{"id":1048512,"date":"2026-09-07T08:47:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T08:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1048512\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T08:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T08:47:17","slug":"nebraska-missouri-volleyball-at-wrigley-field-gets-suspended","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1048512\/","title":{"rendered":"Nebraska-Missouri volleyball at Wrigley Field gets suspended"},"content":{"rendered":"

The strange Chicago summer weather claimed another casualty on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

The Big Ten\/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week finale<\/a> at Wrigley Field was suspended during the first set of the second match because of condensation on the outdoor court. No. 1 Nebraska had an 11-7 lead over Missouri. The match will continue \u2014 but at a later date and at a different venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to weather conditions affecting the court surface, Sunday\u2019s volleyball match between Nebraska and Missouri has been suspended. Despite best efforts and in collaboration with all parties, rescheduling at Wrigley Field is not possible. A decision on match continuation at the point of suspension will be announced at a later date,\u201d a Big Ten statement read.<\/p>\n

Humidity reached 76% at the time of the match\u2019s first serve and the Taraflex court was unable to handle the moist air and previous match activity.<\/p>\n

Nebraska coach Dani Busboom Kelly displayed her gratitude for the event setup and the energy brought by the mostly Nebraska-supporting Wrigley Field crowd. She then stated flatly: \u201cI do not think outdoor is what we should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis obviously did not go as anybody wanted it to or planned, but up till the minute it was called, it was an incredibly first-class event,\u201d Busboom Kelly said. \u201cThe Big Ten and the Cubs organization made this super special from the first moment we walked into Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weather didn\u2019t cooperate, but (I\u2019m) really thankful for everybody who went out on a limb and invested a lot of money and time and manpower to do something pretty special for our sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Nebraska'sNebraska’s Manaia Ogbechie spikes the ball during a match against Missouri at the Big Ten\/SEC NCAA college Volleyball Challenge Week, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Melissa Tamez)<\/p>\n

Nebraska\u2019s red-clad fans flooded the ballpark, making up most of the 43,067 in attendance \u2014 the second-most in both Wrigley Field and college volleyball history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re the best fans in the whole game \u2014 traveling on plane, traveling via car, getting lodging taken care of, doing tourist things,\u201d said 32-year-old Daniel Padilla, who traveled from Auburn, Neb. \u201cFor us to end at point 11, it\u2019s uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the match suspension, players and staff from both teams grabbed towels and attempted to dry the court. Nebraska and Missouri players made the best of the worst-case scenario by thanking the fans for coming.<\/p>\n

Microphone in hand, Nebraska\u2019s Andi Jackson led a sing-along to Kelly Clarkson\u2019s \u201cSince You\u2019ve Been Gone.\u201d\u00a0Players cracked jokes, indulged in a dance battle and sang along to Justin Bieber\u2019s \u201cBaby\u201d and Dolly Parton\u2019s \u201cJolene\u201d as fans motivated them. The vibes remained high despite the disappointing circumstances.<\/p>\n

DePaul hosts Nebraska at Wintrust Arena<\/p>\n

Nebraska, the top-ranked team in the country, won\u2019t leave Chicago empty-handed. On Friday, 8,786 fans attended Wintrust Arena for their match against DePaul, a Blue Demons volleyball record.<\/p>\n

It was the first volleyball match at the home arena for DePaul\u2019s basketball teams. The Cornhuskers cruised to a 3-0 win as a sea of red effortlessly overlapped Wintrust\u2019s blue seats.<\/p>\n

And the Cornhuskers got to see Wrigley before Sunday, which seemed to be enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was super cool to take in the city, where we are right now and just how big (Wrigley) was,\u201d Nebraska sophomore outside hitter Teraya Sigler said after the DePaul match. \u201cIt\u2019s super exciting for our team to celebrate that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe treat this like this is a celebration (because) we work so hard to get here and do these things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blue Demons made sure to have their fun, too. Before DePaul\u2019s Thursday practice, they saw the Wintrust court and the volleyball setup for the first time. Players expressed a wave of disbelief, with some sliding across the court.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur entire athletic department has been preparing for this for months and every little detail is amazing,\u201d senior libero\/defensive specialist Nora Mannion said. \u201cWe\u2019re just really grateful and excited to play on this court.<\/p>\n

Chicago was an unofficial volleyball capital for the past few days. DePaul\u2019s match, the Wrigley Field event and the AVP beach volleyball championships at Oak Street Beach<\/a> took place through the weekend.<\/p>\n

DePaul coach Marie Zidek, who hails from the South Side, shared the disbelief with her players.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire department (and) the entire university has been really working to make this happen,\u201d Zidek said. \u201cTo finally have it here, I don\u2019t know, it feels a little bit like an out-of-body experience \u2014 I have to pinch myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kentucky defeats Penn State in first Wrigley Field match
\n\"Kentucky'sKentucky’s Morgan Gaerte, left, spikes the ball past Penn State’s Haley Burgdorf and Gabrielle Nichols during a match at the Big Ten\/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Melissa Tamez)<\/p>\n

No. 13 Penn State and No. 3 Kentucky escaped the humidity and completed their opening match on Sunday. The Wildcats prevailed, 3-1.<\/p>\n

The two top-15 teams went back and forth in the first set, with the Wildcats squeaking out a 25-23 set. After an all-Kentucky second set, Penn State used clutch digs and a set-clinching kill to force a fourth, but the Wildcats took the win.<\/p>\n

Kentucky, the 2025 NCAA runner-up, got comfortable at the Friendly Confines. They had the chance to soak in the atmosphere after the win.<\/p>\n

\u201c(I) really appreciate the SEC and the Big Ten for putting this challenge on and for taking the risk to have an event like this at a baseball field,\u201d Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said. \u201cAnd (I) thank the Cubs for being willing to help grow a sport and a women\u2019s sport that is going through the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added senior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye: \u201cThe entire experience exceeded any expectations. I had no idea what to expect coming here. Getting into this facility is one thing, but let alone playing in front of just the fans that were out there and being on a baseball field was just so surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the loss, the Nittany Lions said their Wrigley Field experience was nothing short of magical.<\/p>\n

\u201cChicago is one of the best cities in the world, there\u2019s a reason why it\u2019s a great sports town,\u201d said Penn State coach, former UIC coach and Chicago native Katie Schumacher-Cawley. \u201c(It\u2019s) nice to see a lot of people, a lot of Penn State alum and a lot of great volleyball fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added junior libero\/defensive specialist and Elmhurst native Ava Falduto: \u201cThis whole thing has been so cool and we\u2019re really grateful for the Big Ten for putting on such an incredible show for us. So many alumni here that have our back, so it was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Setting up Wrigley Field for a new sport
\n\"PennPenn State and Kentucky compete during a match at the Big Ten\/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week at Wrigley Field, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Melissa Tamez)<\/p>\n

It was the first volleyball match played at Wrigley Field, yet another milestone for volleyball as a whole. Collegiate volleyball has reached quality attendance and viewership numbers, while professional leagues like League One Volleyball Pro \u2014 which had a promotion tent in Gallagher Way \u2014 continue to gain steam.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been so much fun to watch,\u201d Kentucky fan Elizabeth Mason, 32, said. \u201cPlaying inside of a baseball stadium, this is a really big deal for women\u2019s sports.\u201d<\/p>\n

How was a volleyball court set up inside a baseball stadium?<\/p>\n

The Big Ten-blue court was placed in the outfield of Wrigley Field \u2014 the space Pete Crow-Armstrong and others usually occupy. Folding chairs were placed courtside, surrounded by a white-floored standing-room-only section.<\/p>\n

Each team ran out of a dugout to applause prior to first serve. The Nittany Lions and Cornhuskers debuted pinstripe jerseys, a nod to the Cubs\u2019 home uniforms.<\/p>\n

Both videoboards displayed the live broadcast to fans in the stands, and the Wrigley Field hand-operated scoreboard kept the scores up to date, too.<\/p>\n

The Wrigley Field event is another sign of volleyball\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not on the bandwagon yet, you need to hurry up and get on because it\u2019s going to leave you behind,\u201d Skinner said. \u201cIt\u2019s arrived and it\u2019s going to become a priority for TV and venues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s such an amazing spectator sport and if you ever watched a game before and you watch these athletes do what they do, you will want to come back. It\u2019s proving that over and over again and I think we\u2019re all grateful to be a part.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The strange Chicago summer weather claimed another casualty on Sunday night. The Big Ten\/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week finale…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1048513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5124],"tags":[3257,960,1271,419905,419904,5386,1818,8801,8805,11995,1381,2973,88415,1707,1272],"class_list":["post-1048512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-chicago","tag-big-ten","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-condensation-problems","tag-game-suspension","tag-il","tag-illinois","tag-kentucky-wildcats","tag-missouri-tigers","tag-nebraska-cornhuskers","tag-penn-state-nittany-lions","tag-sec","tag-volleyball","tag-womens-sports","tag-wrigley-field"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/117228895250589971","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1048512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1048512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1048512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1048513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1048512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1048512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1048512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}