Green Bay Hosts Inaugural 'Frozen Phoenix Invite' Volleyball Tournament

Four Wisconsin college volleyball programs come together for a record-setting exhibition match at the Kress Center.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 4:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a volleyball match, with players and the court broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant green, gold, and red colors.The Frozen Phoenix Invite brought together Wisconsin's top college volleyball programs in a celebration of the sport's growing popularity in the state.Green Bay Today

The Green Bay women's volleyball team hosted the inaugural 'Frozen Phoenix Invite' on Saturday, welcoming the volleyball programs from the University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and Lawrence University for a series of exhibition matches. The event drew a record-breaking crowd of 3,605 fans to the Kress Center, surpassing the previous attendance record of 1,401 set in 2024.

Why it matters

The Frozen Phoenix Invite showcased the strong volleyball talent across the state of Wisconsin, bringing together some of the top collegiate programs for an exciting exhibition event. The large turnout demonstrated the community's enthusiasm for the sport and the potential to make this an annual tradition that engages fans from all four participating schools.

The details

The idea for the Frozen Phoenix Invite came from conversations between the Green Bay and Wisconsin volleyball programs about scheduling exhibition matches. Green Bay coach Abby Sutherland said they decided to host the event in Green Bay, rather than traveling to Madison. The matches featured competitive play, with the first contest between Lawrence and UW-Oshkosh particularly notable. Beyond the level of play, the atmosphere at the Kress Center stood out, with the crowd size breaking the previous volleyball attendance record at Green Bay.

  • The Frozen Phoenix Invite took place on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • The previous volleyball attendance record at Green Bay was set on September 19, 2024, when 1,401 fans attended a match against Minnesota.

The players

Abby Sutherland

The head coach of the Green Bay women's volleyball team, who helped organize the Frozen Phoenix Invite.

Kelly Sheffield

The head coach of the University of Wisconsin women's volleyball team, one of the participating programs in the Frozen Phoenix Invite.

Jeff Van Lannen

The head coach of the Lawrence University women's volleyball team, one of the participating programs in the Frozen Phoenix Invite.

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What they’re saying

“We [Green Bay and Wisconsin] were having conversations about exhibition matches this fall and then spring, and I just assumed that we would go down there. They were open to coming to Green Bay... and we made it happen.”

— Abby Sutherland, Green Bay women's volleyball coach

“It is a great volleyball area as well. We saw the first match [between Lawrence and UW-Oshkosh] and how competitive that was and how many fans showed up for them.”

— Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin women's volleyball coach

“Playing and having the opportunity to be in a place like this, I told my team before, it's sort of like going to a concert, there might be a song or two you don't like, but you just go and enjoy it.”

— Jeff Van Lannen, Lawrence women's volleyball coach

What’s next

The organizers hope to make the Frozen Phoenix Invite an annual event, bringing together the top volleyball programs in Wisconsin for an exciting exhibition tournament.

The takeaway

The success of the inaugural Frozen Phoenix Invite demonstrates the strong interest and talent in women's volleyball across the state of Wisconsin. By hosting this event, Green Bay has established itself as a hub for the sport, showcasing the community's passion for the game and the potential to make this an annual tradition that engages fans from all participating schools.