Another day, another pro league shaking up the volleyball world! This month alone began with the second season of the Pro Volleyball Federation and the much-awaited first season of LOVB. And just when fans thought the court action couldn’t get any busier, a fresh contender entered the scene. Yes, the talk of the town is Major League Volleyball, a new professional volleyball league set to start in 2026. Emily Ehman announced the news to the fans and people had…mixed opinions. Nevertheless, they expressed their feelings on X. “Major League Volleyball (MLV) will start a new professional league starting in 2026,” said Emily Ehman. Some are excited about the extra exposure the sport will get while others are a little more skeptical.

One fan candidly wrote, “Once again, I will say: There are not two NBAs, MLBs, WNBAs, etc. Sure some of those have minor leagues but that is it. We haven’t even seen if two can sustain against one another yet. I’m disappointed in this news.” The comment emerged as a valid critique. Other sports exist with one major league, with minor leagues covering the rest. For LOVB, which is still struggling to establish itself, sustainability is still an open question. However, the negative impressions do not seem to have stopped the sport from growing at a fast pace. In fact, the U.S. Pro Volleyball League recently crushed another attendance record in Salt Lake, so the fandom is clearly alive and spiking high!

Pro volleyball continues to make records!

LOVB lit up Instagram on January 23rd, dropping some big news straight from their Salt Lake and Houston game showdown! They couldn’t hold back the excitement as they announced, “THREE THOUSAND AND SIX of you guys SOLD OUT our First Serve in Salt Lake!! It was such a special night, THANK YOU!! The next home game in Salt Lake is Friday February 7th at 9ET against Atlanta.” Oh, and the vibe was absolutely electric—Salt Lake fans didn’t just show up; they showed out, packing the place and turning the night into something magical.

The energy was palpable, like this was a team that’s been around for years of fandom! LOVB Salt Lake played its fourth match in the League One Volleyball season in Utah—LOVB for short (and yes, it’s pronounced “love” because what’s not to love about this vibe?). And oh, did they bring the heat! The final score was 3-1 as Salt Lake strutted onto the court and sent LOVB Houston team packing with their two-game losing streak and coming into the game with a 2-2 record.

The cherry on top? A packed house of 3,006 fans who provided nothing but thunder in the hall. Of course, that number may not seem very big compared to other leagues, but the noise? Next level! The crowd cheered even louder with every rise, silencing even the public address system according to Deseret.com. And guess what? The other pro volleyball league also made a record!

Another league, same record!

The Omaha Supernovas kicked off the new year on the right note for the team on January 11 when they overpowered the Atlanta Vibe 3-2. Nebraska’s pride, the first-ever Pro Volleyball Champions, the Supernovas weren’t just happy winning; they shattered the U.S. Pro Volleyball Attendance Record. A total of 13,486 fans were on hand to watch their team at the CHI Health Center to show that volleyball craze in Omaha is very much alive.

And guess what? They broke their own record. Yep, Omaha had set the record earlier on March 16, 2024, when 12,090 people came to watch them beat the Orlando Valkyries 3-1. Now, nine of the ten most attended pro volleyball matches in the history of the United States have been held in Nebraska, and Omaha is undoubtedly the heartbeat of the league. They have been packing stadiums in under two seasons, averaging eight games with over 10,000 spectators and six games with over 11,000 fans. Every time the Supernovas step onto the court, it feels like a history in the making kind of thing.

Of course, we must acknowledge their championship performance in the first-ever 2024 PVF season, during which Omaha became a volleyball hub. The Supernovas played 14 home matches at the CHI Health Center, where the team pulled in a total of 134, 969 fans; an average of 9, 656 per match that made it the highest per pro volleyball match attendance in the world. Add to that the 19,094 spectators who filled the stands for the PVF Semifinals and Championship in May, and it’s clear: It’s not just about presenting a volleyball match, Omaha is creating memories that resonate beyond that. This city doesn’t just love volleyball; it is alive with it.