How Nebraska volleyball broke the world record for women's sporting event attendance

The Nebraska Cornhuskers swept Omaha in straight sets (25-14, 25-14, 25-13) to improve their record to 4-0 on the season. The frontrunners on the stat board include Lexi Rodriguez's 15 digs and three service aces and Andi Jackson's eight kills on .500 hitting.

The largest crowd ever to attend a women's sports event. #NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/qHsc4vNm0o

— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) August 31, 2023

Below, NCAA President Charlie Baker spoke with Michella Chester on the growth of the sport.

The Huskers claimed the second set, 25-14. Nebraska matched its first set kill count (11) in the second and registered a hitting percentage of .229.

BIG RIP, @merbson! 💥 pic.twitter.com/2XtkROlWFx

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) August 31, 2023

Merritt Beason, Harper Murray and Lexi Rodriguez each tallied a service ace to highlight Nebraska's set 1 dominance, as the Huskers took the 1-0 advantage over Omaha, 25-14.

Something about acing on the biggest stage for volleyball. 🥰 | @harpermurray4 #GBR | @NESoybeanBoard pic.twitter.com/wpV3a5hKSU

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) August 31, 2023

There's live action on the court. Here are the starting lineups:

Omaha

• Kali Jurgensmeier (OH)
• Amanda Hardt (OH)
• Mckenna Ruch (MB)
• Emily Huss (MB)
• Shayla McCormick (OH)
• Olivia Curry (S)
• Erica Fava (L)

Nebraska

• Harper Murray (OH)
• Merritt Beason (OPP)
• Bekka Allick (MB)
• Andi Jackson (MB)
• Laney Choboy (DS)
• Bergen Reilly (S)
• Lexi Rodriguez (L)

The stage is set as the Nebraska Cornhuskers host the Omaha Mavericks on this historic night for college volleyball and women's sports. 

• Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Big Ten Network/FOX Sports
• Click or tap here for the live stream
• Click or tap here for live stats

For young Nebraska volleyball fans, this day is one they will never forget. 

The Wildcats and Lopers have taken the Teraflex court and their exhibition match is underway. Follow along below and click here for live stats. 

The most highly anticipated volleyball matches of the season — and possibly the history of the regular season in the sport — are finally here. Undergraduate in-person classes were canceled, a pep rally has been held, and now fans are ready to file into Memorial Stadium to witness the first outdoor women's college volleyball sporting event. Here is the full schedule of today's events:

• 4 p.m. ET: Gates open
• 5:30 p.m. ET: DII Exhibition | UNK vs. Wayne State
• 8:00 p.m. ET: No. 4 Nebraska vs. Omaha
• *Following the Nebraska/Omaha match, country music artist Scotty McCreery will perform in Memorial Stadium

The weather forecast is 85 degrees and sunny for the 5:30 p.m. exhibition match, and will cool off to about 78 degrees for the start of the Nebraska/Omaha contest. The wind is blowing at 7 mph and sunset is scheduled at 8:02 p.m, perfectly timed for the beginning of the Cornhuskers' match.

Here's a recap of the attendance numbers that Nebraska volleyball looks to top:

• 18,755 | NCAA volleyball attendance record (2022)
• 90,185 | U.S. attendance record for a women's sporting event (1999)
• 91,585 | Memorial Stadium attendance record (2014)
• 91,648 | World attendance record for a women's sporting event (2022)

Nebraska Athletics

Imagine this: A day filled with nothing but volleyball in the Cornhusker State, tunes by Scotty McCreery — and you're packed into Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska at night.

This is what fans are anticipating when they arrive on Wednesday.

Held at the home of the Huskers football team, two showdowns will take place on Volleyball Day in Nebraska — a 5:30 p.m. ET DII exhibition match between Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State, followed by a regular season match at 8 p.m. between Omaha and the Huskers.

The day will easily shatter the attendance record for college volleyball (18,516), with the American record for a women's sporting event next in sight (90,185 at the Rose Bowl for the 1999 Women's World Cup final for USA vs. China).

We dared to dream big.

Husker Nation brought it to life. pic.twitter.com/gMM6uD8zkT

— Nebraska Volleyball (@Huskervball) April 27, 2023

It's all a little different from your average Husker football game as Volleyball Day will likely hold one of the largest crowds recorded at Memorial Stadium, possibly beating the record 91,585 attendees for the 2014 football game vs. Miami.

Thanks to Nebraska athletics, they have provided a preparation list for all fans attending this one-of-a-kind event.

Volleyball Day is so much more than what's perceived — it's a significant message of how far women's sports have come.