The Nebraska volleyball team has played in a stadium and in arenas built for pro sports. But it has never tackled anything like what’s on tap over the next 11 days.The season-opening road show starts Thursday at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Spikes Under the Lights, an exhibition event, will pit the No. 1 Huskers against No. 17 Florida in a best-of-three-set semifinal at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, followed by Penn State-SMU and then a championship between the winners, all in one night.At stake is $1 million in NIL money. The winning team will receive $400,000.Nebraska then faces UNLV on Saturday and No. 2 Texas on Sunday in the inaugural Players Era Volleyball Showcase, part of the regular season at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights. On Sept. 6, Wrigley Field beckons. Nebraska and Missouri are scheduled to meet in the second game of a Fox volleyball doubleheader as part of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge at the home of the Chicago Cubs.“To be honest, I take it one day at a time,” Nebraska middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie said.Probably a good idea.Since Nebraska played volleyball at its football stadium three years ago and attracted a crowd of 92,003, the race to break new boundaries has intensified.Coach Dani Busboom Kelly said the school turned down invitations to other attractive events to make the 2026 schedule work.“There’s a lot of options,” she said.But when the opportunities now in front of them were presented — a jet-setting tour of NFL, NHL and MLB venues — Busboom Kelly felt a pull to say “yes” to all of them.The Huskers are cornerstones of an effort by the sport’s leaders and their media partners to capitalize on surging U.S. interest in volleyball, from the youth to professional levels.
Cowboys, Cubs and Nebraska volleyball: No. 1 Huskers aim high with early-season stadium tour
The Cornhuskers season-opening blitz is meant to capitalize on surging U.S. interest in volleyball from the youth to professional levels.










