2026 NCAA Volleyball Season Is About to Serve
Summer’s winding down, which means one thing on this site: it’s almost time. The 2026 NCAA volleyball season is about to serve up, and we’ve got the tea on everything you need to know before the first ball drops.
The Calendar, Spilled
Teams hit the practice floor starting July 30, with official competition kicking off August 28. But if you want the real appetizer, mark your calendar for August 21–24 — that’s when the AVCA First Serve tournament takes over Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, and it is stacked. Think of it as the preseason’s version of a reunion special: everyone’s back, everyone’s got something to prove, and the drama starts immediately.
Who’s Already Trending
Reigning national champs Texas A&M roll into the year with a target the size of Texas on their backs, fresh off last season’s title run. Hot on their heels is 2025 runner-up Kentucky, who spent the offseason clearly not okay with “almost.” Both squads are on the First Serve slate alongside Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Texas, Arizona State, and SMU — meaning the marquee matchups start before the leaves even think about changing color.
Conference Chaos, Continued
The realignment saga isn’t done writing itself: the Big Ten keeps stretching coast to coast with USC and UCLA now fully in the mix, which means West Coast fans get Big Ten volleyball without the 6am alarm… okay, mostly without.
Meanwhile, the transfer portal did what the transfer portal does — shuffled rosters, tested loyalties, and left more than a few fanbases refreshing their team’s roster page like it’s a group chat. Programs that overachieved last year (looking at you, Purdue, fresh off a surprise Elite Eight run) are trying to prove it wasn’t a fluke, while blue bloods like Nebraska are banking on continuity to get back to the top of the mountain.
Why This Season Hits Different
Every year someone says “this is the most wide-open field in years” — but with a defending champ under pressure, a runner-up with something to prove, and conference realignment still reshuffling the power rankings, 2026 actually has receipts to back that claim up.
Bottom line: practice starts in two weeks, first whistle blows in six, and the tea is only getting hotter from here. Bookmark this page — we’re just getting started. 🍵
Season dates and matchups current as of publish date; confirm exact schedules with your team’s official athletics site as the season approaches.