Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Omaha Supernovas, Nebraska’s professional volleyball team and reigning champions, showcased their determination and skill as they completed a 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 sweep over the Grand Rapids Rise (0-2) on Sunday night. The match was played at Van Andel Arena in front of a Rise record crowd of 8,706 fans.
Standout Performances
Natalia Valentín-Anderson, Brooke Nuneviller, and Reagan Cooper led an impressive Omaha (2-0) offense. Compared to their opening night, where they hit .187 against Atlanta, the Supernovas improved their hitting percentage to .253. Valentín-Anderson, Puerto Rico’s starting setter in the 2016 Rio Olympics, dished out 42 assists, 11 digs, four kills, and an ace, despite facing worse passing than two nights prior.
Brooke Nuneviller had a remarkable game, finishing with 15 kills on a .353 hitting percentage and 19 digs, recovering from a face-to-face collision with Valentín-Anderson in the second set. Reagan Cooper also bounced back from a rough opening night to end with a match-high 16 kills (.273) and 12 digs, along with an ace.
Team Contributions
Kayla Caffey led all Omaha middle blockers with seven kills on a .235 clip and five digs. Kaitlyn Hord recorded three kills and two blocks, moving her season total to nine in two matches. Kelsie Payne tallied seven kills, while Ally Batenhorst contributed three kills on five swings, replacing Nuneviller in the second set due to the collision. Libero Camila Gómez added 12 digs and three assists.
Grand Rapids Rise Highlights
For the Rise, Sherridan Atkinson, the 2024 Greek League MVP, led the team with 12 kills on a .344 clip, along with eight digs and a block. Erika Pritchard came off the bench for 12 kills on a .417 hitting percentage with 11 digs in two sets.
Key Notes
- Omaha Supernovas improve to 5-1 all-time against the Grand Rapids Rise.
- Natalia Valentín-Anderson has averaged 12.63 assists and 4.0 digs per set in three career matches versus the Rise.
- Dating back to last season’s PVF championship, this marks Omaha’s second consecutive win over Grand Rapids.
- Nuneviller has posted at least 12 kills and 15 digs in three consecutive matches since last season’s championship match.
Set-by-Set Recap
Set 1:
The Rise took an early 3-2 lead, but a Cooper kill and ace resulted in a 3-0 run for Omaha. The Supernovas continued to extend their lead with key kills from Nuneviller, Payne, and Caffey. Despite a few errors, Omaha secured a 25-21 win with a strong finish by Cooper.
Set 2:
Omaha gained an early advantage with a 4-0 run. However, the Rise responded with a 6-0 run to take an 11-9 lead following the collision between Valentín-Anderson and Nuneviller. The set remained tightly contested, with Nuneviller stepping up to secure a 25-23 win for Omaha.
Set 3:
Trailing early, Omaha rallied with a 4-0 run led by Nuneviller and Valentín-Anderson. The set stayed close, but Omaha’s strong finish, with key plays from Caffey and Cooper, resulted in a 25-22 victory and the sweep.
Next Matches
The Supernovas continue their road trip with a visit to the Vegas Thrill on Friday, January 17, with first serve set for 9 p.m. CST. The match will be streamed live on the PVF’s YouTube Channel.
Omaha returns home to face the San Diego Mojo on Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m. CST, with Nebraska Public Media providing television coverage.
Every match this season can be heard on the Supernovas Radio Network, led by its flagship station KCRO 660 AM as part of Walnut Media. The SRN can be heard in five states with the support of its affiliates in KXCB Bluffs Country 106.5 FM, Boomer Radio 106.7 FM, ESPN Tri Cities, KNCY in Nebraska City, KGMT in Fairbury, and KSID-AM in Sidney.