Nebraska always finds itself in the fold when it comes to making history in women’s volleyball. After breaking the live attendance record in women’s sports history in 2023, the Huskers have now watched their names in the broadcasting history books. On October 19, the Nebraska vs. Ohio game became the first collegiate volleyball game to grace the screens of NBC.

Finding a place on arguably the biggest sports broadcasting network in the USA is an honor no one associated with Nebraska took lightly. So when USA volleyball legend Jordan Larson appeared on The Dig podcast, host Jessica Coody couldn’t help but ask the four-time Olympian about her take. “It’s crazy just to see the movement and attention,” said Jordan Larson.

Larson, who is also the Nebraska Huskers’ assistant coach, has always shared a deep connection with the team. The 38-year-old grew up in the state and started her collegiate volleyball career as a Husker. Now, in a more leadership-oriented role, the Olympic medalist revealed her excitement at seeing “Nebraska’s kind of on the forefront,” making history.

However, to see her team become the first of two teams to make broadcast history, that too during prime time on a Saturday night, was truly monumental. “Yeah, it’s huge. I’m actually getting chills you probably can’t see… But like, it’s so huge!” Larson said during the podcast. The fact that Nebraska won collegiate volleyball’s NBC debut made the occasion even more memorable.

In their historic matchup against Ohio, NU swept their opponents to a 3-0 victory. However, despite the final scoreline, the match wasn’t as one-sided on the court. Ohio put up a fair challenge during the first two sets, losing 25-18 on both. However, they crumbled under the momentum of the Nebraska volleyball team, losing the final set 25-16.

“It’s fun to watch these girls like go execute,” the four-time Olympic medalist added during the discussion. However, the Huskers finding their place on NBC is no accident. There’s a good reason behind collegiate women’s volleyball finding a place on the major sports network during Saturday night prime time, right ahead of football.

How the Nebraska women’s volleyball team made it to NBC

Over the last couple of years, volleyball has seen immense growth in popularity. Teams from the Big Ten Conference have spearheaded that popularity. 20 teams from the conference have competed in the last 24 NCAA finals, and Nebraska has been especially successful in pulling the crowds during their period. Their live crowds have also translated to TV and streaming viewership.

Besides setting the live attendance record at 92,003 spectators during the Volleyball day, Nebraska has also been smashing viewership records. The NCAA final between the Cornhuskers and Texas averaged a mind-boggling 1.7 million viewers. And the team has managed to hold onto that momentum. In late September 2024, NU set yet another viewership record.

The clash between the Huskers and Louisville on the final Sunday of September drew 684,000 average views. It was a benchmark that became the most-watched regular-season volleyball match on the ESPN Network. With such popularity fueling their achievements, it’s no surprise that NBC chose a Nebraska match for their historic debut. However, this is only the beginning.

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NBC will air Wisconsin vs. Purdue on October 26, followed by two more matches. Fans can catch Penn State taking on Wisconsin and Oregon vs. UCLA on November 9 and 29, respectively. It’s no wonder Jordan Larson expressed her excitement at what’s waiting in the ‘pipeline’ for women’s volleyball.