National Girls & Women in Sports Day was February 7th, 2024. Nearly 9,000 fans celebrated by attending one of the first American professional volleyball matches the Omaha Supernovas vs. the Las Vegas Thrill.
The Omaha Supernovas are one of the pioneers in professional volleyball, and the only professional volleyball team that Nebraska has ever had.
They continue to break records that have been set all across the globe, with nearly 11,918 fans filling the CHI Health Center on their recent game Sunday night.
Nebraska is known nationwide as a huge volleyball state; especially since the state holds the world record for largest attendance at a women’s sporting event in history- which just so happened to be a matchup between the University of Nebraska volleyball team and Omaha.
With Nebraska being a huge volleyball state and beginning to become a major component in the professional volleyball sphere, it is clear that Nebraska is becoming a leader in the future of women’s sports.
This applies to volleyball and other sports such as softball, with the recent transfer of the 2023 Most Outstanding WCWS softball player to Nebraska, Jordy Bahl.
Since the atmosphere of women’s sports continues to change, so has the players’ attitude.
“It’s fun to watch and see a new level of volleyball (being played) so close to Nebraska,” said Bailey Ferguson, a Freshman prodigy libero for the Antlers. “It’s cool to look up to professional volleyball players and see a new professional volleyball community starting to form.”
Ferguson was in attendance at the game on February 7th and has been following the Omaha Supernovas for a while.
“It’s inspiring,” Ferguson continued, “You can learn so much from watching them play and seeing how they’ve become so good at their sport.”
“A lot of other sports have that privilege, I think it’s awesome that volleyball is finally taking that next step,” said Senior Abby Roberts, a longtime middle hitter for the Antlers.
Though Roberts has yet to follow the team, she feels strongly that a professional volleyball league is the next step for the sport.
“The best of the best will move on to a higher level than just college now,” Roberts said.
As the Supernovas continue to set records, they’re a team to keep a close eye on as they create a high new aspiration for girls involved in sports.
“I think it’s good that they have more professional sports and opportunities for girls to go further with volleyball,” said Timothy Peterson, a math teacher and Assistant Head Softball coach.
The Supernovas are beginning to spike interest in volleyball throughout the state and continue to set records.
