The Nebraska Cornhuskers snagged a cool $350,000, leaving AT&T Stadium as the first “Spikes Under The Lights” champions after a wild exhibition tournament on August 27, 2026. This wasn’t just some casual meet-up; Nebraska, Florida, SMU, and Penn State all threw down in best-of-three matches to 21 points, and the Huskers proved they’re here to play for keeps, securing the biggest prize of the night. Florida and Penn State each walked away with $200,000, while SMU earned $250,000.
Florida Gave the Huskers a Scare, But Nebraska Showed Up
Alright, so the Huskers didn’t exactly waltz into the championship game. Their first match against Florida was way tighter than anyone expected, especially after Florida’s rough year last year with eight transfers. Nebraska took it in straight sets, 21-19 and 21-18, but trust me, it was a battle. Florida even started strong after Nebraska’s quick two points, then it was a back and forth slugfest. Set two was more of the same, with Florida grabbing a little lead before Nebraska went on a massive 5-0 run to take control. The Huskers closed it out with a huge “soul crushing” block from Andi Jackson, a kill by Virginia Adriano, and an ace from Teraya Sigler. Jackson was lights out, hitting .571 with 5 kills and 3 blocks. Adriano added 5 kills and Sigler, in her first start as a six rotation player, dropped 6 kills and an ace. Bergan Reilly dished out 19 assists. Florida’s Logan King was a force with 9 kills and 5 digs, showing everyone that this Florida squad is absolutely going to make some waves this season.
SMU Battled Hard, But Nebraska Was on Another Level
Before the final showdown, we saw SMU take down Penn State, 24-22 and 21-18. That first set was a grind, going to three set points before the Mustangs finally put it away. Penn State’s Kennedie Martin had lethal hits, and Whitney Lauenstein was a beast, hitting .450 with 12 kills. SMU’s Suli Davis had 11 kills and Favor Anyanwu chipped in 5 kills, helping them secure the win. Both teams were scrappy, picking up balls that had no business staying in play. But then came the championship match, and the Huskers absolutely hit another gear. Nebraska dominated SMU, winning 21-12 and 21-11. Virginia Adriano started the party with laser serves, pushing Nebraska to an 8-1 lead, then a 12-2 run. Even with a beautiful pancake save from Laney Choboy for SMU, the Huskers were relentless. They held SMU to a brutal -.087 hitting percentage and only 4 kills in that first set, while Nebraska hit .160 themselves. Christa Wilburn tried to spark an SMU comeback with strong serving, but it wasn’t enough. Nebraska just shut it down.
So yeah, Nebraska is walking away from the first Spikes Under The Lights exhibition with a fat check and a statement win. This early season performance from the Huskers, especially with stars like Andi Jackson and Virginia Adriano stepping up, tells you everything. They’re playing with serious fire. What’s next for them is clear: building on this momentum. College volleyball just got a major jolt, and it’s exciting to see what comes next for these teams.
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.
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