Pro Volleyball Spotlight: Wilhite-Parsons, Hoffman Shine in Week 10 Thrillers
Week 10 of professional volleyball action delivered a pair of five-set thrillers that tested the depth and resolve of two teams with plenty on the line.
The Omaha Supernovas knocked off the league-leading Indy Ignite in a home marathon to keep their push up the Major League Volleyball standings alive. Salt Lake answered a rough Week 9 with a gritty League One Volleyball win over Nebraska to stay in the league’s top two.
Here’s a look at the performances that defined the week.
Sarah Wilhite-Parsons Posts 19 Kills in Supernovas’ Win Over Indy
Sarah Wilhite-Parsons tied her season high with 19 kills to lead the Omaha Supernovas past the league-leading Indy Ignite 3-2 on Saturday (25-20, 25-23, 26-28, 22-25, 16-14).
Omaha controlled the opening two sets on its home court before the Ignite responded with back-to-back set wins to force a fifth. The Supernovas held on in a tight finish, taking the decisive set 16-14 in front of a sold-out crowd. The 16,838 attendees broke the Omaha Supernovas’ previous attendance record of 13,486 set in January 2025 and marked the most attended professional volleyball match in U.S. history.
View this post on Instagram
Wilhite-Parsons finished with 21 total points and led all players in attempts, with setter Sydney Hilley trusting her with 61 attempts throughout the match. Her 19 kills tied the mark she first set in the opening week of the season, when she was named the league’s Player of the Week, and marked the eighth time this season she reached double figures in kills. Brooke Nuneviller was second in attempts with 47 total and tallied 12 kills in the winning effort.
The victory marked Omaha’s second win of the week. The team moved into a tie for third in the MLV standings alongside the Orlando Valkyries, with both sitting at 9-9. The Supernovas hold a slight tiebreaker edge with 39 total set wins to Orlando’s 37.
Claire Hoffman Named Player of the Week After 23 Kills in Salt Lake Win
Claire Hoffman was named Player of the Match after a 23-kill, 11-dig performance that carried Salt Lake past Nebraska 3-2 in League One Volleyball action (18-25, 25-21, 25-17, 26-28, 15-11). The visiting Nebraska squad took the opening set before Salt Lake reeled off two consecutive wins, dropped the fourth, and then closed it out in the fifth.
View this post on Instagram
Hoffman’s 23 kills came without an error on 42 attempts for a .524 hitting efficiency, and she went 14-of-19 in serve receive for a .737 passing percentage. Alexa Gray was right behind her with 22 kills and 12 digs to go along with two blocks. Hoffman was also named LOVB Offensive Player of the Week, the first weekly honor of her career and the sixth time a Salt Lake player has claimed the award this season.
Salt Lake sits second in the LOVB standings at 9-6, one game back of first-place Houston at 11-5.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
