Omaha professional volleyball serves up on Friday

A new professional volleyball team called LOVB (pronounced love) Omaha will compete in its first match Friday when it visits Houston.

It’s a member of a six-team pro league called League One Volleyball.

It has partnered with the U.S.A. Volleyball and received more $135 million dollars from two fundraising campaigns.

Notable investors include tennis star and women’s rights activist Billie Jean King, basketball stars Candace Parker, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, along with multiple private equity firms. That’s not to mention actress Amy Schumer and Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsay Vonn.

Several former Nebraska Cornhuskers like Justine Wong-Orantes play for LOVB Omaha.

“I'm super excited to get the season going,” Wong-Orantes said. “I feel like all of us are just kind of itching to start playing and just get this whole league off and running.”

LOVB started in 2020 as a network of youth volleyball clubs with the hopes of also starting a professional league, Wong-Orantes said.

The pro six teams include Omaha; Madison, Wisconsin; Austin, Texas; Houston; Salt Lake City and Atlanta.

Wong-Orantes said the league wants to capitalize on volleyball interest in college towns like Madison and Austin.

The team will end the season with a tournament in Louisville to crown a champion.

“The league has been super strategic and just like placing certain markets and certain cities,” Wong-Orantes said. “With the (Women’s College Volleyball) Final Four being in Louisville, I think that was also kind of a nice pairing.”

Fans will recognize more former Huskers on the Omaha squad, including fellow U.S. Olympic team member Jordan Larson, she said.

“It's just so cool for her and her story and just being a hometown Nebraska-native, and so for her to kind of lead the charge with our team, I think, is huge,” Wong-Orantes said.

Wong-Orantes and Larson are both founding members of the league, as well as former Husker Kelsey Robinson Cook, who plays for Atlanta’s team.

Lexi Rodriguez, Lauren Stivrins and Madi Kubik-Banks round out the former Nebraska athletes playing for Omaha.

LOVB Omaha’s first home matches are on Friday, Jan. 24, against Madison and Saturday, Jan. 25, versus Austin. It will host those competitions at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena, also known as Ralston Arena. Later in the season, Omaha will play at Baxter Arena.

There is another professional volleyball league also starting its season Friday. The Omaha Supernovas compete in the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) — separate from LOVB.

The Supernovas were founded by singer Jason Derulo and Omaha businessman Danny White.

The Supernovas begin the 2025 season against the Atlanta Vibe. Omaha defeated Atlanta in the first ever Pro Volleyball Federation title last season. Friday’s match against the Vibe will be at the CHI Health Center in Omaha and can be seen on Nebraska Public Media at 7 p.m. Central.

Elsewhere in the PVF, Merritt Beason was drafted first overall by Atlanta this year. Creighton star Norah Sis was taken third overall by the Orlando Valkyries.

Former Huskers Lindsay Krause, Ally Batenhorst and Kayla Caffey were picked by Omaha. Batenhorst returns to the Cornhusker State after transferring to Southern California this season.

Creighton’s setter Kendra Wait will also play for the Supernovas.

Leyla Blackwell played for the Huskers in 2024. She transferred from the University of San Diego and will return to San Diego after being selected by the Mojo.

Wong-Orantes said she hopes fans support both professional volleyball teams in Omaha.