Outdoor College Volleyball
Wrigley Field will host an outdoor volleyball doubleheader featuring top college programs.
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Key Points
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The Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge is a two-year scheduling partnership beginning in 2026, involving five days of matches among 18 Big Ten and 16 SEC programs at campus sites before the Wrigley Field finale.
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Kentucky coach Craig Skinner described the Wrigley Field event as a sign of the sport’s growing profile and called it a “cool, cool opportunity.”
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Before traveling to Chicago, Kentucky held an outdoor practice on Sept. 3 to help players adjust to the venue’s sights and sounds, estimated changes in volleyball physics and the weather forecast.
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The Nebraska-Missouri match will be the 79th meeting between the programs; their most recent matchup was Nebraska’s sweep of Missouri in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
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Connor Onion and Emily Ehman are scheduled to call the Nebraska-Missouri match for Fox, which begins at 8 p.m. Central time from Wrigley Field.
Wrigley Field will host an outdoor volleyball doubleheader on September 6, featuring the inaugural Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge finale. No. 3 Kentucky takes on No. 13 Penn State at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Nebraska versus Missouri at 9 p.m. ET, with both matches airing nationally on Fox. The event marks a major moment for collegiate volleyball, bringing the sport to one of baseball's most iconic stadiums.
Teams have spent weeks preparing for the unique outdoor setting, adjusting to Wrigley's weather patterns and how the open air affects ball physics. Kentucky held an outdoor practice on September 3 to help players acclimate to the venue's sights, sounds, and conditions before the big match.
Kentucky Coach Sees Volleyball's Growing Star Power
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner called the Wrigley Field event a "cool, cool opportunity" and described it as a sign that college volleyball is gaining real attention. The outdoor doubleheader at a historic baseball stadium signals how much the sport has grown beyond typical indoor venues.
Nebraska Dominates Missouri Series With 74-3-1 Record
Nebraska enters Friday's matchup with a perfect 4-0 record this season. The Cornhuskers lead the all-time series against Missouri by a massive margin — 74 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie across 79 meetings. Their most recent matchup ended in a Nebraska sweep during the 2023 NCAA Tournament second round.
Big Ten and SEC Launch Two-Year Volleyball Partnership
The Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge is a two-year scheduling agreement that began in 2026. Eighteen Big Ten programs and sixteen SEC programs play matches at campus sites throughout the season before the Wrigley Field finale. This partnership represents a major collaboration between two of college sports' most competitive conferences and signals increasing investment in women's volleyball.
Nebraska Returns to Professional Stadium After 2023 Success
Nebraska played at a professional stadium once before — during Volleyball Day in Nebraska in 2023. Friday's match at Wrigley Field marks another outdoor professional-stadium appearance for the Cornhuskers. Connor Onion and Emily Ehman will call the Nebraska-Missouri match for Fox, which begins at 8 p.m. Central time.
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