The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) will host the 2026 AVCA First Serve at Fiserv Forum from Aug. 21-23. AVCA First Serve will mark the beginning of the 2026 collegiate women’s volleyball season with six matches, featuring eight of the nation’s top college volleyball teams, over three days. The four 2025 NCAA Division I Championship semifinalists—national champion Texas A&M, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin—will compete in this year’s event along with Arizona State, Louisville, SMU and Texas. Last season, each participating team advanced to at least the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament and ranked in the top 12 of the final 2025 AVCA/TARAFLEX Division I Women’s Volleyball Poll.
“Sports Milwaukee is thrilled to team up with Fiserv Forum to bring the nation’s best collegiate volleyball players to Milwaukee next year and celebrate the shared passion for volleyball across Milwaukee and Wisconsin,” said Marissa Werner, Director of Sports Milwaukee.
“We are excited to host the AVCA’s First Serve event for the first time at Fiserv Forum,” said Dennis Williams, SVP and General Manager of Fiserv Forum. “Our venue has established a strong tradition of presenting major women's volleyball events, and we are proud to build on that foundation by welcoming this distinguished competition to Milwaukee.”
The last two years of the popular, season-opening event have featured marquee matchups between elite teams. The 2025 First Serve included two of this season’s final four teams—Pittsburgh and Texas A&M—alongside other national powers including Nebraska, Penn State and Stanford. The 2024 edition featured Wisconsin, Kentucky, Louisville and Nebraska.
Dr. Jaime Gordon, CEO of AVCA, added, “We raised the bar with AVCA First Serve in 2025, and we are looking forward to continuing the momentum as we prepare for 2026 in Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum. Players and fans will have an unforgettable experience in a city that has a passion for volleyball.”
Tickets for AVCA First Serve will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m. CT at www.fiservforum.com. Check the 2026 First Serve event page for updates on ticketing, announcements about participating teams and other pertinent information.
Make sure to sign up on the event page to stay current, and to register for the Fan Pack Giveaway that includes tickets, lodging, and meal credit for 2026 First Serve.
