Matt Rhule Makes Huge Nebraska Volleyball Claim as He Spends 50th Birthday in a Unique Way

The Omaha Supernovas’ regular season clash with Columbus Fury became a special night for Nebraska volleyball fans thanks to the multitude of guests who graced the stands. Besides volleyball stars such as Huskers’ outside hitter Harper Murray, an unexpected guest who showed up was Matt Rhule. “Coach Rule in the house,” posted Hurrdat Sports.

They had spotted the football coach entering the stadium with his family. The Huskers football coach, who turned 50 on January 31, decided to spend his birthday by showing support to women’s pro volleyball. So when a presenter caught up to the coach during the break, the 50-year-old shouted out how Nebraska is helping pioneer the pro volleyball circuit.

“My family said, ‘Where should we go for your 50th birthday?'” explained the coach. “I said, I want to go to the best athletes in the best place for volleyball in the world. Came to Omaha to see the Supernovas,” the football coach said in a bold statement. The coach’s claim was also an indirect praise of the Nebraska volleyball program.

That’s because former Huskers stars Ally Batenhorst and Lindsay Krause joined the Supernovas as rookie pros for the 2025 season. However, Batenhorst and Krause aren’t the only Huskers alumnus on the team, either. The coach’s claim of Omaha having the best players finds credence in the fact that three former Nebraska volleyball players were already part of the Novas.

Middle blockers Briana Holman, Kayla Caffey, and Kaitlyn Hord have already led the Supernovas to the inaugural PVF title in 2024. Now with Batenhorst and Krause, the Omaha Supernovas have five ex-Nebraska Huskers actively playing on their roster. However, there was another reason why Matt Rhule chose to watch the Supernovas in Omaha.

The coach wanted to extend his support because January 31 was National Girls and Women in Sports Night. Rhule wanted to show that women’s volleyball is making waves in the whole sporting community. What made the night even more special was that Coach Rhule wasn’t the only one who thought the same.

A combat sports icon felt compelled to support Nebraska volleyball

Coach Matt Rhule wasn’t the only personality belonging to another sport to grace CHI Health Center on the final day of January. Hurrdat sports reporter Ana Bellinghausen caught up with none other than three-time WBO Champion Terence Crawford. As Bellinghausen put it, “Omaha’s own champion” also explained why he was in attendance to watch the Supernovas.

“I’m a fan of every sports event in Omaha, Nebraska,” Crawford said when asked about why he’s such a big volleyball fan. The boxing icon’s response was just as encouraging as Rhule’s statement. “This is something different. This is a professional volleyball team that everybody should get behind and support,” Crawford appealed to the Nebraska volleyball fans.

The two-time undisputed champion also chose National Girls and Women in Sports Night to amplify the voices calling for growth in women’s sports. Thankfully, the Omaha Supernovas gave every special guest and all their regular fans a memorable performance. The team swept the Columbus Fury (25-21, 25-18, 25-17) in front of 11,712 fans.

Coach Rhule couldn’t have asked for a better birthday gift. “I’ve been on the road recruiting the last two weeks. (It’s) my first night home,” Rhule said during his interview. Watching the former Huskers athletics alumni dominate the field must have been the perfect homecoming.