Volleyball On SI

3 Games To Watch at AVCA First Serve Event

Texas, Texas A&M, Louisville, Arizona State, Pitt and Kentucky are just some of the teams headlining the AVCA First Serve Showcase.

Paige Durrenberger

Dec 21, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the court during the second set of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Texas A&M Aggies at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the court during the second set of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Texas A&M Aggies at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Women's college volleyball is so back.

Teams from all over the country are kicking off the 2026 season this week, and one of the most highly anticipated events, the American Volleyball Coaches Association First Serve in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is hosting some of the top-ranked teams in the country.

Beginning on August 21, 10 teams will compete in eight matches to test their offseason work and chemistry in a real competitive environment.

Here are three games you should keep an eye on:

#8 Texas A&M v.s #7 Louisville on Aug. 21, 5 p.m. CT on ESPN2

The opening match of the AVCA First Serve showcase offers an immediate postseason rematch, as No. 8 Texas A&M meets No. 7 Louisville.

The Aggies enter 2026 as the defending national champions, while the Cardinals get their first opportunity to avenge the loss that ended their 2025 season in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. While it was a close game, Texas A&M had the edge and advanced after five sets.

Now, head coach Jamie Morrison enters a title defense looking to attack a new championship rather than simply trying to recreate last season's run.

Louisville enters Dan Meske's second season as head coach, ranked just one spot ahead of Texas A&M. The Cardinals return several pieces from last year's NCAA Tournament team, including senior outside hitter Chloe Chicoine and senior libero Kamden Schrand.

For both programs, Friday provides a measuring stick to see where the teams have grown and where their new weaknesses lie. With the teams separated by just one spot in the preseason rankings, the first match of the 2026 season could immediately reshape expectations for two national-title contenders.

#2 Texas vs. #12 Arizona State on Aug. 22, 6 p.m. CT on FS1

No. 2 Texas begins its 2026 campaign with an immediate test against a ranked opponent, facing No. 12 Arizona State on Saturday.

The matchup opens a loaded nonconference schedule for the Longhorns, who are slated to face 11 preseason top-25 opponents this season. The season opener is also a rematch from last September, when Texas swept then-No. 9 Arizona State at Gregory Gym.

The Longhorns enter the season with huge national championship expectations after failing to reach the final four last year. Texas received one first-place vote in the preseason AVCA poll and sits behind only No. 1 Nebraska.

Arizona State is coming off its second consecutive Big 12 championship after finishing 28-4 overall and 17-1 in conference play. The Sun Devils advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen before falling to Creighton 3-1.

The centerpiece of this year's roster is senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover. In 2025, her first season with Arizona State, Glover earned AVCA First-Team All-America honors and became the first Sun Devil to win Big 12 Player of the Year. She led Arizona State with 423 kills while hitting .363 and reached double-digit kills in all but one match she played.

"We're excited to kick off the '26 season," Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "We start on Saturday night against Arizona State, who should be, in my mind, a top-ten team."

#4 Pittsburgh vs. #3 Kentucky on Aug. 23, 3 p.m. CT on ESPN

Two teams that finished the last season on the sport's biggest stage meet immediately in 2026, as No. 4 Pittsburgh faces No. 3 Kentucky at 3 p.m., Aug. 23.

Kentucky finished as the 2025 national runner-up, while Pitt reached its fifth consecutive national semifinals, last year ending in a sweep to Texas A&M.

Still, Pitt enters the season with one of the country's biggest stars still leading its offense. Senior opposite hitter Olivia Babcock returns after winning the AVCA National Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season. Additionally, she was a 2026 ESPY nominee in the Best College Athlete in Women's Sports category.

Babcock set a Pitt single-season record with 646 kills in 2025, averaging 5.17 kills per set while finishing second nationally in both total kills and total points. She is joined by returning starters senior outside hitter Blaire Bayless, sophomore outside hitter Marina Pezelj, junior libero Mallorie Meyer and sophomore middle blocker Abbey Emch.

Kentucky presents just as much experience on the other side of the net. The Wildcats return senior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, sophomore setter Kassie O'Brien, redshirt senior middle blocker Lizzie Carr and senior libero Molly Tuozzo from last year's national runner-up team.

The matchup gives both teams a difficult opening weekend, with Kentucky coming off a match against No. 6 Wisconsin on Friday before turning around and playing Pitt. Sunday's match serves as the Panthers' regular-season opener.

Published |Modified
Paige Durrenberger
PAIGE DURRENBERGER

Paige Durrenberger is a sports writer and Economics student at the University of Texas at Austin. She has covered golf, softball, and the Texas Stars for The Daily Texan and is also a contributing writer for 5Wins. Raised in Dallas, Texas, when Durrenberger isn’t covering sports, she’s either out running with her dog Bailey or cheering on whichever Dallas team is in season.

Home/College