History of AVCA First Serve
The 2024 AVCA First Serve in Louisville marked the return of a similar preseason event that the association hosted from 1995 to 2011 and 2014. The AVCA was once again able to host four of the nation’s top teams thanks to new NCAA exemptions issued ahead to the 2024 season.
In 2025, the AVCA First Serve hosted eight matches between ten teams in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Four of the teams advanced to at least the regional finals of the 2025 NCAA tournament, while Texas A&M won its first national title season game against Minnesota in the invitational’s last match.
Storylines to Watch This Year
While it is still very early in the 2026 women’s volleyball season, there are a few things to look out for with the schedule release.
For the first time in the new AVCA First Serve era, Nebraska will not compete in an event where they have traditionally excelled. In 2024, the Huskers defeated Kentucky 3-1 before returning in 2025, where they defeated No. 3 Pittsburgh and No. 6 Stanford to begin their 33-match winning run.
Even without the Huskers, there will be plenty of action, as all eight featured teams finished in the top 12 of the final 2025 AVCA rankings, and the first day of competition will include some dramatic rematches from the 2025 NCAA tournament.
Wisconsin will meet Kentucky in a rematch of the 2025 national semifinal game, which the Cats won 3-2 in dramatic manner. On the same day, reigning national champion Texas A&M will face Louisville in another five-set repeat of the 2025 regional semifinals.
In fact, all four 2025 national semifinalists from Kansas City will be in Milwaukee to begin off the new season. But they will all face new challenges.
Texas A&M lost nine key seniors to graduation last year following their historic title run, but they appear to be reloading in the portal well with returning star outside Kyndal Stowers, who was voted the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Kentucky lost Eva Hudson, one of the key players on their 2025 national runner-up team, but added Notre Dame’s Morgan Gaerte to form another formidable outside team with Brooklyn DeLeye. They’ll have a veteran team that includes the AVCA Freshman of the Year, Kassie O’Brien, and libero Molly Tuozzo.
Pittsburgh lost some big stars to the portal, including Bre Kelley, who graduated middle school. But the good news is that Pitt will keep Olivia Babcock for another year while also adding Penn State setter Izzy Starck to their roster.
Wisconsin, almost an hour away from its home court, will make its 2026 debut without grads Mimi Colyer and Carter Booth, but will rely on experienced setter Charlie Fuerbringer.
With the elite 2025 senior class retiring, there will be some huge shoes to fill, as well as some unsolved questions until the first serve of the 2026 season. Until then, prepare yourself for another thrilling women’s college volleyball season. The countdown starts today.
