‘It didn’t just happen overnight’: Husker volleyball court unveiled in Memorial Stadium

'Where else would this happen besides Nebraska?'

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Volleyball Day in Nebraska is less than 48 hours away.

Making a football field work for a volleyball match is just as complicated as you would think, according to Lindsay Peterson, a former Husker volleyball player now starting her 17th year as the program’s director of operations.

“It’s been all wheels spinning, trying to figure out, ‘How do we pull an event like this off?'” Peterson said.

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On Monday, the red volleyball court made its way to center stage in Memorial Stadium, where head coach John Cook had his first glimpse.

But Tuesday will act as dress rehearsal for volleyball players to practice their tunnel walk.

“For our volleyball team to ever have the opportunity to run out of the tunnel, walk in front of 90,000 people and be in an atmosphere like this is something unimaginable,” Peterson said. “But it didn’t just happen overnight.”

SEE ALSO: ‘An amazing opportunity’: John Cook, Huskers talk Volleyball Day in Nebraska

The planning team worked closely with coach Matt Rhule and football staff to find a window for the idea to become a reality.

The field isn’t fit for a volleyball court to lay on, so nine semitrailer-trucks brought in decking to level the surface.

But Peterson said the most important piece of groundwork wasn’t the plywood or special decking, but those who paved the way for this.

“I hope all the alumni that are back feel a little piece of this and feel they’ve contributed to us to get to this point,” Peterson said.

More former players will be at this volleyball match than any other.

Over 95 players from teams dating to the late 1970s secured tickets for Wednesday.

“Where else would this happen besides Nebraska?” Peterson said. “I mean, our fan base is incredible. And so we had this idea, and we talk about dreaming big. We knew that Nebraska would step up to the plate, and they definitely did and then some.”

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