Spikes Under the Lights Winner, Prize Money and Top Highlights from Volleyball Event

The first-ever Spikes Under the Lights event took place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas as four of college volleyball's top teams battled for the chance at a $150,000 prize.

No. 1 Nebraska, No. 10 Penn State, No. 11 SMU and No. 17 Florida each received $200,000 for participating in the event, but only one team could walk away with an additional $150,000.

The Cornhuskers wound up taking the $150,000 top prize by defeating SMU 21-12, 21-11 in the final.

Teraya Sigler led the way for Nebraska with seven kills and five digs. Harper Murray had a strong outing with six kills and five digs. The Huskers closed the second set on a 10-3 run after SMU was able to hold strong early on.

"We talked in the locker room about the growth between game one and two," Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly said after the match. "There were definitely some game one jitters, even though it was just an exhibition, it felt very real. And I think just seeing how well we adapted and learned and grew from that first game to that second game was kind of the best part for me and the best part for a lot of us."

Nebraska and Florida were up first, and the top-ranked Cornhuskers got out to a strong start as they won the first set 21-19 after an exciting rally on set point.

The second set was highly competitive, but Nebraska walked away with the win after a monster serve to send the Huskers to the finals. Nebraska finished the match with 23 kills, 26 digs, a pair of aces and seven blocks.

SMU and Penn State squared off in the other semifinal game, and the Mustangs picked up a win in the first set after plenty of back and forth with the Nittany Lions.

The Mustangs then took the second set to advance to the championship match after Suli Davis, who finished with 11 kills, delivered a game-winning spike.

The Mustangs are a team on the rise in college volleyball, and picking up a win over a top-10 team was the perfect way to start the season.

Despite strong showings from SMU, Florida and Penn State, Nebraska proved why it looks to be the team to beat in the country this season.

Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly led the Cornhuskers to a 33-1 record in her first season, but the lone defeat came in the NCAA tournament regional final against Texas A&M. It was the first time in three years the Huskers didn't reach the Final Four.

This exhibition event was a strong tune-up event for the Huskers, who will kick off their regular season on Sept. 10 against New Mexico.