Chasing another title, the reigning champions face a gauntlet of top teams in Milwaukee, aiming to ignite their season with a powerful start.
Texas A&M volleyball is officially back on center stage, and apparently, the AVCA liked what it saw the first time around.
Fresh off the program’s first-ever NCAA national championship, the Aggies were named one of eight teams selected for the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s First Serve event, set for August 21-23 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
If that sounds familiar, it should.
This marks the second straight season Texas A&M has been invited, and last year’s appearance turned out to be a pretty good omen.
In 2025, the Aggies opened their season by taking down Minnesota in four sets. What followed was a historic run that ended with confetti, hardware, and a banner that will hang forever in College Station. No pressure, right?
Head coach Jamie Morrison sounded more excited than nervous when discussing the return trip.
“We’re excited to be selected for the AVCA First Serve again this year,” Morrison said.
“This event is helping further the game of volleyball through some innovative changes, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. It’s going to be full of great matches, and our group is ready for the challenge in Milwaukee.”
The challenge will be real. The field includes fellow 2025 Final Four teams Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin, along with Arizona State, Louisville, SMU, and Texas - all of whom finished last season inside the AVCA’s top 12.
In other words, this isn’t exactly a tune-up weekend.
Still, Texas A&M won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time. The Aggies return eight players from their title-winning squad, including AVCA All-American and NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kyndal Stowers.
That core is being blended with fresh energy.
The Aggies added seven newcomers this spring - four freshmen and three transfer portal additions - with another freshman set to arrive in the summer.
It’s a mix Morrison seems to enjoy, even if it means learning new names during water breaks.
The beauty of the First Serve event is its tone-setting nature. Early-season volleyball rarely feels this big, but when you’re opening a title defense under bright lights in an NBA arena, the season starts fast - and honest.
Texas A&M wouldn’t have it any other way.