Ally Batenhorst scored 40 points across two matches this week

Ally Batenhorst scored 40 points across two matches this week (Photo: Omaha Supernovas)

The exciting battle between the Omaha Supernovas and the Orlando Valkyries for the first place in the 2025 Pro Volleyball Federation standings had another important chapter this weekend, when the teams met for the third time in the season.

Despite playing on the road, the defending champions prevailed in Florida and passed their opponents, getting back to the top of the standings at the end of the tenth week of the regular season in the American League.

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The Supernovas and the Valkyries met in the last of the seven matches scheduled for the week and the defending champions stepped up to secure a 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 26-24) victory at the Addition Financial Arena, in Florida, on Saturday, after losing 3-0 the first two times the teams met in 2025.

The triumph consolidated the Supernovas in first place as they had taken the spot on Thursday, when they completed a reverse sweep on the road to beat the Indy Ignite 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-13) and the Valkyries lost at home to the San Diego Mojo also 3-2 (17-25, 25-16, 25-15, 15-25, 17-15). Now, the Supernovas appear in first place with 12 wins and four losses, with the Valkyries are second with 11 wins and six losses.

“I’m very proud,” head coach Laura Kuhn said. “I think we thrive in adversity and we love challenges. I’m proud of the team because everyone is ready at all times and it’s always a team effort. Now we have a few consecutive home matches and we’re excited about it. We’ll get ready, because we’ll have a few more challenges to face.”

The Supernovas heavily relied on their outside hitters to beat the Valkyries for the first time in the season as they combined for 40 points in their victory – Ally Batenhorst led the team with 24 points (22 kills, one block, one ace), followed by Brooke Nuneviller, who produced 16, all in kills.

Middle blocker Kazmiere Brown had a great performance for the Orlando team, leading their scoring efforts with 18 points (11 kills, five blocks, two aces), four more than Puerto Rican opposite Brittany Abercrombie, who registered 13 kills and one block.

Vibe get to ten victories

The Atlanta Vibe also had a strong performance in the tenth week of the regular season, getting back-to-back victories and becoming just the third team to display ten wins in the standings.

The team from Atlanta started the week on the road, beating the Grand Rapids Rise 3-1 (25-23, 25-27, 25-16, 25-22) on Thursday and returned home on Saturday, when they downed the Mojo 3-2 (15-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 16-14). The Vibe now appear in third place, with ten wins and eight losses.

Also this week, the Columbus Fury defeated the Vegas Thrill 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-23) at home on Friday and the Ignite topped the Rise 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22) on the road on Saturday.

The Pro Volleyball Federation standings now show the Supernovas in first place with 12 wins and four losses, followed by the Valkyries (11-6), the Vibe (10-8), the Ignite (9-8), the Thrill (7-9), the Rise (7-10), the Mojo (6-11) and the Fury (5-11).

The 11th week of action will go from Wednesday to Sunday, with six matches held in the period.

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