Volleyball fans, get ready for this one.
There is just around 45 minutes until No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Pitt kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.
This upcoming matchup may be the most highly anticipated of the 2026 AVCA First Serve slate – and for good reason – featuring two of the four teams in the 2025 national semifinal. Before the first serve, let’s look at a quick preview on the two teams.
No. 3 Kentucky
The Wildcats opened up their season on Friday with a sweep over No. 6 Wisconsin in a rematch of the 2025 national semifinals. They looked stronger than ever, returning key starters like OH Broolyn DeLeye, L Molly Tuozzo and S Kassie O’Brien while reloading with Morgan Gaerte from Notre Dame on the outside to pick up right where they left off.
No. 4 Pitt
This’ll be our first look at the Panther program in the 2026 season. Pitt returns back-to-back AVCA Player of the Year in OPP Olivia Babcock while adding 2024 Freshman of the Year Izzy Starck as its setter in the offseason. This duo is expected to be lethal and it’ll be interesting how the Wildcat defense reacts. As good as UK looked on Friday, Pitt swept Kentucky in their last meeting on Sept. 10, 2025.
Keep up with live stats here once the match kicks off.