The new-look Major League Volleyball is gearing up for the 2026 season.
The startup pro volleyball league announced a merger with Pro Volleyball Federation in August and rebranded as Major League Volleyball (MLV), which kicks off its third season on Thursday, Jan. 8, with two premier matchups.
The new iteration features eight teams: Atlanta Vibe, Columbus Fury, Dallas Pulse, Grand Rapids Rise, Indy Ignite, Omaha Supernovas, Orlando Valkyries and San Diego Mojo. The Vegas Thrill, previously a member of MLV, are looking for new ownership and won’t be part of the upcoming season of the pro volleyball league.
Here’s a preview for the 2026 Major League Volleyball (MLV) season including a look back at 2025, a sneak peek at what lies ahead and team rosters:
Can you give me a refresh on Major League Volleyball’s 2025 season?
Before we look ahead to next season, let’s catch up on all that went down last year.
Why did MLV merge with PVF?
The Omaha Supernovas were set to leave the Pro Volleyball Federation for MLV following the conclusion of the 2025 season. The secession of the Supernovas, the PVF’s inaugural champions, would have been a huge blow as the Nebraska pro team averaged the highest attendance in the PVF last season with more 10,000 spectators per match. Instead of going head-to-head, the two league’s announced a merger and adopted the MLV moniker.
In 2027, the MLV plans to expand with franchises in Washington D.C. and Northern California. The Northern California team is majority owned by Vivek Ranadivé and D.C. by the D.C. United ownership group.
Which team won 2025 PVF title?
The Orlando Valkyries defeated Indy Ignite in the title match in four sets (25–21, 25–19, 19–25, 25–15) to hoist the franchise’s first championship following a 31-point performance from league MVP Brittany Abercrombie. Abercrombie led the league in points (503), points per set (4.75), kills (462) and kills per set (4.36).
2025 PVF award winners
- Most Valuable Player: Brittany Abercrombie, Orlando Valkyries
- Libero of the Year: Morgan Hentz, Atlanta Vibe
- Outside Hitter of the Year: Brooke Nuneviller, Omaha Supernovas
- Middle Blocker of the Year: Ali Bastianelli, Grand Rapids Rise
- Opposite Hitter of the Year: Brittany Abercrombie, Orlando Valkyries
- Setter of the Year: Sydney Hilley, Indy Ignite
- Most Inspirational Player Award: Shara Venegas, San Diego Mojo
- Rising Star Award: Khori Louis, Atlanta Vibe
- Coach of the Year: Kayla Banwarth, Atlanta Vibe
- 2025 PVL All-League First Team: Leah Edmond (Atlanta Vibe), Morgan Hentz (Atlanta Vibe), Sydney Hilley (Indy Ignite), Azhani Tealer (Indy Ignite), Brooke Nuneviller (Omaha Supernovas), Brittany Abercrombie (Orlando Valkyries) and Chompoo Guedpard (Orlando Valkyries).
Can the Valkyries defend title?
The Orlando Valkyries completed a dramatic turnaround, finishing the 2025 regular season with an 18-10 record, a jump up from 8-16 in 2024, and won the title. With nine players returning from their title roster, the Valkyries are in prime position to become the league’s first back-to-back champion.
Returners include championship MVP setter Pornpun Guedpard, who was the third player in league history to cross the 1,000 assist threshold in a single season with 1,082. League MVP and opposite hitter of the year Brittany Abercrombie is also back, as is middle blocker Kazmiere Brown, who finished fourth in the league with 73 blocks. The Valkyries also added collegiate stars Bre Kelley (Pittsburgh) and Colby Neal (Arizona State) in the draft, in addition to Charitie Luper, Teodora Pusic, Paige Reagor, Naya Shime and Hannah Maddux in free agency.
Orlando was voted to finish atop the standings in the MLV Preseason Poll.
Can Omaha Supernovas return to the top?
The Supernovas were the inaugural champions of the Pro Volleyball Federation (now MLV) after sweeping Grand Rapids Rise in the 2024 championship game (25–13, 26–24, 25–22). Setter Sydney Hilley was named postseason MVP after recording 40 assists and six digs in the title match, while team captain Brooke Nuneviller aded a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. The Supernovas carried that momentum into the 2025 season and finished with a league-best 21-7 record, but Omaha’s aspirations of repeating were ended by Indy Ignite in a thrilling five-set semifinal loss (17–25, 25–23, 25–23, 20–25, 13–15).
Hilley rejoined the Supernovas in free agency after a brief stint with the Ignite last season, where she led all setters with 11.30 assists per set and 2.73 digs per set. Omaha also returns Nuneviller from their championship squad after finishing Top five in the league in kills (381), kills per set (3.77), total points (413) and double-doubles (17). The Supernovas will get a boost from the addition of reigning libero of the year Morgan Hentz, who spent her first two pro seasons with the Atlanta Vibe. That means Omaha will have the reigning setter, outside hitter and libero of the year on the same squad. It’s no wonder Omaha is projected to make the championship match after being picked to finish second in the MLV preseason poll.
Collegiate stars add instant impact
A handful of All-American collegiate stars will make their professional debuts this season, including 2025 AVCA Player of the Year finalist Mimi Colyer of Wisconsin. Here’s some rookies to look out for:
- Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin, Dallas Pulse: Colyer was named Outside Hitter of the Year after recording a team-high 598 kills and 5.44 kills per set, in addition to 659.0 points and 5.99 points per set in Wisconsin’s run to the NCAA semifinals.
- Flormarie Heredia Colon, Miami, Columbus Fury: The 6-foot outside hitter broke the program record with 43 kills in a match against Louisville. Heredia Colon led the nation in kills (779), points (881.5), kills per set (6.33) and points per set (7.17).
- Malaya Jones, SMU, Dallas Pulse: The 6-foot first-team All-American led the Mustangs with 600 points, 4.88 points per set, 526 kills and 4.28 kills per set. She had nine double-doubles on the season.
- Gillian Grimes, Penn State, San Diego Mojo: The 5-foot-6 Illinois native was named Big Ten Libero of the Year after recording 441 digs and 3.64 digs per set, in addition to 30 aces. Grimes won a national title with Penn State in 2024.
2026 MLV rosters
Here’s a look at each team’s roster, by position:
Atlanta Vibe
Head coach: Kayla Banwarth
- Liberos: Elli McKissock, Britt Rampelberg
- Middle Blockers: Phoebe Awoleye, Raven Colvin, Khori Louis, Jackie Moore
- Outside Hitters: Leah Edmond, Madolyn Isringhausen, Ava Martin, Taylor Smith, Pia Timmer
- Opposite Hitters: Anna Dixon, Aiko Jones
- Setters: Averi Carlson, Shannon Shields
Columbus Fury
Head coach: Ángel Pérez
- Liberos: Aleksandra Jegdic, Kamaile Hiapo
- Middle Blockers: Rainelle Jones, Maya Winterhoff, Rachel Gomez, Regan Pittman-Nelson, Abby Walker
- Outside Hitters: Akasha Anderson, Jaelyn Hodge, Flormarie Heredia Colon, Raina Terry, Megan Lush
- Opposite Hitters: Taylor Fricano
- Setters: Audrey Pak, Ashley Evans
Dallas Pulse
Head coach: Shannon Winzer
- Liberos: Kylie Murr, Kendall White
- Middle Blockers: Karson Bacon, Kaitlyn Hord, Tristin Savage, Layne Van Buskirk
- Outside Hitters: Mimi Colyer, Kaylee Cox, Geli Cyr, Sofia Maldonado Diaz, Isabel Martin, Caroline Meuth
- Opposite Hitters: Malaya Jones, Kelsie Payne
- Setters: Celia Cullen, Natalia Valentin-Anderson
Indy Ignite
Head coach: Lauren Bertolacci
- Liberos: Emma Halter, Elena Scott
- Middle Blockers: Alexandra Botezat, Cara Cresse, Lydia Martyn, Blake Mohler
- Outside Hitters: Emoni Bush, Anna DeBeer, Taylor Landfair, Kayla Lund, Leketor Member-Meneh
- Opposite Hitters: Camryn Hannah, Azhani Tealer
- Setters: Ainise Havili, Mia Tuaniga
Omaha Supernovas
Head coach: Luka Slabe
- Liberos: Morgan Hentz, Allison Holder
- Middle Blockers: Kiara Reinhardt, Janice Leao, Toyosi Onabanjo, Elise Goetzinger, Leyla Blackwell
- Outside Hitters: Brooke Nuneviller, Norah (Sis) TeBrake, Reagan Cooper, Sarah Parsons
- Opposite Hitters: Merritt Beason, Emily Londot
- Setters: Sydney Hilley, Brooke Mosher
Orlando Valkyries
Head coach: Amy Pauly
- Liberos: Emmy Klika, Georgia Murphy, Teodora Pusic
- Middle Blockers: Kazmiere Brown, Natalie Foster, Bre Kelley, Colby Neal, Paige Reagor
- Outside Hitters: Charitie Luper, Hannah Maddux, Courtney Schwan, Lindsey Vander Weide
- Opposite Hitters: Brittany Abercrombie, Naya Shime
- Setters: Pornpun Guedpard, Hannah Pukis
San Diego Mojo
Head coach: Alisha Childress
- Liberos: Shara Venegas, Gillian Grimes, Kate Georgiades
- Middle Blockers: Kayla Caffey, Taylor Sandbothe, Marin Grote, McKenna Vicini, Karis Watson, Morgan Perkins
- Outside Hitters: Allison Jacobs, Kendra Dahlke, Grace Loberg, Maya Tabron, Hayden Kubik, Shannon Scully (also listed as Libero)
- Opposite Hitters: Jovana Brakočević, Morgan Lewis
- Setters: Marlie Monserez, Carly Graham
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