As the 2024 college volleyball season has come to an end, you may have noticed two distinct developments. The first came at the tail-end of the NCAA volleyball season when the Professional Volleyball Federation (PVF) held it’s draft. The drafts made quite a buzz when PVF clubs picked several top NCAA players who’ll join them during the 2025 season.

Among these clubs, 2024 PVF champions Omaha Supernovas picked current and ex-Nebraska Huskers Lindsay Krause and Ally Batenhorst to join the team for 2025. However, things got even more interesting when shortly after the NCAA final, another pro league laid the groundwork for their inaugural season. And just like that, LOVB Omaha signed Huskers superstar Lexi Rodriguez. However, this raised the question: What’s the difference between two teams, both representing Omaha?

LOVB is the new kid on the block

LOVB Omaha signing Lexi Rodriguez came as a pleasant surprise for the fans. That’s because many were under the impression that Rodriguez may close the curtains on her volleyball career since she didn’t participate in the PVF draft. “On to the next chapter!! So excited for this opportunity to play in the States,” Rodriguez wrote on social media after the announcement.

What became clear was that while Rodriguez would continue to play in Nebraska, she would play in a different team in a separate league. This means that LOVB aka, League One Volleyball, has no ties with the already established PVF. The LOVB’s inaugural season will kick off in January 2025, and it’s how the leagues work that creates the main differences between the two teams.

While both pro leagues will follow the established international competitive volleyball rules, they have their unique approaches to help build an identity. A small example would be the PVF allowing eight substitutions instead of six for FIVB or 15 in the NCAA. Or the fact that “two different Liberos can enter in the same set.”

So, how LOVB Omaha and the Omaha Supernova operate and strategize on the court differ according to the rulesets of each league. However, while these subtle differences may set the two teams apart, they share a lot in common. The biggest similarity between both teams and the league is their mission to elevate women’s volleyball.

Two different volleyball teams with a common goal

Although the two different leagues may have several differences, they share a common mission to provide a stage for volleyball to shine. The PVF was the first league of it’s kind in volleyball, giving college stars a chance to continue their careers after graduation. As paid professionals, these talents can dedicate their time solely to the sport, hopefully making it all the way to the Olympics.

The Billie Jean King quote “If you can see it, you can be it,” is the PVF’s motto. Similarly, LOVB is also on a mission to elevate women in volleyball. “League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “love”) is a first-of-its-kind community re-imagining the future of volleyball,” reads the ‘about’ section of LOVB’s website. So the two respective Omaha teams are trying to do the same for their state.

Both the Omaha Supernova and LOVB Omaha have picked players who are either natives or built their careers in the state of Nebraska. The 2025 Omaha Supernovas roster has five former Nebraska Huskers. Rookie outside hitters Ally Batenhorst and Lindsay Krause, and middle blockers Briana Holman, Kayla Caffey, and Kaitlyn Hord, all have a history with the Nebraska Huskers.

Similarly, LOVB Omaha has multiple former Huskers in the squad. Former Huskers all-time digs record holder and Olympian Justine Wong-Orantes, and current record holder Lexi Rodrgiues have joined Madi Kubik, Lauren Stivrins, and Jordan Larson at LOVB Omaha. The two teams have helped 10 former Huskers volleyball stars continue their careers as pros. So while the Omaha sides may belong to different leagues, at the end of the day they aim to further develop the volleyball culture in Nebraska.