Wednesday night is the unofficial opening of conference volleyball season, and the ESPN family of networks are kicking things off with an impressive run of matches. Cancel your plans, because Wednesday night is now volleyball night in America.
The full TV Schedule can be seen here for not just Wednesday, but the rest of the way.
7 p.m. ET (ESPN U): #6 Texas (5-3, 0-0 Big 12) at #23 Kansas State (10-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- The Wildcats have one of the best home-court environments in the Big 12. They get strong fan and student support and there’s no air conditioning. It’s hot and sticky and different from many other environments, but Kansas State is used to it. In fact, this match in Manhattan has gone to five sets the last two seasons. K-State has emerged this season too after a down year in 2017. That should give both of these teams a great test right off the bat in conference play with great pin options in Kylee Zumach for KSU and Micaya White for UT.
9 p.m. ET (ESPN U): (RV) Alabama (12-1, 0-0 SEC) at Missouri (10-2, 0-0 SEC)
- Missouri has been consistently at the top of the SEC, winning a shared title in 2016 and finishing third behind the dynamic duo of Kentucky and Florida in 2017. They also were top two in both 2015 and 2016. This year, Alabama has emerged as a threat to wrap up a top three spot behind pin Ginger Perinar. They can really prove that they’re for real with a strong showing, while Missouri will be looking push off the encroaching Tide behind phenomenal middle Alyssa Munlyn. Early on too, both of these look like NCAA Tournament teams.
11 p.m. ET (ESPN U): #15 UCLA (5-2, 0-0 Pac-12) at #10 USC (8-3, 0-0 Pac-12)
- A rivalry match to open things up! The Battle for L.A. takes place with USC as hosts with more on the line since it’s a top 15 meeting. If you live in the Midwest or East, you may have to call in late to work on Thursday morning, but it’s going to be worth it to see Brooke Botkin and Khalia Lanier for USC battle on the pins against Mac May and the block of Madeleine Gates in the middle for UCLA. Not to mention that the Trojans are looking for their sixth ranked win already while UCLA could get their third.
Furthermore, the conference networks will have some action, with the SEC Network seeing Texas A&M travel to Arkansas and the ACC Network getting #9 Pittsburgh hosting Virginia. The Big Ten Network has quite the double-header as well, with more televised through different packages. Again, that can be seen through the TV Schedule above.
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