College Volleyball Makes History at Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field has seen some unforgettable sporting moments over the years.

World Series games. Legendary baseball players. Generations of Chicago Cubs fans.

But on Sunday night, the home of the Cubs became something completely different.

For the first time ever, Wrigley Field hosted college volleyball.

The historic event featured a doubleheader between some of the biggest programs in the SEC and Big Ten. No. 3 Kentucky faced No. 13 Penn State in the opening match, followed by a highly anticipated matchup between No. 1 Nebraska and Missouri.

The night began with history being made.

Unfortunately, it ended with heartbreak.

Kentucky and Penn State were able to complete their match under the lights at one of America’s most iconic stadiums. But when Nebraska and Missouri finally took the court, high humidity and dangerous court conditions turned what was supposed to be one of the biggest matches of the weekend into a frustrating and emotional night for everyone involved.

Volleyball Comes to Wrigley Field

There was something special about the idea from the beginning.

College volleyball inside Wrigley Field.

Not a volleyball arena.

Not a football stadium.

A baseball stadium.

The court was set up on the field of the historic home of the Chicago Cubs, creating one of the most unique settings the sport has ever seen.

The opening match between Kentucky and Penn State became the first volleyball match ever played at Wrigley Field.

And it delivered a competitive matchup between two nationally ranked programs.

Kentucky Makes History

No. 3 Kentucky defeated No. 13 Penn State in four sets, winning 25-23, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-15.

Kentucky took control early by winning the first two sets, but Penn State refused to go away. The Nittany Lions battled back to win the third set 25-23 and force a fourth.

But Kentucky responded in a big way.

The Wildcats dominated the fourth set, winning 25-15 to close out the match and earn the 3-1 victory.

Brooklyn DeLeye was one of the biggest stars of the night for Kentucky, finishing with 21 kills and 10 digs. Morgan Gaerte added 15 kills and six blocks, while Kassie O’Brien helped run the offense with 48 assists.

Penn State had several players step up as well.

Kennedy Martin led the Nittany Lions with 16 kills, nine digs and two aces. Whitney Lauenstein added 13 kills, while Finley Krystkowiak finished with 10.

The first match was complete.

History had been made.

And then everyone waited for what was arguably the most anticipated match of the night.

No. 1 Nebraska vs. Missouri

Two major programs.

An SEC-Big Ten matchup.

More than 43,000 fans at Wrigley Field.

The announced attendance of 43,067 became the second-largest crowd in Wrigley Field history.

For Nebraska and Missouri fans, this was supposed to be an unforgettable experience.

People had traveled from all over to see this match.

Players, coaches and staff had spent months preparing for the opportunity to play volleyball at one of the most famous stadiums in America.

And then the court became the story.

When the Court Became the Problem

Almost immediately, there were problems.

High humidity created excessive moisture on the playing surface, making the court dangerously slick.

Players began slipping.

The match was stopped early as crews worked to dry the court.

And then something happened that perfectly showed just how badly everyone wanted the game to continue.

Players from Nebraska and Missouri joined the effort.

Everyone seemed to grab towels.

Players and staff got down on the court and tried to dry the surface themselves. Crews worked to make the playing area safe, and even court logos were removed as officials and staff searched for a solution.

It was a bizarre scene.

One minute, everyone was preparing for one of the biggest volleyball matches of the season.

The next, players from both teams were helping dry the court.

For a while, it seemed like they might actually be able to make it work.

Making the Best of a Difficult Situation

Despite the frustration, the players did their best to keep the atmosphere alive.

During one of the delays, music played throughout Wrigley Field.

Nebraska players broke into a brief dance party when Justin Bieber’s Baby came on over the stadium speakers. Later, players from both teams danced together and joined in moments like the Cupid Shuffle while everyone waited to see if volleyball could resume.

Honestly, those moments say something positive about both teams.

This was a situation nobody wanted.

The players had prepared for a huge match.

The coaches wanted to compete.

The fans wanted volleyball.

But instead of standing around in frustration, the athletes tried to make the best of an incredibly disappointing situation.

The crowd still had something to cheer about.

Unfortunately, the volleyball could not continue.

Player Safety Comes First

Nebraska and Missouri eventually returned to the court, but the problems did not go away.

The court remained too slick.

With Nebraska leading Missouri 11-7 in the first set, play was stopped again.

This time, the situation became much more serious.

Player safety had to come first.

After additional efforts to dry the court failed, the match was officially suspended.

That had to be an incredibly difficult decision.

Nobody involved wanted the night to end that way.

But there is no volleyball game important enough to justify putting players at risk of serious injury.

The Big Ten Conference made the decision clear: despite everyone’s best efforts, the match could not continue safely.

What Happens Next?

One of the most frustrating parts of the situation is that the match cannot simply be rescheduled at Wrigley Field.

The Big Ten Conference announced that rescheduling the match at Wrigley Field is not possible and that a decision about whether the match will continue from the point of suspension will be made later.

And when you think about it, that makes sense.

Wrigley Field is primarily a baseball stadium.

This wasn’t a normal volleyball venue where the court could simply remain in place and the teams could return another night.

Months of planning went into transforming a Major League Baseball stadium into a venue capable of hosting college volleyball.

There are schedules to consider.

There are logistics involving the Cubs and the stadium.

There is the process of building and removing the court.

There are travel plans for teams and fans.

And there are already other events and responsibilities connected to one of the busiest and most recognizable stadiums in American sports.

As disappointing as it is, simply saying, “Let’s come back and try again next week,” is much easier said than done.

The Fans Deserved Better

This is where I really feel for Nebraska and Missouri.

I feel bad for the coaches.

I feel bad for the players.

I feel bad for the staff members who worked so hard to put this event together.

But most of all, I feel terrible for the fans.

More than 43,000 people showed up at Wrigley Field.

Many traveled long distances specifically for the chance to see Nebraska and Missouri play in a historic setting.

They got to experience the atmosphere.

They got to see the historic venue transformed for volleyball.

They got to watch Kentucky defeat Penn State.

They got to cheer, sing and dance during the delays.

But the Nebraska-Missouri match—the game so many people had traveled to see—barely got underway.

Nebraska was leading 11-7 in the first set.

And then it was over.

Or at least, suspended.

That is heartbreaking.

Especially because this wasn’t anyone’s fault.

The players didn’t do anything wrong.

The coaches didn’t do anything wrong.

The fans certainly didn’t do anything wrong.

Everyone wanted the same thing: to see a great volleyball match.

The weather and humidity simply had other plans.

A Night Nobody Will Forget

The night at Wrigley Field will still be remembered.

Kentucky’s 3-1 victory over Penn State will always be part of history as the first volleyball match played at the iconic stadium.

And Nebraska and Missouri still helped make history by being part of an event that drew more than 43,000 fans to watch college volleyball.

But it is impossible not to think about what could have been.

A sold-out Wrigley Field.

The No. 1 team in the country.

A major SEC opponent.

One of the largest crowds ever to watch college volleyball.

Everything was set up for an incredible night.

Instead, everyone was left waiting for answers about whether the match will ever be completed.

That is the heartbreaking part.

The players deserved the opportunity to play.

The coaches deserved the opportunity to coach.

And the fans deserved the opportunity to see the match they traveled so far to watch.

But sometimes, even in sports, the right decision is still a disappointing one.

Player safety had to come first.

That doesn’t make the disappointment disappear.

It just makes the decision the right one.

Wrigley Field’s first night of college volleyball gave us history, great competition, dancing, singing, towels, and one incredibly frustrating ending.

It was unforgettable.

Just not for the reasons everyone expected.