'Six Rotations': The 2026 College Volleyball Season is Officially Underway

Daniel Gillman and Mick Haley recap the AVCA First Serve and preview a LOADED Week 1 in NCAA Women's Volleyball.

Six Rotations is a YouTube show hosted by Daniel Gillman and Mick Haley covering Women's College Volleyball / Daniel Gillman

Every week until a champion is crowned, the YouTube show "Six Rotations" will be available here, with a brief rundown of each episode and the top upcoming matches around the country. Starting next week, it will include the in-season AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Top 25 Poll with a breakdown by national champion coach Mick Haley and his co-host Daniel Gillman.

The 2026 AVCA First Serve

We did not get any five-setters over the weekend at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, but we did get a majority of the Top 10 teams and more than half of the preseason AVCA National Player of the Year watchlist members showcasing their early-season freshness and Olivia Babcock's relentlessly impressive abilities as she seeks an unprecedented third consecutive Player of the Year honor.

Oh, nothing, just Olivia Babcock 🤯🔥

📺 ESPN#NCAAWVB x @Pitt_VB pic.twitter.com/o4mgrbl4RF

— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) August 23, 2026

On Friday, No. 7 Louisville toppled a Kyndal Stowers-less No. 8 Texas A&M squad in four sets (Stowers was injured in pregame warmups). The Aggies were swept by No. 11 SMU on Sunday, and Louisville was swept by No. 6 Wisconsin on Saturday.

The nightcap Friday saw No. 3 Kentucky sweep No. 6 Wisconsin, leading to Sunday's marquee No. 3 vs No. 4 Kentucky-Pitt match as Izzy Starck's return to the bright lights was triumphant (41 assists, 13 digs, 5 blocks, 2 kills), her connection with the back-to-back AVCA Player of the Year Olivia Babcock (27 kills) was pure and their postgame interview was filled with joy.

Starck ➡️ Babcock connection 🔥

📺 ESPN#NCAAWVB x @Pitt_VB pic.twitter.com/mbjkAIbawO

— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) August 23, 2026

Saturday evening saw No. 12 Arizona State's freshman setter Elle Mottola stand tall in a four-set win over No. 2 Texas, as both teams will be quite busy this week with marquee matches all over the country.

The Week Ahead: Record 16 Nationally Televised Matches

Thursday, Aug. 27: Spikes Under the Lights

Home	Away	Time (EST)	TV
No. 1 Nebraska	No. 17 Florida	8 p.m.	TNT
No. 10 Penn State	No. 11 SMU	9 p.m.	TNT
Winner Game 1	Winner Game 2	10 p.m.	TNT

Friday, Aug. 28: Opening Spike Classic, State Farm Volleyball Showcase

Home	Away	Time (EST)	TV
No. 4 Pitt	No. 15 Kansas	6: 30 p.m.	ESPN2
No. 5 Stanford	No. 6 Wisconsin	9 p.m.	ESPN2
No. 9 Purdue	No. 13 Creighton	7 p.m.	FOX
No. 12 Arizona State	No. 14 Minnesota	9 p.m.	FOX
No. 7 Louisville	No. 16 Indiana	7 p.m.	ESPN+

Saturday, Aug. 29: Opening Spike Classic, State Farm Volleyball Showcase, Players Era Showcase

Home	Away	Time (EST)	TV
No. 13 Creighton	No. 14 Minnesota	5 p.m.	FS1
No. 12 Arizona State	No. 20 USC	8 p.m.	FS1
No. 1 Nebraska	UNLV	8 p.m.	FS1
No. 2 Texas	No. 18 TCU	9 p.m.	FS1
No. 8 Texas A&M	Cal Poly	8 p.m.	ESPN+

Sunday: Aug. 30: Opening Spike Classic, State Farm Volleyball Showcase, Players Era Showcase

Home	Away	Time (EST)	TV
Hawaii	No. 21 Baylor	1 a.m.	ESPN+
No. 4 Pitt	No. 6 Wisconsin	12 p.m.	ESPN
No. 5 Stanford	No. 15 Kansas	2:30 p.m.	ESPNU
No. 1 Nebraska	No. 2 Texas	3:30 p.m.	FOX
No. 18 TCU	UNLV	5 p.m.	FS1
No. 13 Creighton	No. 20 USC	1 p.m.	BTN

Next episode will be Monday, Aug. 31

You can find all archived "Six Rotations" episodes HERE