OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Supernovas (9-4) wrap up its four-match homestand by taking on the visiting Vegas Thrill (5-9) on Saturday, March 30 at 6 p.m. CDT at the CHI Health Center.
Nebraska Public Media will televise the event, with Larry Punteney doing play-by-play and Nebraska Volleyball national champion Lindsay Peterson providing commentary.
Fans can download the Nebraska Public Media App or watch online at NebraskaPublicMedia.org/Live to watch anywhere, or a local TV provider in Nebraska.
The match will be broadcast live on the Supernovas Radio Network, featuring its flagship station 93.7 The Ticket.The broadcast will also be live on 95.7 The Boss (Omaha), KRVN (Lexington), KOLT (Scottsbluff), and KTIC (West Point).
Full match notes can be found here.
The Supernovas and Thrill have split their first two matches. Vegas walked out of Omaha with a five-set win for its first victory in franchise history on Feb. 7. The Supernovas returned the favor eight days later, beating the Thrill 3-1 in Vegas on Feb. 15.
The Supernovas have been one of the top teams in the Pro Volleyball Federation during its inaugural season, sitting second in the league standings. Since starting out 1-2, Omaha has won eight of its last 10 matches. That includes the last two matches with 3-1 victories over the Orlando Valkyries on March 16 and Grand Rapids Rise on March 28.
In the most recent match against the Rise, team captain Brooke Nuneviller broke the franchise record for most kills (24) and digs (22) in a single match while setter Sydney Hilley set a new benchmark with 51 assists in one match.
It’s been nearly the opposite for Vegas as the Thrill sit in sixth place in the league standings. The Thrill have lost its last two matches getting swept by San Diego on March 24 before dropping a 3-1 contest to the Rise on March 26.
Serving will be a key factor Saturday night with Omaha entering the match first in the league with 63 aces in 13 matches. That includes outside hitter Bethania de la Cruz who owns a league-leading 23 aces. Vegas has struggled to contain the opposing serve this season as the Thrill are fifth in the league in allowing 3.93 aces per match.
The battle at the net will also be intriguing to watch as Vegas enters Saturday second with 148 blocks which is 15 more than Omaha who is in third. Tori Dixon and Hristina Vuchkova have quickly become one of the best blocking duos in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Both middles sit in the top five in total blocks with Dixon leading the charge at 36 blocks. Vuchkova owns 34 blocks in 10 matches this season with 24 of those coming in the last five matches alone.
While the Thrill don’t have any players in the top five, they are the only team to have four players with 20 or more blocks. That list includes star middle blocker Molly McCage (27), Layne Van Buskirk (26), Khat Bell (23) and setter Alisha Glass Childress (23).
Speaking of Glass Childress, she's been one of the best setters this season racking up a league-leading 605 assists for 11 assists per set. That’s 83 more than Ashley Evans of Grand Rapids who is second. She was the first setter in league history to win the Pro Volleyball Federation Player of the Week award on March 19 after she finished with 56 assists, 10 digs, three block touches and four kills in a five-set win over Grand Rapids.
The Supernovas hit the road once again after Saturday, flying out to San Diego to take on the Mojo on Tuesday, April 2 at 9 p.m. CDT. Omaha returns home two days later to face the Columbus Fury on Thursday, April 4 with first serve set for 7 p.m. CDT at the CHI Health Center.
News Channel Nebraska will provide television coverage of the April 4 match with fans also being able to listen to all the matches on the Supernovas Radio Network led by the flagship station 93.7 The Ticket.
ABOUT OMAHA SUPERNOVAS
The Omaha Supernovas aim 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, Nebraska.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is the present and future of professional volleyball in North America. The League began play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players joined by elite standouts from around the world. Seven teams have taken the court in the first season, with 10 teams scheduled for the 2025 campaign. Our focus is on ensuring that the level and quality of play, treatment of players and the entire fan experience is world class and the best offered anywhere. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.