Go Supernovas! Nebraska Pro Volleyball unveils Omaha team name

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Women’s professional volleyball is rapidly gaining traction as the new Omaha franchise revealed the name of the team on Thursday.

The Omaha Supernovas will take to the court next February in the inaugural year of the Pro Volleyball Federation.

6 News spoke with two hometown players about playing in their own backyard.

Natalia Valentin-Anderson has played all over the world. Once captain of the Puerto Rican national volleyball team, she said says playing professionally overseas was difficult.

“It has been over a decade where I’ve been going overseas to play and leaving my family and friends and missing out of a lot of things,” she said. “For me, family is everything, so it was taking a toll on me personally.”

Former Nebraska All-American Gina Manscuso-Prososki played overseas for six years. She said she won’t miss living out of a suitcase.

“Traveling, packing up for an overseas experience for nine months is not always easy; and traveling from country to country within your season on a bus for 12-14 hours — it can be tough,” she said.

Now both women can play professional volleyball at home.

“This opportunity came along, and I think it was a blessing because I get to do what I love, what I’m passionate about right here at home with my family.”

Manscuso-Prososki said she feels blessed to be involved.

“My own home with my husband and my dog — we only live 20 minutes from here, and I never thought I’d be able to say something like that,” she said.

Both also appreciate the fan support they know will come with the new team.

“I think it’s amazing that I get to live here now and experience that you know passion that the fans have for this sport. It’s just unmatchable,” Valentin-Anderson said.

Manscuso-Prososki is also looking forward to the inaugural season.

“Being able to play, not only in my own country but my home city — I feel incredibly blessed, and I really want to make the most of it,” she said. “And I want the fans of course to have a great experience — and we want their support we also want to support them — so it’s going to be such a cool inaugural season.”

Alicia Ostrander’s finished her collegiate career at CHI Health Center arena.

“I ended my career in this gym winning a National Championship,” she said.

She then went on to play professional volleyball in Spain.

Ostrander said she’s happy to see that young girls now can play professionally right here after college.

“While that’s still a dream for these young girls — and it’s a tremendous dream, one to strive for,” she said. “But what’s even more amazing now is that it doesn’t just stop there for wanting to play for the United States, wanting to play for your friends and family to come watch. Now they have that dream to go on and play professional volleyball.”

Ostrander is excited about that as well.

“I just think of all the little girls nowadays who — they have something to look forward to, to dream of, to work towards, here in their own home state. Ugh, I have so many thoughts and feelings! I just wish I could articulate them, but it’s going to be so amazing.”

Nebraska Pro Volleyball made itself known last week, announcing the women’s pro volleyball team would call the 18,000-seat CHI Health Center arena its home. On Thursday, officials unveiled the team’s name.

A league spokeswoman announced a new franchise in the Pro Volleyball Federation on Wednesday in Dallas, Texas, that will join the six-team league in 2025. Two more teams are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Other clubs currently in the league are Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando, Grand Rapids, and Columbus.

Watch Thursday’s news conference

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Digital Director Gina Dvorak contributed to this report.

Correction: Information about the latter part of Alicia Ostrander’s volleyball career was reported incorrectly in a previous version of this story. 6 News regrets the error.

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