STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford will begin the 2026 season at the Opening Spike Classic, a two-day women's college volleyball event in Pittsburgh, featuring the Cardinal, Pitt, Kansas and Wisconsin.
Hosted at Pitt and televised nationally on ESPN, the Opening Spike Classic is organized by Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company. The event is being produced in collaboration with JMI Sports, leading media rights company and the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Pitt Athletics.
The two-day event will host four elite matchups, with Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schools serving as the home team:
Friday, August 28, 2026:
Kansas vs. Pitt
Wisconsin vs. Stanford
Sunday, August 30, 2026:
Kansas vs. Stanford
Wisconsin vs. Pitt
“We are thrilled to be bringing this event back for a second year and to build on the momentum we created with the event launch last year,” said Michael Neuman, Co-Head of Playfly Sports Consulting. “The Opening Spike Classic is a celebration of women’s achievements in sports, and there is no better way to recognize that than by bringing together these top college volleyball teams to compete.”
The Opening Spike Classic will be held at the Petersen Events Center (“The Pete”), Pitt’s 12,500-seat on-campus arena recognized as a premier venue in ACC volleyball. The Pete provides a prominent stage for this elite competition and a high-profile start to the 2026 season.
“We are consistently in pursuit of innovative opportunities to elevate Pitt’s storied programs and broaden their reach on a national stage,” said Paul Archey, President, JMIS Properties at JMI Sports. “Hosting this event is a powerful way to celebrate the success of Pitt women’s volleyball and bring together top teams that rarely meet during the regular season. By partnering with Playfly, we are delivering an event that drives fandom around the sport and heightens national exposure for each program and its partners.”
“We’re excited to kick off opening weekend by hosting three of the best teams in the country. Fans can look forward to high-level volleyball right here in Pittsburgh. If we want to be the best, we have to play the best, and we’re doing that right away.”
Stanford and Wisconsin meet on Friday in the Austin Regional semifinal. The Cardinal is 6-0 all-time against the Badgers. Stanford and Kansas will face off for the first time in Pittsburgh.