Mizzou volleyball set for first-ever outdoor match at Wrigley Field

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The home of the Chicago Cubs is set to become the home of the SEC/Big Ten Challenge in September.

On Monday morning, Mizzou Athletics announced that Tiger volleyball will make history to start their season, competing in the program's first-ever outdoor match against Nebraska at Wrigley Field on Sunday, Sept. 6.

The game will put head coach Dawn Sullivan and her team directly in the national spotlight, as the game will air live on Fox at either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. The Tigers and Cornhuskers will be joined at Wrigley by both Penn State and Kentucky, as this will be a double-header to round of the first-ever SEC/Big 10 Volleyball Challenge week.

"What an incredible opportunity for our volleyball team to compete under the lights at Wrigley Field this fall against Nebraska," Coach Sullivan said in a press release. "This is a moment our players will carry with them for the rest of their lives. To play on such a historic stage, in a city that means so much to us, makes it even more memorable. We are grateful to be part of this event and excited to show the passion and energy that makes our game so special."

Over the course of one week, various campuses will host a pair of Big Ten squads and a pair of SEC squads. Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas will host standalone home matches against Big Ten foes on Tuesday and Wednesday. So, before MU's historic match in Chicago, Sullivan and her team will host Oregon at the Hearnes Center on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

"Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a press release. "This initiative not only elevates volleyball on a national stage but also underscores a continued growth and investment in women's athletics. We are proud to be part of an event that celebrates the competitive excellence of these student-athletes while helping shape an even more prominent future for women's athletics."

Mizzou took part in a challenge similar to this one in the 2025 campaign, when the Tigers hosted Stanford in the SEC/ACC Showdown at the Net series.