LOVB to open 2026-27 Season with First Serve in San Antonio During NCAA Championship Week

League One Volleyball (LOVB) today announced that reigning champion LOVB Austin will face LOVB Nebraska at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, December 16 for LOVB’s First Serve, the opening match of the 2026–27 LOVB Pro season. Tickets go on sale September 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM CT.

Coinciding with NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship week in San Antonio, LOVB’s opening match will bring together the sport’s next generation, its collegiate athletes and its professional stars for one of the biggest weeks on the volleyball calendar. The marquee matchup bridges generations of the game, pairing college stars turned household names with established pros and Olympians, as LOVB Pro tips off its third season. 

The matchup also reignites one of the league’s most compelling rivalries. Last season, Austin knocked Nebraska out of playoff contention during the final week of the regular season, setting the stage for another high-stakes meeting between two of LOVB’s most competitive teams.

For LOVB Austin, First Serve marks the beginning of its pursuit of a historic season. Led by two-time Finals MVP Madisen Skinner, Austin is looking to capture its third consecutive championship, with Skinner chasing a sixth title in seven years across her collegiate and professional career.

LOVB Nebraska, meanwhile, brings a powerful homecoming storyline to San Antonio. Former University of Nebraska Huskers Rebekah Allick and Lexi Rodriguez will give college fans another opportunity to see two familiar stars compete at the next level. LOVB’s First Serve will also mark the return of legendary American volleyball player Jordan Larson, who is coming out of retirement to join LOVB Nebraska. A four-time Olympic medalist and former Nebraska standout, Larson’s return adds another layer to a match that will connect generations of volleyball fans. 

“San Antonio will be at the center of the volleyball world in December, and we’re excited to bring LOVB Pro to the city to open our new season,” said Sandra Idehen, Commissioner of LOVB Pro. “First Serve brings together everything that makes this moment in volleyball so exciting – the stars fans grew up watching, the players they have followed through college and the next generation preparing to take the stage. With the NCAA champions crowned just days after LOVB’s First Serve, we have an incredible opportunity to celebrate the full spectrum of the sport to give fans an unforgettable week of volleyball.”