NCAA Women’s Volleyball Top 25: Scores, Rankings & AVCA First Serve Results (Aug. 22, 2026)

Last updated: August 22, 2026

The 2026 NCAA women’s volleyball season officially kicked off Thursday night at the Jeep AVCA First Serve at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here’s everything you need to know about the preseason Top 25 and how opening weekend is unfolding.

AVCA Preseason Top 25 Poll

The American Volleyball Coaches Association released its 2026 preseason poll earlier this month, with Nebraska earning the No. 1 spot and 57 first-place votes. Defending national champion Texas A&M checks in at No. 8.

| Rank | School | First-Place Votes | Points |
|——|——–|:-:|–:|
| 1 | Nebraska | 57 | 1,568 |
| 2 | Texas | 1 | 1,427 |
| 3 | Kentucky | 4 | 1,398 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | — | 1,383 |
| 5 | Stanford | — | 1,312 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | — | 1,268 |
| 7 | Louisville | — | 1,140 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 1 | 1,089 |
| 9 | Purdue | — | 1,002 |
| 10 | Penn State | — | 947 |
| 11 | SMU | — | 934 |
| 12 | Arizona State | — | 920 |
| 13 | Creighton | — | 843 |
| 14 | Minnesota | — | 721 |
| 15 | Kansas | — | 566 |
| 16 | Indiana | — | 497 |
| 17 | Florida | — | 455 |
| 18 | TCU | — | 444 |
| 19 | North Carolina | — | 437 |
| 20 | Southern California | — | 395 |
| 21 | Baylor | — | 361 |
| 22 | Tennessee | — | 194 |
| 23 | Colorado | — | 180 |
| 24 | BYU | — | 161 |
| 25 | Oregon | — | 138 |

Nebraska’s hold at the top is no surprise. The Cornhuskers return a deep roster and enter 2026 as the clear favorite. Notably, Nebraska did not compete at the AVCA First Serve — the program participated in the event in 2024 and 2025, making it ineligible this year.

AVCA First Serve: Day 1 Results (Friday, Aug. 21)

The season opened with a doubleheader at Fiserv Forum featuring four top-10 programs. Both matches were rematches from the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

No. 7 Louisville def. No. 8 Texas A&M — 3-1

Set scores: 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21

Louisville opened the season with a statement win over the defending national champions. Senior outside hitter Chloe Chicoine dominated with a match-high 20 kills — including nine in the decisive fourth set. The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Texas A&M rallied to win the third set. Louisville closed the door in the fourth, with Hannah Sherman delivering the clinching kill.

For the Aggies, it was a bittersweet debut. Natalie Ring led the way with 11 kills in her Texas A&M debut, while Taryn Morris matched a career high with 10 kills and Eliza Sharp added 10. The Aggies were also without standout Kyndal Stowers, whose absence was felt in the front row.

The loss snapped Texas A&M’s momentum from its 2025 national championship run, when the Aggies swept through the Final Four to claim the program’s first title.

No. 3 Kentucky def. No. 6 Wisconsin — 3-0

Set scores: 25-20, 26-25, 25-18

Kentucky looked every bit like a national title contender in a dominant sweep of Wisconsin. Senior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLaye led the Wildcats with 12 kills, while junior transfer Morgan Gaerte (from Notre Dame) added 12 points and senior middle blocker Lizzie Carr contributed 11 points.

The Wildcats returned 75% of last year’s runner-up roster, and the experience showed. After a tight second set that went to extra points (26-25), Kentucky pulled away in the third to complete the sweep. Wisconsin, which lost several key players from its Final Four squad, showed flashes but couldn’t sustain pressure against Kentucky’s relentless attack.

AVCA First Serve: Day 2 Schedule (Saturday, Aug. 22)

The action continues today in Milwaukee with two more top-12 matchups.

| Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
|———–|———|———|
| 4:00 PM | No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Louisville | FOX |
| 7:00 PM | No. 2 Texas vs. No. 12 Arizona State | FS1 |

Wisconsin looks to rebound after last night’s sweep, while Louisville aims to build on its opening-night upset. The nightcap features No. 2 Texas — the only team other than Nebraska to receive a first-place vote — taking on a dangerous Arizona State squad.

AVCA First Serve: Remaining Schedule

Sunday, Aug. 23

| Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
|———–|———|———|
| 1:00 PM | No. 8 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 SMU | ESPN2 |
| 4:00 PM | No. 4 Pittsburgh vs. No. 3 Kentucky | ESPN |

Monday, Aug. 24

| Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
|———–|———|———|
| 11:00 AM | Pittsburgh vs. Xavier | FS2 |
| 7:00 PM | No. 2 Texas vs. Marquette | FS2 |

Key Storylines to Watch

Can Kentucky finish the job? The Wildcats came agonizingly close in 2025, falling to Texas A&M in the national championship match. With DeLaye, Carr, and a talented transfer class returning, this roster is built to get back to the final — and win it.

Texas A&M’s title defense begins. The Aggies lost significant production from last year’s championship team, but the core is still strong. The key question: can they replace Stowers’ production and stay healthy through a brutal Big 12 schedule?

Wisconsin’s youth movement. The Badgers lost a senior-heavy roster from their Final Four run. Saturday’s match against Louisville will be a measuring stick for a team that’s reloading rather than rebuilding.

Nebraska looms. The Cornhuskers didn’t compete in Milwaukee, but they’re the team everyone is chasing. With 57 first-place votes and a stacked returning roster, Nebraska is the clear favorite entering 2026.

Louisville’s resurgence. After reaching the national championship match in 2022 and 2024, the Cardinals are poised for another deep run. Friday’s win over Texas A&M — with Chicoine leading the way — is an early signal that Louisville is for real.

How to Watch

All AVCA First Serve matches are broadcast across ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FS1, and FS2. Streaming is available through ESPN+ and the Fox Sports app. Check your local listings for channel availability.

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