A marquee volleyball night at Wrigley Field turned into something nobody expected once the first set got underway.
Nebraska and Missouri were set to meet in the inaugural Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge, and the scene before first serve matched the stage. The matchup drew a near-record crowd of 43,067 fans to the home of the Chicago Cubs, giving the outdoor event the kind of buzz that made it feel historic from the start.
Then the weather took over.
With Chicago humidity climbing above 80 percent, moisture started collecting quickly on the outdoor TeraFlex court. The surface turned slick in a hurry, and players from both teams began slipping and falling over and over again. What had been billed as a showcase became a scramble to keep the floor playable.
Coaches and staff went into damage-control mode. They worked on the court with alcohol-soaked towels, pulled up floor decals, and even brought out leaf blowers in an effort to dry things out. At one point, players from Nebraska and Missouri were on their hands and knees cleaning the court themselves.
The efforts weren’t enough. Safety became the only real issue that mattered, and officials suspended the match with Nebraska ahead 11-7.
The Big Ten later said the event cannot be rescheduled at Wrigley Field, leaving a decision on when and where the match will be completed for later.
Nebraska’s all-time volleyball series edge over Missouri now sits at 74-3-1. Nebraska enters the 2026 season at 4-0, while Missouri is 3-1 overall.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Has A Linebacker Concern It Can't Ignore
Owen Chambliss was already trying to work his way back into Nebraskas defensive picture after missing much of fall camp and the opener with a hamstring issue, and now the Cornhuskers may have to keep waiting a little longer. Matt Rhule said the linebacker might not be available for the upcoming game against Bowling Green, a reminder that the Huskers are still sorting out a position group they expected to lean on this early in the season.
Rhule called Chambliss a valuable player, but he did not offer much clarity on when the injury might finally let up. For a Nebraska defense trying to settle in, the uncertainty matters, especially with a player whose role was supposed to grow once he got back on the field. The next update on Chambliss could tell the Huskers a lot about how soon they can count on being whole at linebacker. [Read more 🡒]
Former Nebraska Receiver Is Raising An Uncomfortable Question For Huskers Fans
Malachi Colemans latest performance came in a spot Nebraska fans know well, even if theyd probably rather not revisit it. The former Huskers receiver, now at Wisconsin, put together a strong showing against Notre Dame with 4 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while playing 40 snaps and drawing top offensive grades from Pro Football Focus for the Badgers.
For Nebraska, the uncomfortable part is not just that Coleman is making plays elsewhere, but that he has now moved multiple times within the Big Ten and is still flashing the kind of upside the Huskers once hoped to harness. Coleman also spoke after the game about areas he still wants to clean up, which only adds to the sense that his story is still unfolding - and that Nebraska supporters may be left wondering what might have been. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Depth Chart Hints At A Feel Good Breakthrough On Defense
Nebraskas depth chart stayed mostly steady from the previous week, but one addition stood out for what it says about the programs persistence: defensive end Mac Markway is back in the mix after working his way through three torn ACLs. For a defense that has spent the offseason trying to build more dependable depth, simply getting a player like Markway onto the chart is a meaningful step, and it fits with the broader theme around Matt Rhules roster-building approach.
Rhule said Markways role is expected to grow week by week, along with the roles of wide receiver Demitrius Bell and true freshman cornerback Danny Odem, all of whom saw the field in the opener. For Nebraska, the next few games will be about whether those early snaps turn into something more durable, especially on a defense where every useful piece matters and every bit of progress feels worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]