Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska is known as the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. Although, on August 30, 2023, this stadium hosted a different team, the University of Nebraska- Lincoln Women’s Volleyball team. Seated at #4 this season, Nebraska defeated Big 10 unranked opponent Omaha 3 sets to none.
Now as you have been reading, you may be wondering why I am so focused on this game. This game was not just about volleyball and the culture that it brings to the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. This game was a stepping stone in the success of women’s sports and especially college sports. The Nebraska women’s volleyball team crushed the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event after this match drew more than 92,000 fans. 92,003, to be exact. While the Cornhuskers are known to sell out all of their home games at Devaney Center, which holds close to 14,000 spectators, filling this stadium was something special. John Cook, in his 23rd season as head coach, told NBC ““We took a chance by playing in Memorial Stadium, and to go for the record and break it … I don’t think anybody could have envisioned that when this whole thing started…It feels like a great accomplishment for this sport called volleyball played by women. It’s a state treasure. We proved it.”
Top Lax Recruits is obviously a lacrosse website, so why am I talking about volleyball? College games are hardly ever played at football stadiums, they normally take place in side fields such as the college’s turf or soccer field meaning there is very limited seating and viewing areas. After doing some research, the 2008 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse championship game held at Gillette Stadium holds the highest championship game record at barely half of what the Nebraska Volleyball team did, 48,970. What does this mean for the game a whole 15 years later? This volleyball match is proof that if given the opportunity, college sports can fill stadiums, especially with the lacrosse world rapidly growing. The attention given to National Volleyball day, classes at University of Nebraska being canceled, students rallying around this day: It gave the Cornhuskers OPPORTUNITY and they delivered. I can only dream that this will open up doors for the Women’s lacrosse world as it grows and one day all women’s college sports will be given the opportunity to fill stadiums.