How Nebraska transformed women's volleyball from a niche activity into a national powerhouse

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Beginning as an extramural club with no uniforms, Nebraska’s volleyball program evolved into a financial and cultural juggernaut. By prioritizing local development and aggressive stadium expansion, the Cornhuskers have cultivated the longest sellout streak in collegiate women's sports, turning a once-overlooked activity into a premier national spectator event.

Nebraska’s volleyball journey began in 1967 as an extramural activity within the physical education department, coached by graduate students. It was not until 1975 that the university officially recognized it as a varsity sport, though the program remained underfunded for years, relying on secondhand equipment from men's teams. The hiring of Terry Pettit in 1977 marked a turning point; he traveled to small schools across the state to host clinics, embedding volleyball into the local culture. This grassroots focus, combined with his strategy of scheduling matches alongside football games to capture exiting crowds, helped build a loyal fanbase that eventually made Nebraska a national power.

The program’s home-court dominance was long anchored by the NU Coliseum, a 1926 Roman-style venue that provided a deafening atmosphere. Between 2004 and 2009, Nebraska set an NCAA record with ninety consecutive home victories. Despite head coach John Cook’s initial hesitation to leave the historic venue, the program moved to the renovated Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013. The move proved lucrative; the program has consistently turned a profit, reaching a record $1.3 million in 2023. This financial success is supported by a sellout streak that has reached 337 consecutive matches, a record in collegiate women's sports.

Nebraska’s influence extends beyond its five national championships. In 2023, the university hosted 'Volleyball Day in Nebraska' at Memorial Stadium, drawing 92,003 spectators—a record for a women's sporting event. This event underscored the program's status as the epicenter of volleyball fandom. Following the 2025 retirement of John Cook, who led the program for twenty-five years and secured four national titles, the university named former player Dani Busboom Kelly as his successor, signaling a commitment to maintaining the program’s elite standing as it prepares to expand its arena capacity to nearly 10,000 by 2026.

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