NCAA volleyball continues its rapid growth with the inaugural Spikes Under the Lights exhibition at AT&T Stadium, as Nebraska, Florida, Penn State, and SMU headline the $1 million mini-tournament.
The made-for-TV event marks the Dallas NFL stadium's first women's college volleyball competition. Two semifinals and a championship match will take place within a three-hour broadcast window, all played in best-of-three formats.
Each NCAA volleyball team receives a $200,000 appearance fee. An additional $200,000 in prize money will be distributed based on tournament finish.
"We are excited and honored to be part of this historic event that showcases the continued growth of women's volleyball," Nebraska volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly said in a team statement.
"This will be a great opportunity to face some talented teams in an iconic setting as we ramp up to the start of the season. Hopefully a lot of Husker fans will be able to experience it with us in Dallas."
'Spikes Under the Lights' Underlines NCAA Volleyball Boom
Nebraska volleyball already knows how to fill big venues, after the Huskers drew a women's sports record 92,003 fans to a 2023 outdoor match at Memorial Stadium.
Penn State currently holds the record for NCAA tournament appearances with 45, alongside eight national championship titles. Nebraska has competed in 44 tournaments and won five titles, while Florida lists 36 appearances. Recent powerhouse SMU has subsequently reached three consecutive NCAA tournaments, and five overall.
AT&T Stadium seats more than 100,000 fans for special events. Organizers of the August 27th exhibition are shooting to overtake Nebraska's attendance record.
