- The two-day women’s college volleyball event will feature matchups between four of the nation’s premier programs: Kansas, Pitt, Stanford and Wisconsin
- All four matches will air on ESPN networks, August 28 & 30
Returning for its second year, the 2026 Opening Spike Classic will be held at the Petersen Events Center (“The Pete”), Pitt’s 12,500-seat on-campus arena. The two-day event will feature four elite women’s college volleyball matchups; all televised nationally on ESPN networks. The Pete, recognized as a premier venue in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) volleyball, provides a prominent stage for this elite competition and a high-profile start to the 2026 season.
Opening Spike Classic Tournament Field:
- Kansas
- Pittsburgh (Pitt)
- Stanford
- Wisconsin
The ACC schools, Pitt and Stanford, will serve as the home teams.
“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 teaming up with Playfly, we are delivering an event that drives fandom around the sport and heightens national exposure for each program and its stakeholders.”
Opening Spike Classic Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, Aug 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Kansas vs. Pitt | ESPN2 |
| 9 p.m. | Wisconsin vs. Stanford | ESPN2 | |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Noon | Wisconsin vs. Pitt | ESPN |
| 2:30 p.m. | Kansas vs. Stanford | ESPN |
“We’re excited to kick off opening weekend by hosting three of the best teams in the country,” said Dan Fisher, Head Volleyball Coach at Pitt. “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.”
The Opening Spike Classic is organized by Playfly Sports in collaboration with JMI Sports, exclusive multimedia rights holder for Pitt Athletics.
“Growing women’s sports has been a priority of ours for years, from our 18-year history of televising girls’ high school athletics to now bringing four elite college programs together for the Opening Spike Classic,” said Julie Simmons, Co-Founder of Paragon Sports Marketing. “This event reflects everything we love about live sports — the details, the relationships, and the moments that create memories for fans, athletes, and the entire volleyball community.”
Tickets and further event information can be found at: ttps://pittsburghpanthers.evenue.net/events/OSC
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS
Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company, drives growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams, 65+ college athletic departments, all U.S. local sports networks and associated streaming platforms, and other marquee properties. Its fan engagement platform allows its partners to reach and engage over 85% of all U.S sports fans. Playfly builds and implements custom strategies across media, sponsorship, premium experiences, ticketing and fan engagement offerings through proprietary data, innovative technology and compelling storytelling. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states and internationally dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. The company has been named a Best Place to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. To learn more, follow Playfly Sports on social media platforms or visit www.Playfly.com.
ABOUT PARAGON SPORTS MARKETING
Paragon Sports Marketing, acquired by Playfly Sports in 2025, is a corporate consulting agency specializing in sports, entertainment and cause related sponsorships. Paragon has collaborated with ESPN for over 23 years to deliver more than 1,300 live high school sports telecasts featuring many of the top teams and players in the nation.
ABOUT JMI SPORTS
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies. JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Utah, UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego, and joint-venture properties at the University of Georgia (with Learfield) and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League, and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues, and events including the Breeders’ Cup, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Rose Bowl, and the Penn Relays. JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres. To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.