CHICAGO — Missouri volleyball spent months preparing for the opportunity to play Nebraska at Wrigley Field. The Tigers even practiced outdoors in preparation for the unique conditions they could face.
Still, nothing could prepare them for what happened Sunday night.
With 43,067 fans packed into Wrigley Field, Missouri and Nebraska played just 18 points before humidity made the Taraflex court too dangerous to continue. Nebraska led 11-7 in the opening set when officials suspended play for a second time
before eventually canceling the match.
For Missouri coach Dawn Sullivan, the decision came down to protecting her players.
During warmups, the Tigers already noticed the court becoming slick. Once the match began, the problem intensified.
“We were just sliding all over point one,” Sullivan said.
At one point, Paige Felder returned to the service line and told Sullivan she did not feel comfortable serving. Sullivan agreed to try making adjustments and see whether the teams could continue safely.
They could not.
Both teams eventually worked together to wipe down the court, with players getting on their hands and knees to try to make the surface playable.
“That’s just who we are,” Sullivan said. “We wanted to play here. We want to play for all these incredible fans, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get that done. But this wasn’t gonna happen.”
Missouri had received warnings before the match. Coaches from Kentucky and Penn State, who played earlier at Wrigley Field, told Sullivan and Nebraska Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly the court could become slick.
The Tigers also practiced outside during the fall in preparation for the possibility.
Even with those precautions, Sullivan said the conditions proved difficult.
“There’s a reason, you know, this is an indoor sport,” Busboom Kelly said.
The cancellation ended what had been a historic night for Missouri and college volleyball. The Tigers entered at 3-1 after winning all three matches at the Mizzou Invitational before falling to No. 25 Oregon. Nebraska arrived 4-0 and had not dropped a set, including a sweep of No. 2 Texas.
Missouri was also playing Nebraska for the first time since the 2024 NCAA Tournament, when the Tigers fell to the Cornhuskers.
Despite playing only 18 points, Sullivan said she saw enough from her team to know what it brought to the moment.
“This team’s gonna fight,” Sullivan said. “And they want to compete.”
The match also gave Missouri a chance to experience one of the largest crowds in the history of college volleyball. The Tigers walked onto the field in front of more than 43,000 fans, creating an atmosphere Sullivan called unreal.
Earlier in the week, Missouri held “rock star moments” during practice to prepare players for the magnitude of the event.
“They knew how to be rock stars today,” Sullivan said.
For Sullivan, the night ultimately became less about the result and more about the experience. She praised Missouri’s administration and the support surrounding the program while marveling at the growth of women’s sports.
“To see the sport take off, and the publicity it’s getting,” Sullivan said, “I’m just like, wow.”
Missouri and Nebraska could still attempt to complete the match later in the season. Sullivan said the Big Ten, the SEC and both coaching staffs will discuss potential dates and locations.
For now, Missouri leaves Wrigley Field with an unfinished match, but with an experience Sullivan believes her players will remember.
“I feel very grateful,” Sullivan said. “We’re just really grateful for this opportunity.”
