Get ready for a historic night in women's college volleyball! On August 27, four powerhouse programs will take the court at AT&T Stadium for "Spikes Under the Lights," a nationally televised exhibition event boasting a $1 million prize purse—the largest ever in women's college sports.
Nebraska, Penn State, Florida, and SMU will headline this first-of-its-kind, three-hour primetime showcase at the 100,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys. The action kicks off with two semifinal matches, followed by a championship, all played in a best-of-three-set format (a departure from the standard best-of-five). While the results won't count toward regular-season records, the stakes are undeniably high.
The prize money breaks down as $800,000 split among the four programs, with an additional $200,000 going to the championship participants. Schools will distribute these funds to their athletes as NIL payments, making this a game-changer for women's college athletes.
The Thursday night event comes just three days after the conclusion of the season-opening AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee, which features 10 teams, including SMU. It's a packed start to the season for these elite programs.
Nebraska and Penn State bring serious championship pedigree to the table, combining for 12 national titles. Penn State, the most recent champion with its seventh crown in 2024, returns two-time All-American opposite hitter Kennedy Martin, who began her career at Florida. Nebraska, last winning it all in 2017 and finishing as runner-up three times since, is a consistent TV and attendance draw. The Huskers return All-Americans Bergen Reilly (setter), Harper Murray (outside hitter), and Andi Jackson (middle blocker), who combined for eight All-America awards and first-team recognition last year as Nebraska went 33-1.
Florida has dominated the SEC with 16 conference titles in the last 25 years, while SMU is riding momentum from two of its most successful seasons under fourth-year coach Sam Erger. This event is a testament to the sport's growing popularity, especially after Nebraska and Creighton set an indoor attendance record for a regular-season match with 17,675 last year. Nebraska also made history in 2023 by playing at Memorial Stadium in front of 92,003 fans—an all-time record for a women's sporting event.
Broadcast details will be announced later, but one thing is clear: this is a must-watch moment for volleyball fans. The event is organized by GSE Worldwide, a New York-based agency, and promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent, competition, and the bright future of women's college sports.