The Omaha-based 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. Having been named one of the fastest growing companies in Nebraska and the U.S., City+Ventures pursues opportunities focused on investing in people and communities. For more information, visit city-ventures.com. As an international household name with more than 100 million followers across popular social media platforms, Derulo has sold more than 250 million singles worldwide, achieving 15 platinum singles. He joins Taylor Swift, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and Christina Aguilera as the only artists in history to achieve a #1 single on U.S. Pop Radio in three decades. Those wishing to be a part of Nebraska Pro Volleyball can email jrwang@city-ventures.com.
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. Those wishing to become a part of Pro Volleyball Federation, whether as a player, coach, team owner, investor, sponsor, vendor, media company, or host venue, can email info@provolleyball.com.