The Omaha Supernovas signed nine free agents and re-signed six returners over the MLV free agency period earlier this week. The Supernovas were the runners-up in the 2026 MLV Championship, falling short of their second PVF/MLV Championship.
Announced Thursday
- Emily Londot | Outside Hitter / Opposite*
- Leyla Blackwell | Middle Blocker*
- Norah (Sis) TeBrake | Outside Hitter*
- Allison Holder | Libero*
- Hayden Kubik | Outside Hitter
- McKenna Vicini | Middle Blocker
- Kjersti Strong | MIddle Blocker
- Josie Vondran | Setter
Announced Wednesday
- Merritt Beason | Opposite*
- Kiara Reinhardt | Middle Blocker*
- Kami Miner | Setter
- Kimberly Drewniok | Opposite
- Lena Stigrot | Outside Hitter
- Nathalie Lemmens | Middle Blocker
- Teodora Pušić | Libero
*Returner
“I’m really pleased with the level of talent and character that we’ve been able to assemble for the 2027 season,” said Supernovas head coach Chris McGown. “It’s a reflection to the work of our front office, the quality of the Supernovas organization, and the passion of NovasNation that so many high-level athletes want to be part of what we’re building here. The new signings have generated a lot of excitement, but I’m equally encouraged by our ability to retain some of the best players in the league from our previous group. I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with these athletes in the gym next season and to see what we’re capable of accomplishing together.”
THURSDAY SIGNINGS
Leading the group of returners is 2026 MLV All-Star outside hitter/opposite Emily Londot, who emerged as one of the league’s top right-side attackers during her second professional season in 2026. Among league opposites, Londot ranked second in hitting percentage (.231), digs (181) and digs per set (2.23), while also finishing third in points (283) and kills (248), and fourth in both points per set (3.49) and kills per set (3.06). She also earned her second career MLV Player of the Week honor in March, becoming the third Supernovas player to receive the accolade multiple times.
One of two former Creighton Bluejays announced to return on Thursday, outside hitter Norah TeBrake re-signed with the Novas for her second season in Omaha. TeBrake appeared in 21 matches with one start and played 40 sets during the 2026 campaign, totaling 39 points on 32 kills, four blocks and three aces, while adding 26 digs and one assist. The Papillion native recorded a double-double in her best outing of the season during Omaha’s five-set loss to Orlando on Feb. 18, finishing with 11 kills, 10 digs and a career-best two aces.
Fellow Creighton alum and libero Allison Holder also returns to Omaha for her third season with the Supernovas. Holder primarily served as the team’s backup libero while also contributing as a defensive specialist and serving substitute. She appeared in 41 sets with one start and finished the 2026 season with 37 digs and four assists.
Rounding out the quartet announced Thursday is middle blocker and former Nebraska standout Leyla Blackwell. After signing with Omaha following her rookie professional season in San Diego, Blackwell appeared in six matches, including two starts, across 14 sets. She totaled 32 points on 25 kills, six blocks and one ace while posting a .396 hitting percentage on 53 attacks. Blackwell was playing some of the best volleyball of her career before suffering a season-ending injury during Omaha’s sweep at Orlando on April 16. The 6-foot-4 California native produced the best professional outing of her career against Grand Rapids on April 10, recording 10 kills on a .444 hitting percentage with two blocks.
Another former Cornhusker joined the Supernovas in outside hitter Hayden Kubik. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 MLV Draft spent her rookie season with the San Diego Mojo, appearing in 25 sets and totaling 58 points on 55 kills, two blocks, one ace, 37 digs and four assists. The Iowa native played at Nebraska during her first two collegiate seasons from 2022-23 before transferring to Tennessee, where she earned AVCA All-South Region honors during her senior season.
Kubik was joined in Omaha by former San Diego teammate McKenna Vicini. The middle blocker, who previously spent time with the Vegas Thrill and Atlanta Vibe, posted a .289 hitting percentage in 149 attacks while totaling 52 kills, 21 blocks and three aces for 76 points (1.58 points per set) during the 2026 season. Vicini delivered one of her best performances of the year against the Supernovas on Feb. 22 in San Diego, recording season highs in both points (13) and kills (10) while hitting .429 with three blocks and two digs in a five-set victory. Vicini spent five collegiate seasons at Stanford, helping the Cardinal win a national championship in 2019.
Kjersti Strong completed the group of middle blockers joining the Supernovas. The 6-foot-3 Pennsylvania native spent her first professional season in France with powerhouse Volley Mulhouse. Strong became an impact player off the bench during the postseason as Mulhouse captured the French League, French Cup and French Supercup titles. She appeared in 82 sets and totaled 166 points (2.02 points per set) on 100 kills, 37 blocks and 29 aces while hitting .387 for the season.
Strong split her collegiate career between BYU, Saint Mary’s (Calif.) and Snow College.
Omaha rounded out the day with the signing of American setter Josie Vondran, who returns to the United States after three professional seasons overseas. The Ohio native spent the past two seasons with Volley Düdingen in Switzerland after previously competing in Spain with Voley Cajasol. Vondran played her fifth and final collegiate season at LSU, helping lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament while operating in a 6-2 system. Prior to LSU, she also spent time at Ohio State and Dayton.
WEDNESDAY SIGNINGS
The Supernovas opened the day by announcing the return of opposite hitter and former Nebraska star Merritt Beason. The 2025 MLV No. 1 overall pick finished her first season in Omaha on a strong note. During the regular season, the Alabama native totaled 102 kills, 101 digs, 21 blocks and 12 aces across 68 sets, but the 6-foot-4 Beason elevated her play during Omaha’s two postseason matches.
In the MLV Semifinals, when the Supernovas upset top-seeded Indy Ignite, Beason recorded 15 points on 12 kills, six digs and three blocks. She followed that performance with 20 more points in the MLV Championship against Dallas, compiling 14 kills, six digs and a career-high five blocks, which also set a franchise playoff single-match record.
Middle blocker and 2026 MLV Rising Star Award winner Kiara Reinhardt became Omaha’s second re-signing of the day. Across 86 sets during her rookie season, Reinhardt led the Supernovas with a .327 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in MLV, while averaging 2.12 points and 1.41 kills per set. She also established herself as one of the league’s top servers, finishing tied for third with 21 aces while leading Omaha with 40 blocks.
The Supernovas found their setter for the 2027 season in Stanford standout Kami Miner. The California native spent her first professional season with Milano, one of Italy’s premier clubs competing in Serie A, widely regarded as one of the top leagues in the world.
Before departing for Europe, Miner enjoyed a prolific four-year career at Stanford, becoming a three-time AVCA First Team All-American setter. She averaged 11.45 assists per set across 125 career matches and nearly 5,200 total assists. Miner was named the Pac-12 Setter of the Year in 2022 and 2023 before earning ACC Setter of the Year honors in 2024. She also continues to make an impact with the U.S. National Team after being selected as one of 30 players for the American roster for the upcoming 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
Moving across the Omaha metro for her next stop, opposite hitter Kimberly Drewniok is expected to bring the point-producing firepower that has defined her professional career. She is coming off an outstanding 2026 season in League One Volleyball, where she finished third in the league in both total points (302) and kills (278). The 6-foot-2 left-hander from Germany has competed professionally in Serbia, Turkey, France and Italy while also gaining valuable international experience with the German National Team, including appearances on four different VNL rosters.
Another German offensive force joining Omaha is outside hitter Lena Stigrot. The 12-year professional spent the last two seasons in Japan, including a 2026 campaign in which she totaled 769 points (4.50 points per set) across 44 matches and 171 sets, finishing with the sixth-most points in the SV.League during the 2025-26 season.
Stigrot has also enjoyed success in some of the world’s most competitive leagues. The 6-foot outside hitter spent three seasons in Italy, highlighted by a 2021-22 campaign in which she ranked 10th overall and fifth among outside hitters with 374 points. Stigrot also competed alongside Drewniok on the German National Team, appearing on seven different VNL rosters.
Joining Reinhardt in the middle is Belgian standout Nathalie Lemmens. The 13-year veteran stands 6-foot-4 and has competed professionally in Germany, France, Hungary, Romania, Italy and Poland. One of the most accomplished volleyball players to come out of Belgium, Lemmens is best known for helping establish a dynasty with Asterix AVO Beveren. The club captured five consecutive Belgian Liga A and Belgian Cup titles during her five seasons there, with Lemmens earning Best Middle Blocker honors in each Belgian Cup victory.
In the only interleague move of the day, libero Teodora Pušić joins the Supernovas after spending her first American professional season with the Orlando Valkyries. The decorated 17-year veteran ranked among the league’s top passers in 2026 while averaging 3.24 digs per set and finishing second among MLV liberos with 95 assists.
The Serbian international has competed at the highest levels of the sport, helping her national team win gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 World Championships as well as the 2017 and 2019 European Championships. Pušić also enjoyed one of the best stretches of her career during the summer of 2022, when she earned Best Libero honors at the World Championships and Best Digger recognition in the Volleyball Nations League.
