By Annie Walker
4 4 2024
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha Supernovas (10-5) return home after a brief road trip to take on the Columbus Fury (5-7) on Thursday, April 4 at the CHI Health Center for Heroes Night. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CDT with News Channel Nebraska providing television coverage. John Baylor and Nancy Metcalf will be on the call.
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).
Thursday’s contest will also be streamed live on the Pro Volleyball Federation’s YouTube channel.
Full match notes can be found here.
The Supernovas look to rebound after a tough four-set loss to the San Diego Mojo on Tuesday, April 2 in San Diego. Prior to that match, the Supernovas had won three straight and enter Thursday having won six of their last eight matches.
The Fury are in a bit of a dry spell losing five of their last six which includes being swept in their last two matches against Atlanta on March 27 and Orlando on March 29. Although, the Fury were dominant in the first matchup between the two teams on Feb. 21 in Columbus with a four-set win. Reagan Cooper popped off for 22 kills while star middle blocker Asjia O’Neal hammered down 15 kills and hit over .500 for the match.
The Supernovas enter Thursday leading the league with 68 aces in 15 matches for a 4.53 match average. Those numbers include the league-leading 24 aces by Supernovas outside hitter Bethania de la Cruz. Columbus sits second-to-last in the league in aces per match (3.0) totaling 38 in 12 contests. Cooper leads the Fury with seven aces.
De la Cruz turned in one of the best perfomances in the league’s young history, hammering down a franchise-record 26 kills on a .418 clip on Tuesday against the Mojo. Her 26 tallies accounted for 50% of the team’s kills. She also totaled 13 digs to go with three blocks, one assist and one ace.
Cooper leads the Fury attack with 181 kills which is eighth in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Her 22 kills in the first match against the Supernovas is one of four matches this season she’s eclipsed 20 kills.
The middle blockers will be another storyline to watch. Supernovas Tori Dixon and Hristina Vuchkova has become a dominant duo for Omaha. Both are tied for third in total blocks with 42 apiece. Vuchkova has had the hotter hand, setting a franchise record of six blocks in the last match against the Mojo. Vuchkova initially started slow after arriving from the Chinese League, recording 10 blocks in her first five matches. She’s turned it on in the latest string of matches, totaling 32 blocks in the last seven matches alone.
Omaha starts a nine-day break following Thursday. The Supernovas will next be in action on Saturday, April 13 when they travel to Atlanta to face the Vibe in what will be a battle of the top two teams in the league.
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.
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