Friday’s “Volleyball After Dark” was a hit, with Brian Rosen and his version of Creighton Women’s Volleyball making their debut against Omaha in a spring match as part of the doubleheader. After the Jays secured a 2-1 advantage, set four began with just over five minutes left on the 80-minute match clock, and the horn sounded with Creighton holding a 7-2 lead in the fourth. The match was limited to 80 minutes to accommodate the Supernovas game beginning at 8 p.m.
With both Omaha and Creighton at the heights of their respective programs’ history, bringing together high-level college and professional matches as one celebration in a volleyball hotbed was a no-brainer. Last season, Creighton reached its second-ever regional final and won its 10th Big East Tournament title in 11 years. Omaha most recently won the Summit League Tournament in 2023, earning its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Creighton and Omaha have been on similar trajectories recently but are in vastly different positions heading into this season. Creighton, off one of its most successful seasons in program history, is navigating uncharted waters, replacing a Hall of Fame head coach of 22 seasons in Kirsten Bernthal Booth. Omaha is coming off a loss in the Summit League Tournament to eventual champion South Dakota and returns one of the Summit League’s top minds, Matt Buttermore, for his seventh season leading the program. Friday’s match provided a glimpse of both programs’ potential and was part of a huge win for the sport.
The Supernovas match vs. Columbus headlined the event, with Omaha maintaining first place in the PVF in a five-set victory over the last-place Fury. Columbus woke Omaha up quickly in the back-and-forth affair, taking set one 25-21. Omaha won set two 25-20, then came back after trailing with Columbus serving match point to win it 26-24. In the fourth, Columbus evened the match, leading wire to wire in the frame to win it 25-23. The Supernovas looked like the PVF’s top team in set five, sealing the victory 15-9 on a Reagan Cooper kill.
The penultimate weekend of the season is vital for the Supernovas, who play the PVF’s bottom two clubs before next weekend’s matches against a fifth-place Grand Rapids team fighting for its postseason life, and the finale against second-place Atlanta. Next Sunday’s match against the Vibe will likely be for the No. 1 seed provided both teams take care of business between now and then. With the first leg of the weekend down, Omaha can prepare for Sunday’s final home game against Vegas.
The PVF’s top four teams will play semifinal matches Friday, May 9, for a chance to advance to the Championship “Match for a Million” on Sunday, May 11. Omaha is the defending champions and will look to split a one-million-dollar bonus amongst the roster for the second straight year.
While it wasn’t yet another attendance record for the strongest crowd in professional volleyball, the 9,517 fans in attendance were treated to a night of outstanding volleyball. This event may have opened the doors for further doubleheader matches at the CHI Health Center, whether it’s paired with college programs from the state again, or a LOVB-style ‘Weekend with the PVF’. If you haven’t had your Supernovas fix, the Supernovas are hosting a meet and greet at the Cox store at 205 N. 80th St. from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. today. Players will be signing autographs and taking photos, and the first 100 fans will get free tickets to tomorrow’s final game.
