Cardinals to Face Texas A&M and Wisconsin in AVCA First Serve

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville volleyball team will face reigning NCAA Champion Texas A&M and 2021 Final Four foe Wisconsin in the AVCA First Serve.

"AVCA First Serve is an opportunity for us to compete against the best in the NCAA from the very first whistle," said UofL head coach Dan Meske. "Wisconsin is coming off a Final Four run and always delivers a fantastic crowd in their home state, and Texas A&M is the defending national champion. I can't think of a better way to open the 2026 season for Louisville Volleyball."

The AVCA revealed the schedule for 2026 First Serve today. The event, which will bring together eight marquee women's collegiate volleyball teams to open the new season, will take place at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum, August 21–23.

The recently announced field includes all four of the 2025 NCAA Championship semifinalists—national champion Texas A&M, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin—as well as Arizona State, Louisville, SMU, and Texas. The schedule features three days of doubleheaders, with four schools playing two matches apiece and the other four playing one match.

Friday, Aug. 21
Wisconsin vs. Kentucky
Texas A&M vs. Louisville

Saturday, Aug. 22
Wisconsin vs. Louisville
Texas vs. Arizona State

Sunday, Aug. 23
Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky
Texas A&M vs. SMU

The order of the matches, as well as times and broadcast information, will be announced later.
Tickets for AVCA First Serve, which will mark the beginning of the 2026 women's volleyball season, will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m. CT at https://www.ticketmaster.com/avca-first-serve-tickets/artist/3518984. Other updates on the event can be found at 2026 AVCA First Serve page.

The Last Meeting with Texas A&M (Dec. 12, 2025)
The Cards lost 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-12  to Texas A&M in the NCAA Volleyball Regional Semifinals in the Bob Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska to finish their season at 26-7. Junior outside hitter Chloe Chicoine had 26 kills, hit 300 with eight digs and three blocks. Payton Petersen added 18 kills, an ace and 13 digs. Senior Cara Cresse delivered eight blocks, adding seven kills and an ace. Setter Nayelis Cabello had 49 assists, 14 digs and six blocks. Louisville hit .229 with 65 kills, five aces and 14 blocks.

The Last Meeting With Wisconsin (Aug. 28, 2024)
Charitie Luper had 11 kills and Anna DeBeer added 10 to lead the No. 6-ranked University of Louisville to a 3-1 upset of No. 3 Wisconsin in the second match of the AVCA First Serve Showcase  in the KFC Yum! Center.  No. 2 Nebraska beat No. 9 Kentucky 3-1 in the first match of the evening.

The Cardinals won 18-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-20. The victory marked the first win over UW since 1985 and was a rematch of the NCAA National Semifinals in 2021 when the Badgers won 3-2. Cara Cresse added eight kills and six blocks with Sofia Maldonado Diaz adding 11 kills. Elena Scott added a match-high 22 digs. UofL hit .166 as a team with 10 blocks and two aces.

Wisconsin hit .179 with one ace and 14 digs. The Badgers were led by Sarah Franklin's 17 kills and 2 blocks. Anna Smrek had 12 kills and four blocks.

University of Louisville Athletics

Cardinals to Face Texas A&M and Wisconsin in AVCA First Serve

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