Hawai'i women's volleyball alumna Amber Igiede was drafted with the seventh pick in the first round by the Omaha Supernovas of the newly-established Professional Volleyball Federation's inaugural U.S. College Player Draft held on Monday in Atlanta.
Omaha drafted five players in the five-round, league-wide draft for U.S. college players, headlined by Igiede’s early selection. Thirty-five collegiate standouts earning the right to compete for a spot to continue their careers as pros in the United States.
Along with Igiede, the Supernovas’ draft class includes Paige Briggs from Western Kentucky, Maggie Cartwright of Arkansas, Sophie Davis from James Madison, and Auburn’s Kyla Swanson.
In November, Igiede earned Big West Championship Most Valuable Player honors after helping lead the Rainbow Wahine to their fourth-straight Big West title and postseason appearance in a 2023 season that culminated the second round in the NCAA Championship to eventual Elite Eight squad Oregon.
The Baton Rouge, La., native is one of an exclusive list of 13 players who have earned All-Big West first team honors on four occasions, and was the 2022 Big West Player of the Year.
Igiede, who was voted to the AVCA All-Pacific North Region First Team last week concluded a senior campaign as the No. 2 middle blocker in both total points (540.0) and points/set (4.62) in NCAA Division I, and was tied for No. 21 with a .396 hitting percentage. Igiede finished the regular season leading The Big West in kills/set (3.79), hitting percentage (.401), points (516.5), and points/set (4.70). With 528 career blocks, Igiede ranks 11th on the NCAA’s active career listings, and 19th in blocks per set (1.22) over the course of four seasons.
All five draftees will join the current roster in January as they attempt to make the Supernovas' final roster. All Federation teams will cut down to 14-person rosters ahead of their season openers, with two additional roster spots saved for college draftees for a total of 16 players. The Supernovas will host the first Pro Volleyball Federation match on January 24, 2024, as Omaha takes on the Atlanta Vibe at the CHI Health Center, with the first serve set for 7 p.m.
"Our coaching staff has invested so many hours in preparing for this draft, and we are ecstatic with our selections," Supernovas Head Coach Shelton Collier said. "Our first pick, Amber Igiede, is no doubt one of the top middle blockers in the country."
"I'm super excited and honored to be picked to the Omaha Supernovas," Igiede said. "This is an amazing opportunity. What a great and exciting time for volleyball!"
The first season of the PVF will see seven teams playing a 24-match regular-season schedule with star-studded ownership groups at the helm. The Supernovas are owned by musician Jason Derulo along with City+Ventures co-founders Chris Erickson and Danny White.
Along with his involvement with the Supernaovas, Derulo became a League investor in September joining the likes of NFL quarterback Joe Burrow and his parents Jimmy and Robin Burrow, and 5-time Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings as high-profile equity investors in Pro Volleyball Federation.