The 2025 college volleyball season opens at the AVCA First Serve from Aug. 22-24 in Lincoln, Neb., and Aug. 25 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Some of the nation's premier programs are slated for competition in the first few days of the season.
The matches are set to broadcast across FOX, FS1, ESPN and Big Ten Network throughout the weekend.
Check out the storylines, schedule and teams below.
2025 AVCA First Serve Schedule
All times ET
- Friday, Aug. 22 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.:
- No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh | 7 p.m. | FOX | Live Stats
- No. 6 Stanford vs. No. 16 Florida | 9 p.m. | FOX | Live Stats
- Saturday, Aug. 23 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.:
- No. 15 Kansas vs. Vanderbilt | 3 p.m. | FS1 | Live Stats
- No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 12 Creighton | 5 p.m. | FS1 | Live Stats
- Sunday, Aug. 24 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.:
- No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. No. 16 Florida| 1 p.m. | ESPN | Live Stats
- No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 6 Stanford | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Live Stats
- August 25, 2025 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.:
- No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 15 Kansas | 6:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network | Live Stats
- No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Minnesota | 8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network | Live Stats
History of AVCA First Serve
The 2024 AVCA First Serve in Louisville marked the revival a similar preseason event that the association sponsored from 1995-2011 and 2014. Due to new ɬַ exemptions prior to the 2024 season, the AVCA was once again able to host four of the nation's top teams.
In 2024, the then one-night, two-match event featured Nebraska, Kentucky, Louisville and Wisconsin at the KFC Yum! Center. The Huskers defeated the Wildcats 3-1, while the Cardinals rallied for a 3-1 comeback win over the Badgers.
REMEMBER: Nebraska and Louisville post wins in 2024 AVCA First Serve Showcase
All four teams concluded the 2024 season by at least reaching a ɬַ regional finals, with the KFC Yum! Center welcoming back Nebraska for the Final Four and Louisville in the National Championship match.
RELIVE: Penn State wins the 2024 National Championship
Storylines to watch this year
The start of the 2025 season kicks off with a wave of new names, faces and stories to watch unfold.
First of all, the AVCA First Serve Showcase is shifting from four to 10 teams and is set to take place over two locations: Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., and the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The first six matches over the first three days are in Lincoln, with the fourth and final day of competition taking place at the Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota with No. 14 Kansas vs. No. 2 Penn State and No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Minnesota. The Sanford Pentagon venue holds 3,250 fans and is home to the NBA G League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
The high-profile nonconference matchups between volleyball's top programs make this event just a taste of the regular and postseason ahead.
No. 1 Nebraska team brings high expectations and a stacked lineup to the field at the helm of a new head coach in Dani Busboom Kelly. Veterans like Harper Murray and Rebekah Allick plus a highly touted freshmen round out their roster. They are set to face No. 3 Pittsburgh. No. 6 Stanford, equipped with experience in Elia Rubin and Lizzy Andrew, will challenge the Huskers to round out their showcase.
Coming in at No. 2 in the preseason rankings, defending national champion Penn State looks to make a statement. Though the Nittany Lions lost some veteran players in the offseason, they bring back plenty of experience and some big-name newcomers. Penn State opens up against No. 12 Creighton in a rematch of the 2024 regional finals, where the Nittany Lions knocked off the Bluejays in a five-set thriller. They finish with a matchup against No. 14 Kansas.
The championship moment 🏆
— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL)
2024 ɬַ tournament top overall seed No. 3 Pitt comes to Lincoln, bringing back National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock. With some big moves in the portal and veteran leadership under coach Dan Fisher, the Panthers should make some waves against No. 1 Nebraska and No. 16 Florida.
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After an impressive run to the regional semifinals, No. 9 Texas A&M looks to continue its momentum in 2025. The Aggies bring back star talent in Logan Lednicky as they face No. 11 Minnesota.
The AVCA First Serve marks not just a new season but the beginning of several new tenures in college volleyball.
Besides Nebraska having a new coach No. 12 Creighton arrives with a new leader in Brian Rosen. No. 14 Kansas will additionally kick off the season under fresh leadership in Matt Ulmer, and the No. 16 Florida Gators begin a new era as Ryan Theis steps into his first year following the retirement of legendary coach Mary Wise.
Vanderbilt joins the field for one match against No. 14 Kansas, as the newly instated Commodores compete for the first time since 1980. The Commodores brought in talent from Ivy League Player of the Year Kamryn Chaney.
READ MORE: Storylines to know before the 2025 season
