A 2017 NCAA Championship rematch on day one of the 2018 season? That’s exactly what you get this year folks, along with some other great matchups. Here are the ones to watch opening weekend.
Live streaming and stats links are available here, on the VolleyMob TV schedule.
Florida (No. 7 VolleyMob/No. 7 AVCA) at Nebraska (No. 3 VolleyMob/No. 2 AVCA)
VERT Challenge
Friday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. (CT)
Devaney Center | Lincoln, Neb.
- College volleyball fans will see the defending champions Nebraska take on national runner-up Florida at the VERT Challenge, hosted by the Huskers at Devaney Center, on Friday. The match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
- The Huskers return seven letterwinners, including second team AVCA All-American in senior outside hitter Mikaela Foecke, two All-Big Ten Freshmen Team honorees in sophomore middle blocker Lauren Stivrins and sophomore outside hitter Jazz Sweet and NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team selection in senior libero Kenzie Maloney from last year’s NCAA Championship team.
- Nineteenth-year head coach John Cook bolstered his roster with eight newcomers, five freshmen and three transfers, including first team All-Big 12 honoree Lexi Sun via Texas.
- Gator head coach Mary Wise reloaded following the loss of four starters and her libero from last season’s lineup, bringing in the second-ranked recruiting class, including top-rated outside hitter Thayer Hall and six other talented prep standouts.
- Florida returns a third team AVCA All-American in junior middle blocker Rachael Kramer, starting setter Allie Monserez and outside hitter Paige Hammons.
Texas (No. 6 VolleyMob/No. 3 AVCA) vs. Florida (No. 7 VolleyMob/No. 7 AVCA)
VERT Challenge
Saturday, Aug. 25 at 3:30 p.m. (CT)
Devaney Center | Lincoln, Neb.
- The Longhorns, who advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight before bowing out in three sets to Stanford a season ago, follow their season-opening match against Oregon (No. 13 VolleyMob/No. 18 AVCA) with a neutral site meeting against the Gators.
- Texas returns six letterwinners, including 2018 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, third team AVCA All-American and first team All-Big 12 honoree Micaya White and AVCA All-American honorable mention selection Ashley Shook, from last season’s Big 12 Championship roster.
Kentucky (No. 8 VolleyMob/No. 5 AVCA) vs. Creighton (No. 18 VolleyMob/No. 13 AVCA)
USC Trojan Invitational
Friday, Aug. 24 at 12:30 p.m. (CT)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
- The Wildcats earned a share of the Southeastern Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight before falling to eventual national champion Nebraska in four sets, 3-1, last season.
- Kentucky returns first team All-American outside hitter Leah Edmond, setter Madison Lilley and outside hitter Avery Skinner.
- The Bluejays swept regular season and tournament BIG EAST titles for the fourth-straight season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
- Creighton returns a pair of senior All-American outside hitters in Jaali Winters and Taryn Kloth, and honorable mention All-American libero and BIG EAST Libero of the Year in junior Brittany Witt, in addition to two more starters.
Kentucky (No. 8 VolleyMob/No. 5 AVCA) vs. USC (No. 10 VolleyMob/No. 10 AVCA)
USC Trojan Invitational
Friday, Aug. 24 at 9:30 p.m. (CT)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
- USC advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, where it fell to eventual national runner-up Florida in five sets, a season ago.
- The Trojans, who are under the watch of first-year head coach Brent Couch, return first team All-American outside hitter Khalia Lanier, right side hitter Brooke Botkin, libero Victoria Garrick and setters Reni Meyer-Whalley and Cindy Marina.
Creighton (No. 18 VolleyMob/No. 13 AVCA) at USC (No. 10 VolleyMob/No. 10 AVCA)
USC Trojan Invitational
Saturday, Aug. 25 at 9:30 p.m. (CT)
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
- Creighton and USC continue a tough opening-weekend schedule with a Saturday evening Top 25 matchup.
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