An American professional volleyball record crowd of 11,624 watched the first-ever Pro Volleyball Federation match Jan. 24 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.
The Atlanta Vibe topped the home team, 3-2 (26-24, 25-23, 17-25, 19-25 and 15-13).
“It was a spectacle. It was an event. It was something amazing that happened,” Omaha Supernovas coach Shelton Collier said. “And we were so proud to be apart of it.”
In the middle of it all was Blair High School coach Jess Lansman, who accepted the Bears job in November after two seasons as an assistant. A little more than two months later, she started for the Supernovas at outside hitter.
“It still really hasn't sunk in,” she said during the postmatch press conference.
After an All-American career at Iowa State and a beach stint at LSU, Lansman taught for three years total before coming back to play her sport competitively. At the start, Collier wasn't quite sure the brand-new mother would be able to earn a spot on Omaha's debut team.
“Jess said, 'Well I happen to have a four-month-old, but I can really, really work to get myself ready if I have an opportunity,'” the coach said, recalling their initial conversation. “And I said, 'I don't really see that happening. We've got a pretty good roster.'”
Lansman was adamant, though.
“And Jess said, 'Just tell me that there's an opportunity,'” Collier said. “'If I can beat somebody out, will I have that opportunity?'”
The coach gave her a chance and the BHS coach took advantage.
“Amazingly, she now has a 1-year-old and she's playing at an amazingly high level,” Collier said.
Lansman notched her first kill early on during the first set against Atlanta before making another highlight play, keeping one rally alive from a seated position on the floor.
Omaha trailed much of the first set, though, and still did after the 6-foot-2 outside hitter's kill at 21-20.
Atlanta ultimately won it, 26-24, and the second set to take a 2-0 lead into a short break.
Back in the locker room, however, the Supernovas plotted their comeback.
“The players collaborated a little bit and we said, 'reverse sweep,'” Collier detailed. “'That's the only option, now. Reverse sweep.'”
Omaha won the third set 25-17 and the fourth 25-19, forcing a deciding fifth. The Vibe won it, though, even after the home club's Bethanie de la Cruz — a two-time Olympian with the Dominican Republic — notched back-to-back ace serves for a 13-10 advantage.
Brooke Nuneviller, a former Oregon Duck and 2023 US National team member, led the Supernovas in defeat with 16 kills, while Lansman notched 13 in her debut.
Atlanta's Leah Edmond, a former Kentucky Wildcat, meanwhile, dominated the match with 27 kills.
While the close loss deflated the team and the CHI Health Center crowd at its end, it couldn't dampen the players' pride in what they'd accomplished. Lansman especially expressed her gratefulness afterward.
“I believe that God had a plan for me and this was part of it,” she said in front of a collection of local and national media members. “So, yeah, I'm honored to, like, be in this position and, hopefully, have some of those Blair girls want to play volleyball and want to play for the Omaha Supernovas someday.”
It was a night of pro volleyball in Omaha.
“This was breaking ground for a professional volleyball league and there could have been 800 people in a poorly played match, and it was an incredible match with an incredible crowd — an incredible atmosphere,” Collier said.
BHS' volleyball coach was front-and-center for it.
FUTURE SUPERNOVAS HOME MATCHES
All matches at CHI Health Center in Omaha
(Time and date, opponent)
6 p.m. Saturday, San Diego Mojo
7 p.m. Feb. 7, Vegas Thrill
8 p.m. Feb. 18, Orlando Valkyries
7 p.m. March 14, Atlanta Vibe
6 p.m. March 16, Orlando Valkyries
7 p.m. March 28, Grand Rapids Rise
6 p.m. March 30, Vegas Thrill
7 p.m. April 4, Columbus Fury
6 p.m. April 20, San Diego Mojo
7 p.m. April 26, Grand Rapids Rise
6 p.m. May 9, Columbus Fury
