It’s finally here. The 2025 Division I Women’s College volleyball season has arrived.
This means we can start tackling the questions that have lingered through the offseason.
Can Penn State defend its title after losing five seniors? Will Dani Busboom Kelly prove that Nebraska can handle the preseason expectations? Can Dan Mesuke maintain his momentum with Louisville? Will Olivia Babcock help Pitt take that crucial step toward the championship game? What about SMU and Wisconsin—can they continue to improve with the infusion of talent from the transfer portal? Might Tory Stafford lead Texas back to the Final Four? And really, what kind of impact will transfers have this season? Who are the new stars we’ll be watching?
With the growing interest in women’s college volleyball, TV networks are starting to take notice. For instance, Fox has been using the Big Ten Game as a lead-in for its NFL broadcasts. And, as reported by some sources, a viewer count of 1.7 million made it the most popular regular-season volleyball broadcast ever. Fox responded by increasing its volleyball coverage last year, airing 18 regular season matches. Other networks like NBC’s Peacock and ESPN are also getting in on the action. In fact, last year’s title game between Pennsylvania and Louisville drew 1.9 million viewers, making it the second most-watched title game in history. It’s evident: when the right people make these games accessible, audiences will tune in.
So, it’s likely that college volleyball is easier to watch now, whether you’re flipping through channels or streaming online.
Here are a few games to catch this weekend:
No. 3 Pitt vs. No. 1 Nebraska
Friday, 7pm ET – Fox
The AVCA First Serve Showcase kicks off with a rematch of last season’s top four teams in Lincoln, Nebraska. Olivia Babcock returns for Pitt, but the Panthers have some fresh faces this season. Nebraska has a new head coach but retained all its players from the transfer portal, along with a strong recruiting class. This match sets a promising tone for the season and could very well see these teams meet again in the NCAA tournament.
No. 12 Creighton vs. No. 2 Penn State
Saturday, 5pm ET – FS1
Penn State has lost some key players from last season’s National Title Team, but they do welcome back National Freshman of the Year Izzy Stark and several crucial transfers like two-time National champion Kennedy Martin. Creighton, a sturdy force in the sport, strives to host its 14th straight NCAA tournament this season under new coach Brian Rosen. The BlueJays’ lineup also includes important transfers like setter Annalea Maeder from California and libero Saige Damrow from Wisconsin.
No. 6 Stanford vs. No. 1 Nebraska
Sunday, 3:30pm ET – ESPN
Nebraska faces another tough opponent on Sunday as they take on Stanford. Fans will get to see freshman Logan Parks, who comes with quite a reputation. Without Stanford, the NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament wouldn’t be what it is today. This match should serve as a valuable test for both teams.
No. 11 Minnesota vs. No. 9 Texas A&M
Monday, 8:30pm ET – Big Ten Network
After making it to the Sweet 16 last year, this marks the highest preseason ranking ever for Texas A&M in the AVCA poll. This year, they’ll play seven nationally televised matches. The Aggies are bringing back 11 players from last season while adding a talented freshman class, including Baylor transfer Kyndal Stowers. Minnesota had a strong offseason as well, defeating several top 10 programs and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior hitters Julia Hanson and McKennaushire will be key players—especially since they’ve only missed the postseason once since 1999.
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