PVF Omaha Supernovas

Supernovas Aim to Rebound against Red-Hot Mojo in Omaha

Published on April 19, 2024 under Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
Omaha Supernovas News Release


OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Supernovas (11-6) look to bounce back after a four-set loss to the Atlanta Vibe with a weekend showdown against the San Diego Mojo (7-8) on Saturday, April 20 at the CHI Health Center. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CDT with News Channel Nebraska providing television coverage. Renown play-by-play broadcaster John Baylor and Olympian Nancy Metcalf will be on the call.

The match will also be broadcast live on the Supernovas Radio Network, featuring its flagship station 93.7 The Ticket. The broadcast will also be live on 95.7 The Boss (Omaha), KRVN (Lexington), KOLT (Scottsbluff), and KTIC (West Point).

Saturday's contest will also be streamed live on the Pro Volleyball Federation's YouTube channel.

The Supernovas are the only team in the league to not have lost consecutive matches and look to continue that trend against the Mojo on Saturday. After every loss this season, Omaha has responded with a win, averaging a .243 clip and nine blocks in those matches. The Supernovas are 1-2 in their last three matches, which equals their record after the first three contests of the season. After that slow start, Omaha responded by winning six of its next seven matches.

San Diego is on quite the upswing, winning back-to-back five-set thrillers and four of its last five matches. After the Mojo started 1-5 to begin the season, they've bounced back with a 6-3 record and have vaulted themselves into postseason contention.

Setter and Thailand native Tomkom Nootsara has been a major reason for the Mojo's success as she sits fourth in the league with 613 assists which equates to a league-leading 10.95 assists per set. In fact, she most recently won the Pro Volleyball Federation Player of the Week after leading San Diego to two wins and racking up 122 assists in three matches.

Rooke Temi Thomas-Ailara has been the biggest beneficiary of those assists, pacing the Mojo with 209 kills which is tied for seventh in the league. Athletic middle blocker Ronika Stone is the force at the net, leading San Diego with 33 blocks and 107 kills on the season. Former Supernova Lindsay Vander Weide is the only other Mojo to reach triple-digit kills, hammering down 102.

Supernovas outside hitter Bethania de la Cruz enters Saturday still leading the league with 24 aces in 17 matches. The Dominican Republic native has been a menace against the Mojo this season, totaling 39 kills on a .427 clip with 19 digs, three blocks and two aces across two matches. De la Cruz set a franchise record with 26 kills against the Mojo in San Diego on April 2.

Omaha middles Hristina Vuchkova and Tori Dixon will be another factor. They've turned into a dynamic duo for the Supernovas as both players sit inside the top five in individual blocks. Vuchkova leads the team with 47 and owns the franchise record of six blocks in one match. Dixon isn't too far behind her teammate totaling 46 blocks.

Team captain Brooke Nuneviller leads the offense with 215 kills on the season which is seventh in the league. The Arizona native has also been strong defensively, digging out 209 balls which is 10th in the Pro Volleyball Federation and fourth amongst non-liberos.

After Saturday, the Supernovas hit the road to face the Mojo for the fourth and final with the match set for 9 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 23 at Viejas Arena.

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