OMAHA, Neb. – San Diego Mojo took down the defending Pro Volleyball Federation champion Omaha Supernovas in four sets (20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-22) on Sunday afternoon at CHI Health Center in front of 12,723 fans, the second-largest match attendance in United States Pro Volleyball history. Outside hitter Kendra Dahlke led the scoring effort for the Mojo, posting 19 points to help San Diego improve to 2-2 on the year, while the Novas dropped their second consecutive match to move to 2-2 this season.
Dahlke had another stellar outing for the Mojo, earning her third-straight double-double with a team-high 18 points and 12 digs, while hitting .356. Setter DaYeong Lee earned her third double-double with season highs of 46 assists and 14 digs.
Middle blocker Ronika Stone had her top performance of the season, tallying a season-high 13 points courtesy of seasons bests of nine kills and four blocks, while also chipping in seven digs. Outside hitter Jenaisya Moore added eight kills and middle blockers Leyla Blackwell and Lauren Page had six kills each.
The Supernovas were in control throughout much of the opening set, scoring four-straight points to take an early 6-2 lead before a Stone hammer into the middle of the Omaha defense put an end to the run. Omaha extended the lead to seven, 16-9, before the Mojo earned six of the next seven points to close the gap to two, 17-15. The squads split the next 10 points, highlighted by a pair of kills by Dahlke, before Omaha closed out the set earning the final three points, winning 25-20.
A tightly contested second set had San Diego and Omaha share the first 28 points, as neither side was able to build more than a two-point lead. The Mojo took a 15-14 lead into the break and built momentum from there, opening a 20-16 lead after a Dahlke swing from the back row. Back-to-back points by Lee courtesy of a block followed by a kill had the Mojo up 22-17. Blackwell evened the match with a kill to close out the set for the Mojo, 25-19. Dahlke led the way for San Diego in the second, collecting five kills in the frame, while Moore and Blackwell had four each.
Set three started similarly to the previous set with the squads splitting the points early until Dahlke scored to give San Diego a 12-10 lead, the first multi-point lead of the frame. After trading the next four points, the Mojo began rolling, putting together a 7-2 run to move ahead 21-14, highlighted by a monster block by Stone and key kills by middle blocker Rainelle Jones and Page. The Novas countered, cut the Mojo lead to two, 24-22, to force a San Diego timeout before Stone slammed home the win, 25-22.
With the score level at 6-6 in set four, San Diego’s offense began clicking, scoring the next four points, capped by a Jones kill and a service ace. The Mojo pushed the advantage to five points late in the set, moving ahead 20-15, before Omaha rallied once again, cutting their deficit to two, 24-22. Moore closed out the match on the next point with a kill to give the Mojo the set, 25-22.
Next up, San Diego returns home for a two-match homestand beginning on Friday, Jan. 24 against PVF newcomer Indy Ignite with serve from inside Viejas Arena set for 7:05 p.m. PT. The Mojo will then host 2024 PVF regular-season champion Atlanta Vibe on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7:05 p.m. PT.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO MOJO
San Diego Mojo are a women’s professional volleyball team in San Diego, Calif. and is a founding member of Pro Volleyball Federation, the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. The Mojo are led by 2024 PVF Coach of the Year and three-time Olympian Tayyiba Haneef-Park and play their home matches at Viejas Arena on the campus of San Diego State University. The team is owned by longtime San Diegan and UC San Diego alum Gary E. Jacobs, a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of the Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School and managing director of Jacobs Investment Company (JIC).
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is the leading professional volleyball league in the United States. PVF sets the standard for the sport, offering the largest number of franchises, unmatched attendance, extensive broadcast coverage and substantial championship prize money. It combines top-tier talent, including NCAA stars and international athletes, with cutting-edge production and technology to provide fans with an unmatched viewing experience. As a vital link between collegiate volleyball and the professional stage, PVF is dedicated to shaping the future of the sport and increasing visibility for its athletes. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
Sign up for Mojo updates here.