Mizzou Volleyball prepares for outdoor showdown at Wrigley Field
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Tigers are set for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the second leg of the SEC-Big 10 Challenge.
Four volleyball teams have been selected to compete in an outdoor match at the historic Wrigley Field for this inter-conference competition on Sunday, Sept. 6. No. 3 Kentucky will face No. 13 Penn State at 6:00 p.m., and Mizzou will take on No. 1 Nebraska at 8:00 p.m.
Every player and coach has had this game circled since they arrived on campus earlier in the summer. Not only will they be playing at such a unique venue, but they'll get a chance to test themselves against the top ranked team in the country.
"It's just big opportunity to be somewhere where there's so much history behind it," said Freshman Maizy Agnello, who grew up in the Chicago area. "it's just like a huge opportunity for our team and our program, and I'm so excited and I know the whole team is."
That sentiment is not just from the players. Head coach Dawn Sullivan and her staff also know what this chance means and wants to ensure they take full advantage of it.
"I think it's incredible opportunity, not just for us, but for the game of volleyball. You can see all kinds of different events coming this year, and it's just really been fun to see volleyball take off," Sullivan said.
In preparation for the event, Mizzou baseball has opened their field to allow coach Sullivan's squad to hold practices outdoors. While the courts are the same dimensions, playing under the lights out in the elements presents an extra slate of challenges the Tigers need to prepare for.
"Playing outdoor is a different experience. It's a different stage, it's open air, the ball is flying more, but we have to adjust and we have to do our best to keep up with it," Freshman Ceylin Kuyan said.
"That preparation changes because of the environment and how do we help the team, one, understand what it means to play outside, but also just those nerves and different things that are going to come with that environment more so than Nebraska," Sullivan said.
The change in venue may present its own slate of challenges, so does playing a team like Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have made the national title game five times in the past 11 years, bringing home a pair of gold trophies. While they have been historically great, coach Sullivan is going in not focusing on the ranking of her opponent.
"I think it's more of just how do we continue improve every single day? It's just step by step," said Sullivan. "They have a phenomenal setter and some great attackers. So just making sure we stay within ourselves and doing what we can do to slow them down and then be great in transition."
"As big as even going to be, I still just want to, play with my team, to be honest," Agnello said. "It's going to be huge to me, a lot of people there, and it's a big opportunity thing. But my team is what I'm focused on."
Up Next - The Tigers will take on No. 1 Nebraska at Wrigley field, with tip off scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 and can be viewed on Fox 22.
