The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Volleyball to open 2026 season with two matches at AVCA First Serve
03.23.2026 | Volleyball
Longhorns to face Arizona State and Marquette during opening weekend event in Milwaukee.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Volleyball will open the 2026 season on the national stage at AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee, part of an expanded four-day showcase featuring several of the top programs in the nation at Fiserv Forum.
The Longhorns are set for two matches during the opening weekend, beginning with Arizona State on Saturday, Aug. 22, before closing their slate against Marquette on Monday, Aug. 24.
Texas holds an 8-2 all-time record against Arizona State and has won the last two meetings in the series. The teams most recently met during the 2025 season, when the Longhorns swept the Sun Devils at home at Gregory Gym in September.
The Aug. 24 matchup marks the second all-time meeting between Texas and Marquette. The Longhorns won the first meeting in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, earning a four-set victory in the Sweet 16 in Austin. This year's meeting is part of the "BIG EAST Challenge" doubleheader, with Xavier facing Pittsburgh in the other match.
Ticket packages for the first three days of AVCA First Serve, which will mark the beginning of the 2026 women's volleyball season, are available through Ticketmaster. Other updates on the event can be found at 2026 AVCA First Serve page.
Texas previously announced it will also compete in the Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party on Sept. 6 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Last season, Texas advanced to the NCAA Regional Final for the 18th time in 20 seasons. The Longhorns finished 26-4 overall, including 12 wins against ranked opponents, highlighted by a starting stretch of 18 consecutive victories.
