Wrigley Field saw its inaugural volleyball match between No. 1 Nebraska and Missouri suspended Sunday night, not because of a sudden downpour, but due to relentless heat and humidity that turned the court into a slip-and-slide. What was supposed to be a fun, unique battle for the Big Ten-SEC Volleyball Challenge ended early, leaving a sold-out crowd in Chicago with more questions than answers about when, or if, the game will ever finish.
Wrestling With the Weather: A Towel Frenzy Unfolds
You gotta hand it to the players and event staff, they tried everything. The court, built right in the outfield of the iconic ballpark, was ridiculously slippery from the jump. Three points into the opening set, everyone stopped, grabbed towels, and started wiping the floor down. Seriously, *everyone*, players included. They even started pulling up floor decals, doing whatever they could think of to make that court less of a hazard. It was quite the scene, and for a hot second, it looked like it worked. Play resumed briefly, offering a glimmer of hope that we’d actually get to watch some volleyball.
The “Cupid Shuffle” Takes Center Stage as Officials Call It
But the Chicago humidity was having none of it. Levels were pushing 80%, and those towels just couldn’t keep up. Play stopped again when Nebraska was up 11-7 in the first set for another floor cleaning, but this time, it was way less intense. Instead of frantic wiping, players from both teams started doing the “Cupid Shuffle” together. Talk about high vibes, even when no actual volleyball was happening! Eventually, after a long delay, officials finally opted to postpone the whole thing for the night. There was a contingency plan for Monday night if needed, but the teams aren’t coming back.
The Big Ten confirmed the suspension, stating that rescheduling at Wrigley Field isn’t possible. It’s totally up in the air if this match will even continue at any point this season. It’s a bummer, especially since the first game of the doubleheader, No. 3 Kentucky beating No. 13 Penn State, went off without a hitch. It was a great idea to bring volleyball to Wrigley, and the players seemed to have fun despite all the chaos, but Sunday night proved that sometimes, even the best plans can’t beat Mother Nature.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply