Parsons Powers Supernovas in AU-Heavy MLV Opening Weekend
The opening week of Major League Volleyball featured a true Athletes Unlimited reunion-style showdown between the San Diego Mojo and Omaha Supernovas, which collectively featured 11 AU stars and one coach in newly transitioned player-to-Mojo head coach Alisha Glass Childress. But of all the standout players, the talk of the league was undoubtedly Sarah Wilhite Parsons, who made her MLV debut and showcased the dominant play she’s become known for during her national team career.
Parsons made an explosive debut Thursday night, setting franchise records for points and kills in a three-set match with 17 kills on a .325 hitting percentage, plus three blocks, three digs, and an ace to help the Supernovas secure the sweep (24-23, 25-21, 25-16) in the season opener.
Parsons announced her pregnancy and sat out the Spring 2025 season after signing to play in League One Volleyball. She made her official return to the court this fall in the AU Pro Volleyball Championship, finishing 18th overall in the rankings.
The 10-time Team USA medalist gave the Supernovas roster a boost and immediately proved the impact she can have in a match.
Fellow 2025 AU participant and 11th-place finisher Brooke Nuneviller posted six kills of her own, as well as an ace and a team-high 16 digs, and she wasn’t just leading on the stat sheet. Ahead of the season, Parsons and Nuneviller were announced as team captains and will offer their leadership as well as their play.
First-year pro Elise Goetzinger also made a splash during the opening match. The middle blocker, who made her official pro debut in the AU Pro Volleyball Championship this fall, tallied seven kills, which was tied for a team-second-best offensive output. She also hit an impressive .545, which made her the most efficient hitter on the squad that night.
On the other side of the net for the Mojo, Kayla Caffey was another middle with impressive numbers. She recorded a team-second-best eight kills with no errors and .778 efficiency.
Mojo setter Marlie Monserez also snuck in a kill, plus 24 assists and nine digs in the match.
View this post on Instagram
Grand Rapids Rise vs. Orlando Valkyries
AU players: Brittany Abercrombie, Pornpun Guedpard (Orlando)
The Orlando Valkyries were faced with a five-set battle in their season opener on Friday, but were ready to tackle the challenge after a challenging preseason schedule that saw the team become the first American professional volleyball team to compete in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championships. Brittany Abercrombie posted a dominant 24 kills, which was a match high, as well as two aces, one block, and 14 digs.
Guedpard guided the offense with 46 total assists and added one kill.
Orlando took the first set before dropping the next two and then made a big push to regain control of the match before ultimately taking the 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-4) victory.
Indy Ignite vs. Dallas Pulse
AU players: Natalia Valentin-Anderson (Dallas)
The first-year franchise out of Dallas only managed to snag a set in its very first match Saturday night, but veteran setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson’s leadership was on full display as she tallied 46 assists and 17 digs for two team highs on the stat sheet.
The two teams exchanged three hard-fought sets before Indy ultimately managed to edge away in the fourth to win the match 3-1 (27-25, 25-27, 26-24, 25-20).
Omaha Supernovas vs. Columbus Fury
AU players: Brooke Nuneviller, Sarah Wilhite Parsons, Sydney Hilley, Morgan Hentz, Elise Goetzinger, Reagan Cooper (Omaha)
Nuneviller and Parsons once again took credit for most of the Supernovas’ offensive success in the team’s Saturday matchup with Columbus. Each outside recorded 19 kills. Parsons added a team-high four blocks and 13 digs, while Nuneviller contributed an additional 18 digs, which was a team-high defensive stat.
The Supernovas captured the first two sets before dropping the third and then regaining control in the fourth for a 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 25-23) victory.
Sydney Hilley commanded the offense with 51 assists while adding 10 digs, while libero Morgan Hentz chipped in with four assists of her own plus a solid 18 digs.
Meanwhile, Goetzinger topped her output from her Supernovas debut by adding eight kills in the team’s winning effort.
Orlando Valkyries vs. San Diego Mojo
AU players: McKenna Vicini, Taylor Sandbothe, Carly Graham, Kayla Caffey, Marlie Monserez (San Diego); Brittany Abercrombie, Pornpun Guedpard (Orlando)
The Valkyries once again looked to Abercrombie in the team’s second match of the season on Sunday, although it produced a more balanced offensive effort versus the Mojo.
The opposite hitter recorded 10 kills and 10 digs, and Guedpard tallied 32 assists as the team narrowly captured the first set and took the second in quick succession before slipping in the third and regaining its footing in the fourth for the 3-1 (26-24, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21) win.
Team Records after Week 1
Omaha Supernovas: 2-0
Orlando Valkyries: 2-0
Indy Ignite: 1-0
Atlanta Vibe: 1-1
Columbus Fury: 1-1
Dallas Pulse: 0-1
Grand Rapids Rise: 0-2
San Diego Mojo: 0-2
Full List of AU Players Competing in MLV
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
