LOVB Nebraska

Last updated

LOVB Nebraska
Founded2023
Ground Baxter Arena
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Liberty First Credit Union Arena
Ralston, Nebraska, U.S.
Manager Suzie Fritz
League LOVB Pro
2025 Runners-up
6th in LOVB Pro
Website www.lovb.com/teams/lovb-nebraska-volleyball

LOVB Nebraska is an American professional women's indoor volleyball team based in Omaha, Nebraska. Originally known as LOVB Omaha, the team is an inaugural member of LOVB Pro, the professional level of League One Volleyball that began play in January 2025.

Contents

History

The team's logo as LOVB Omaha LOVB Omaha logo.webp
The team's logo as LOVB Omaha

In 2021, LOVB announced plans to start a professional women's volleyball league in the United States. [1] Omaha was announced as LOVB's fifth team location in August 2023. The city also hosts the Omaha Supernovas of the rival Pro Volleyball Federation. [2]

LOVB Omaha played its first season in 2025, with an inaugural roster including Jordan Larson and Justine Wong-Orantes, who played college volleyball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and were the team's first players signed. [3] Though they finished in 6th place in the 6-team LOVB Pro with a 5-11 record, Omaha would win its quarterfinal and semifinal matches in the 2025 LOVB Finals championship match, where they were swept 3 sets to 0 by LOVB Austin.

In August 2025, LOVB Pro announced that a group headlined by former Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball star Jordan Larson would purchase the LOVB Omaha franchise, becoming the second LOVB Pro team to have non-league ownership (LOVB Austin became the first that June). Coinciding with the sale, the league announced that LOVB Omaha would rebrand to LOVB Nebraska, a nod to the popularity of volleyball throughout the state. Former Creighton Bluejays coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth was also announced as the team's president of business operations. [4] [5]

Roster

2026 Season Roster [6] [7]
No.NamePositionHeightCollege / Home clubNationality
1 Lexi Rodriguez Libero5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2 Emily Thater Middle blocker6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Missouri Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
3 Annie Cesar Libero5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
4 Vicky Savard Outside hitter6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Montréal Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
5 Jaali Winters Outside hitter6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Creighton Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
8 Kimberly Drewniok Opposite hitter6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)RC SorpeseeFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
9 Iga Wasilewska Middle blocker6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Legionovia Legionowo Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
10 Jordan Larson Outside hitter6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
11 Anne Buijs Outside hitter6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
12 Audriana Fitzmorris Opposite hitter6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Stanford Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
13 Gabby Blossom Setter5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) San Diego / Penn State Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
14 Laura Dijkema Setter6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)SmashFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
15 Ana Carolina da Silva Middle blocker6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
17 Candelaria Herrera Middle blocker6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Florida A&M / Iowa State Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
19 Alexis Hart Outside hitter6 ft 0 in (1.82 m) Minnesota Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
As of April 9, 2025. [8]
2025 Season Roster
No.NamePositionHeightCollege / Home clubNationality
1 Lexi Rodriguez Libero5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2 Emily Thater Middle blocker6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Missouri Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
3 Annie Cesar Libero5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
4 Justine Wong-Orantes Libero5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
5 Jaali Winters Outside hitter6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Creighton Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
7 Vicky Savard Outside hitter6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Montréal Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
8 Kimberly Drewniok Opposite hitter6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)RC SorpeseeFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
10 Jordan Larson Outside hitter6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
11 Amber Stivrins Outside hitter6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Louisville / Georgia / San Diego Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
12 Audriana Fitzmorris Opposite hitter6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Stanford Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
13 Gabby Blossom Setter5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) San Diego / Penn State Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
14 Laura Dijkema Setter6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)SmashFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
17 Candelaria Herrera Middle blocker6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Florida A&M / Iowa State Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
18 Sami Francis Middle blocker6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Stanford Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
23 Chiamaka Nwokolo Middle blocker6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Pittsburgh Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
26 Lauren Stivrins Middle blocker6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
33 Madi Kubik-Banks Outside hitter6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Nebraska Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Honors

References

  1. Chappell, Bill (October 19, 2021). "Are you ready for some volleyball? A new women's pro league hopes the answer is yes". NPR . Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  2. Stavas, Nick; Weber, Brent (August 16, 2023). "Omaha to welcome second professional volleyball team in different league". WOWT . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  3. "LOVB Announces USA Volleyball Captain and Volleyball Legend Jordan Larson Will Join Its Pro League". LOVB. April 16, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  4. Patterson, Mike (August 6, 2025). "Jordan Larson, Kirsten Bernthal Booth lead rebrand of Nebraska's pro volleyball team". Omaha World-Herald . Omaha, NE. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  5. Sim, Josh (June 20, 2025). "David Blitzer and Spurs' Peter Holt among LOVB volleyball league's first team owners". SportsPro. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  6. "Roster". lovb.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  7. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. "LOVB: Omaha Roster". LOVB.