Wisconsin volleyball will be starting its 2026 season in Milwaukee in a competition that features many of the other elite programs in the country.
Wisconsin volleyball will be starting its 2026 season in Milwaukee.
The Badgers are one of eight teams to compete in the 2026 AVCA First Serve, which will be at Fiserv Forum from Aug. 21-23, UW announced via a Jan. 16 press release.
The other teams in the field include the three other 2025 Final Four teams – Kentucky, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh – along with Arizona State, Louisville, Texas and SMU.
The schedule, TV information and specific matchups between the eight teams have yet to be announced. The event will consist of two matches on Aug. 21, two matches on Aug. 22 and two matches on Aug. 23.
The eight teams in the field all finished No. 12 or higher in the final 2025 coaches poll, and the field includes many potential storylines for the Badgers. If Wisconsin plays Kentucky or Texas, it would be a rematch of the Final Four or regional final matches in the 2025 NCAA tournament. If Wisconsin plays Arizona State, it would pit the Badgers against transfer portal departees Una Vajagic and Tosia Serafinowska.
This will be Wisconsin’s second time playing in the AVCA First Serve in a three-year span. The Badgers also participated in 2024 when the event was in Milwaukee. Current NCAA rules limit teams’ appearances to twice in a four-year period.
Tickets will go on sale on Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers to open 2026 season at AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee
Category: General Sports
