Lifelong Memories, History Made at Wrigley

The Big Ten claimed bragging rights in the 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week, asserting its prowess across the crossover showcase with a record of 16-13. Powered by gritty five-set thrillers and dominant sweeps, the conference displayed deep talent against some of the nation's top contenders.  

We wouldn't have expected it all to end with Nebraska Volleyball leading a crowd of over 43,000 fans in belting Kelly Clarkson. But that's exactly what happened at Wrigley Field on Sunday, and boy, was it special. Let's take a look. 

Notable Challenge Week Wins 

• No. 14 Purdue made a statement in West Lafayette,  sweeping No. 12 Texas A&M  behind Addy Tindall’s 16 kills before surviving a five-set thriller against Georgia  sealed by setter Taylor Anderson's clutch dump . 
• No. 5 Wisconsin rallied past No. 17 Florida in a heart-stopping 15-13 fifth set in front of a sold-out crowd — claiming its first UW Field House win of the season Later, the Badgers took care of business with a sweep of Auburn behind freshman Halle Thompson’s first career double-double. 
• Washington showcased early-season grit by fending off a ferocious comeback attempt from Ole Miss to secure a five-set victory. Then, the Huskies followed it up with a clutch performance on Friday over Oklahoma, clinching the challenge victory for the Big Ten and continuing their undefeated start to the season. 
• Michigan State swept both LSU and South Carolina in decisive fashion.  Led by senior Alanna Bankston’s career-high 18 kills  against the Gamecocks, the Spartans never let the SEC balance the floor and are 5-0 overall for the second straight season. 
• After defeating Georgia following pivotal kills from Jaidyn Jager and decisions from setter Teodora Krickovic, No. 21 Indiana surged behind  Ella Boersema’s career-high 21-kill performance  to top the defending champion Aggies.  
• No. 11 Minnesota bounced back against Auburn to pick up its second win of the season.  Junior Stella Swenson had a nasty no-look kill  in the first set as the Gophers took control. 

All of that set the stage for Sunday and the first-ever volleyball matches at the Friendly Confines. 

"This turnout is absolutely incredible”: College Volleyball makes history, memories at Wrigley Field 

Under a September sky and the lights of Wrigley Field, baseball gave way to history to cap off the 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week.  

While No. 13 Penn State fell 3-1 to No. 3 Kentucky in the opener, the energy inside the Friendly Confines never wavered. Kids lined the railings holding signs that told the story of the night: “I traveled 902 miles to witness history,” and “Is this heaven? No, it’s Big Ten volleyball at Wrigley Field!” One simply read, “This is the best day of my life.” 

When moisture forced No. 1 Nebraska’s match against Missouri to be suspended, the young aspiring athletes, families, and volleyball fans in the crowd brought the lifeblood of sports culture into the ballpark. As staff used everything from towels to leaf blowers to dry the court, the players took the energy into their own hands, leading over 43,000 fans in serenading the stadium with a full-throated chorus of the Backstreet Boys' “I Want It That Way.” The student-athletes got the entire crowd dancing along while Husker Ryan Hunter led a wild dance battle on the court. 

The energy in the air at Wrigley, where tens of thousands of people gathered in one of the most historic venues in all of American sports, reminded us how the moments singing in the stands, dancing with teammates, and conga lining through the concourse—yes, really! —are often the stories we tell for the rest of our lives. 

When safety concerns ultimately called the match, Nebraska seniors Bergen Reilly, Harper Murray, Andi Jackson and Laney Choboy came out to address the crowd.  

"We’re so lucky we get to experience something like this,” Murray said. “We’re so sorry from the bottom of our hearts, but thank you guys for being the best fans in the country. Go Big Red — we love you.” 

“None of this would be possible without you [fans],” Reilly said. “We want to give you guys our all and we couldn’t do that tonight, so we’ll keep doing it the rest of this season. We love you all.” 

“Nothing that we do would be possible without all of you guys, Choboy said. “You show up every single game, all the time, no matter where we’re playing, and we could not be more thankful for a fan base that is willing to do anything for us.” 

Jackson then hurried over to Mizzou on the other side of the court, leading the teams and fans alike in a  sing-along of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”  

It wasn't an ending written in the scorebook, but it was undoubtably an inimitable, unforgettable night for volleyball fans at the Friendly Confines. 

With the challenge victory clinched, the league turns its attention to the remainder of non-conference play before Big Ten matchups and, later, the  inaugural Big Ten Volleyball Tournament . We’ve seen upsets, thrillers, and stars emerge already — and the season is just getting started.