The former Puerto Rico national team libero and four-time Penn State All-American joins Giannis Athanasopoulos’ staff ahead of Nebraska’s Dec. 16 season opener.
By Hola Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. — LOVB Nebraska has named Dennis Del Valle Villalobos, a longtime Puerto Rico national team libero and former Penn State standout, an assistant coach for the 2026-27 professional women’s volleyball season.
Announced Oct. 20, the appointment adds another internationally experienced coach to the Omaha-based team’s staff. Del Valle joins head coach Giannis Athanasopoulos and assistant coach Karmen “Kiki” Kočar as Nebraska prepares for its third season in League One Volleyball (LOVB Pro).
A native of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Del Valle brings 14 years of professional playing experience and 17 years with Puerto Rico’s men’s national team. His career included league championships in Puerto Rico and Switzerland, along with professional stops in Portugal and Finland.
Dennis Del Valle helped Puerto Rico win its first NORCECA title in 2021
Del Valle represented Puerto Rico at three world championships and helped the men’s national team win its first NORCECA continental championship in 2021.
He received Best Libero and Best Digger honors at that tournament, recognizing his defensive contributions during Puerto Rico’s championship run.
His most recent professional team was Chênois Genève in Switzerland. Before that, he played in Puerto Rico, Portugal and Finland, building a career across several international volleyball leagues.
A libero specializes in receiving serves and defending attacks in the backcourt, making the position an important part of a team’s ball control and defensive organization.
LOVB Nebraska has not announced specific coaching assignments for Del Valle beyond his assistant coach position.
The former Penn State libero was a four-time All-American
Del Valle played at Penn State University from 2008 through 2011, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors in all four seasons.
He helped Penn State win the 2008 NCAA men’s volleyball national championship and finished his college career as the program’s all-time leader in digs, a defensive statistic that measures successful saves of opponents’ attacks.
Those accomplishments preceded his professional career and extensive service with Puerto Rico’s national team.
In the team’s announcement of his appointment, Del Valle expressed enthusiasm about joining the league and experiencing Nebraska’s volleyball culture.
“I can’t wait to see all the amazing volleyball fans there,” Del Valle said.
Kirsten Bernthal Booth, president of business operations for LOVB Nebraska, welcomed his international experience and said the organization was eager to introduce him to the state’s volleyball community.
LOVB Nebraska opens its 2026-27 season on December 16
Del Valle joins a coaching staff led by Athanasopoulos, who was named head coach in June, and Kočar, whose appointment was announced in October.
The team will open the 2026-27 LOVB Pro season on Wednesday, Dec. 16, against two-time defending champion LOVB Austin at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The match is part of LOVB First Serve, taking place during the week of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. The league has not yet confirmed the match’s starting time or broadcast arrangements.
LOVB Nebraska’s roster includes Olympic medalist Jordan Larson and former Nebraska Huskers Rebekah Allick, Lindsay Krause-Wildeman and Lexi Rodriguez, alongside other athletes with international and professional experience.
Related: LOVB Nebraska Doubles Down on Latino Talent and Statewide Pride.
Additional information about the season, game tickets and the team is available through LOVB Nebraska.
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