Dallas Pulse, Omaha Supernovas Punch Tickets to MLV Championship
The 2026 Major League Volleyball Championship matchup is set after a pair of semifinal battles Thursday night in Frisco, Texas, as No. 2 Dallas Pulse and No. 4 Omaha Supernovas advanced to the “Match For A Million.”
Dallas earned its spot with a four-set win over the San Diego Mojo, while Omaha pulled off a five-set comeback against top-seeded Indy Ignite to return to the final.
Dallas Downs San Diego in 3-1 Win
Dallas bounced back from a narrow opening-set loss to take control of the match, defeating San Diego 28-30, 25-18, 25-17, 25-10.
The Pulse regrouped after the first set and dictated the tempo from there, improving their efficiency offensively while limiting San Diego’s ability to string together points. The gap widened late in the match, with Dallas closing things out decisively in the fourth.
With the win, Dallas becomes the second expansion franchise to reach the MLV Championship match in its inaugural season, joining Indy from 2025. The Pulse will also carry momentum into the final after winning three of four meetings with Omaha during the regular season.
San Diego was led by Grace Loberg and Jovana Brakocevic offensively, despite the loss.
Player of the Match: Sofia Maldonado-Diaz
Maldonado-Diaz totaled a match-high 21 kills and added four blocks, with help from Natalia Valentin-Anderson, who recorded 50 assists, marking her ninth match this season with at least 50.
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Omaha Outlasts Indy in Five-Set Marathon Match
Omaha opened the championship stage with a comeback win over No. 1 Indy, rallying for a 3-2 victory after trailing 2-1 in the match.
Indy took control with a 29-27 win in the third set, the highest-scoring set in MLV Championship history, but Omaha responded with a 25-20 fourth set to force a deciding fifth. The Supernovas then edged out the Ignite 15-13 to complete the comeback.
The win gave Omaha the chance to avenge last year’s semifinal loss, when Indy defeated Omaha as the then top-seeded Supernovas attempted to repeat as league champs.
Despite the loss, Indy was powered by Lydia Martyn at the net, while Mia Tuaniga facilitated the offense with 59 assists. A total that marked the third-most in an MLV Championship history.
Player of the Match: Sarah Parsons
Sarah Parsons led Omaha with 20 points on 17 kills, two blocks, and one ace, helping fuel the comeback effort. She was aided by Brooke Mosher, who added 43 assists, while Janice Leao finished with a team-high four blocks.
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Next Up
Dallas and Omaha will meet in the 2026 MLV Championship match on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at the Comerica Center. The “Match For A Million” will air live on ION and the Scripps Sports Network.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
