Minnesota volleyball will take part in the 2025 AVCA First Serve, the organization announced this morning. The Gophers will take on Texas A&M at the Sanford Pentagon on Monday, Aug. 25 to open the season. Game time is still to be determined.
Minnesota heads into the 2025 season after making the Round of 32 for the second straight year but improving to a 21-11 (13-7 Big Ten) record. The Gophers tallied two top-10 ranked wins in 2024, including their first win over a No. 1 ranked team since 2019. All-American and First Team All-Big Ten outside Julia Hanson returns to pace the Gophers while five newcomers (three freshmen, two transfers) were added this spring.
The 2025 AVCA First Serve will feature a star-studded lineup of 10 Division I women’s volleyball teams, who will play in a series of matches at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Aug. 22–24, and at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Aug. 25. The field for this year’s AVCA First Serve includes five teams that made the final eight in the 2024 NCAA Championship, including three semifinalists and last year’s champion, Penn State. In addition to the
Nittany Lions, host Nebraska, Creighton, Florida, Kansas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt will compete.
“The AVCA is very excited to bring such a fantastic group of teams to the Midwest for four days of outstanding volleyball,” says AVCA CEO Dr. Jaime Gordon. “There are so many great story lines, and AVCA First Serve will kick off what will be another great season of women’s college volleyball in style.”
On Friday, Aug. 22, the Huskers will face Pittsburgh, and Stanford will play Florida. Saturday’s matches in Lincoln include Penn State vs. Creighton and Kansas vs. Vanderbilt. Florida, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, and Stanford will be back in action Sunday, with Nebraska facing Stanford and Florida taking on Pittsburgh.
A Monday doubleheader in Sioux Falls has been added to AVCA First Serve. Minnesota will play Texas A&M and Penn State will face Kansas to round out an exciting opening weekend to open the 2025 season. Match times will be announced soon on the AVCA First Serve website.
Ticket pre-sales open this Thursday, Feb. 27, for the matches in Lincoln and on March 6 for the matches in Sioux Falls. The general public sale for both sites will begin on March 14. All tickets will be available to purchase through Ticketmaster.
Ticketing Info:
• 2/27 @ 10 am & 12 pm CT – 3/7 @ 10 pm CT – AVCA First Serve Pre-sale
o 3-day packages available
• 3/14 @ 10 am CT – 4/11 @ 10 pm CT – Public Onsale
o 3-day packages & limited # of 2-day packages (Friday/Sunday) available
• 4/18 @ 10 am CT – Single day tickets available for all sessions (while supplies last)
Event Information:
August 22-24, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb.:
• Friday
o Nebraska vs Pitt
o Stanford vs Florida
• Saturday
o Penn State vs Creighton
o Kansas vs Vanderbilt
• Sunday
o Nebraska vs Stanford
o Florida vs Pitt
August 24, 2025 in Sioux Falls, S.D.:
• Monday
o Texas A&M vs Minnesota
o Kansas vs Penn State
*All match times and order of games each day are TBD.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
