Evan Pilat/Texas A&M Athletics
Aug 21, 2026 10:00 PM
No. 8 Texas A&M begins its title defense with No. 7 Louisville and No. 11 SMU, giving the defending champs an immediate test at the AVCA First Serve.
Texas A&M volleyball won’t get much time to ease into 2026.
The No. 8 Aggies open their national-title defense at the AVCA First Serve with two ranked matchups in three days, facing No. 7 Louisville on Friday and No. 11 SMU on Sunday in Milwaukee.
That’s not a warmup. That’s a statement weekend.
Friday’s opener brings an immediate rematch with Louisville, the same program Texas A&M stunned in last year’s Sweet 16. The Aggies erased a two-set deficit and won a five-set thriller, 3-2, to reach the Elite Eight.
Texas A&M owns a 6-2 all-time series advantage against the Cardinals and is 3-1 against them on neutral courts.
Then comes SMU.
The Mustangs also reached the Sweet 16 last season and have won both previous regular-season meetings against A&M.
That gives Sunday’s matchup an extra edge, especially with the Aggies trying to establish early-season momentum against another top-12 opponent.
Head coach Jamie Morrison enters the season with a roster that blends championship experience and major new firepower.
Eight players return from last year’s title team, including NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kyndal Stowers.
She finished 2025 with 385 kills, 248 digs and 64 blocks, averaging 3.5 kills per set.
That’s a huge piece to build around.
Morrison also added eight newcomers, including four transfers and four freshmen. The headliner is Natalie Ring, who earned Third Team All-America honors at Marquette after posting 497 kills in 2025.
And she didn’t waste time making an impression.
In Texas A&M’s final preseason tuneup, a 3-1 win over No. 21 Baylor in Waco, Ring led the Aggies with 16 kills, while fellow transfer Kaia Castle added 13. A&M dominated the first three sets by a combined score of 75-59.
So yes, the Aggies are defending champions. But this roster isn’t standing still.
Texas A&M starts 2026 with experience, new weapons and two immediate chances to prove last season wasn’t a one-year lightning strike.
Beat Louisville and SMU, and the message gets loud quickly. The champs may have reloaded.
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