In the heart of “the volleyball state,” the sport’s past, present, and future collided Friday evening at CHI Health Center. Creighton and UNO closed their spring seasons in a spirited exhibition match, setting the stage for the Omaha Supernovas’ professional game later that night.
It was more than just a doubleheader. Organized with the Supernovas’ help, the event gave both schools a chance to compete in a major arena, under bright lights, in front of thousands. It also sent a message: volleyball isn’t just thriving at the college level. It’s expanding into professional careers, creating new dreams for young athletes across the region.
“This is why it’s special to be here,” Mavericks Head Coach Matt Buttermore said. “There are kids who grow up just wanting to be part of volleyball in Nebraska, no matter what school it is.”
For Creighton, the match capped a spring season filled with transition and growth.
Not only did the Bluejays face roster turnover, but they also had to navigate the departure of longtime head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth, who announced her decision to step away in early April.
The veteran leaders kept the team grounded. The night they found out, junior Ava Martin invited the team to her apartment and the players gathered there—crying, sharing cookie cake, and leaning on each other. Newly appointed Head Coach Brian Rosen was particularly impressed by their intentionality.
“I think something really important that this team did, with no coaching and no telling, is they worked really hard to stick together,” Rosen said. “A lot of teams could have taken that news, ran individually to their rooms, and thought the worst. It says a lot about the leadership of this team.”
Martin explained this choice felt instinctive, inspired by the culture their former coach created over her 22-year tenure at Creighton.
“Booth is such an amazing person, and losing her is a big deal,” she said, “But we all trust Brian. He’s amazing. We really rallied together as a program to keep doing what Booth started.”
Veterans like Martin and senior Kiara Reinhardt stepped up, providing steady leadership on the court. Transfers Eloise Brandewie, Saige Damrow, and Ivy Leuck dove right into spring practices, already adjusting to new systems for the 2025 season. Meanwhile, true freshman commits Ashlyn Paymal and Abbey Hayes came to campus early to join the team, laying the groundwork for their collegiate debuts.
Friday’s match went to four sets with Creighton ahead 2-1, but it was capped at 80 minutes to accommodate the schedule for the professional match that followed. Creighton was up 6-2 in the fourth set when the time ran out, and the contest ended after a lengthy rally.
“It was a fun way to end the spring, playing a match in front of fans against a good team,” Rosen said. We were able to sub everybody in and find a way to win. For the first time [this spring], we saw some nerves for our players, which is a good thing,” Rosen said.
Once you’re part of the volleyball family at Creighton, you never really leave, and that was evident Saturday night. Alumni Elise Goetzinger and Emma Ziegler were spotted in the stands, while Kendra Wait, now signed with the Supernovas, returned to the Bluejay bench to cheer on her former teammates. 2022 graduate Allison Whitten, also now a Supernova, later took the court in the professional match, stepping in at libero.
“Our alums are awesome and they stay connected to this program…many leave Creighton but stay in Omaha and continue to come back. We love to keep them around the program as much as we can,” Rosen said.
Support for the sport, both at Creighton and across the state, continues to soar. Saturday night wasn’t just a celebration of volleyball, but a clear reminder of the growing reach and impact of women’s sports. For young girls in the stands, the message was clear: this stage could be yours next.
