CHICAGO () — Wrigley Field added a new chapter to its long sports legacy Sunday, and this time, the spotlight was far from the baseball diamond.
Volleyball made its first-ever appearance inside the Friendly Confines as the Big Ten and SEC wrapped up their inaugural Volleyball Challenge Week. The historic event brought fans from across the country to Chicago for a high-profile doubleheader, with Penn State facing Kentucky before Nebraska took on Missouri.
The legendary home of the Chicago Cubs had a distinctly different look for its Wrigley Field volleyball debut. Four powerhouse programs with deep volleyball roots filled the bill, headlined by No. 1 Nebraska.
“It’s important because we live in Chicago. They go to school in Nebraska. So of course, what do we have to do? Go Big Red,” Nebraska fan Laura Fontana said.
Missouri fans, meanwhile, leaned into the energy of the moment, even with Nebraska’s famously large traveling crowd surrounding them.
“It’s kind of David vs. Goliath. We are outnumbered by a sea of red behind us, but hey, everybody’s been kind and it’s a great atmosphere,” a Missouri fan said.
From local supporters to out-of-state diehards, the crowd reflected the growing national excitement around college volleyball and the marquee finish to the first Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week.
“We’re super duper excited. I’m super excited because I got to be part of volleyball day in Nebraska three years ago, so I’m super pumped for this too,” Nebraska fan Meredith Fontana said.
That Volleyball Day in Nebraska drew more than 92,000 fans to Memorial Stadium in 2023, perhaps partly inspiring the doubleheader at Wrigley Field. The growing popularity of women’s college volleyball has helped make it one of the fastest-growing attractions in college sports.
“I think it’s definitely historic. I mean Wrigley is historic itself. But volleyball here is amazing, for sure,” Nebraska fan Luke Pekol said.
“This is super cool that’s in Chicago, and I hope you guys come back. It’s awesome,” Kentucky fan James said.
For players, the event provided an opportunity to compete on a national stage, with both matches broadcast on FOX. For fans, it was a chance to watch their favorite teams in a venue where they never expected to see a volleyball court.
“Playing outside. Something different. You know they play a lot of volleyball, but they never play outside,” Missouri fan Gabe Stearns said.
“I’ve been to Chicago numerous times, but this is just a really neat epic field here,” Kentucky fan Amy Brannon said.
The Big Ten and SEC said every school in both conferences participated in the week-long challenge, but the finale belonged to Chicago.
A first for Wrigley Field, the event also served as another sign of the sport’s continued growth.
“The history matters more. Women’s volleyball, and everybody watching. That’s the biggest aspect of the game,” a Missouri fan said.
