University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Intersport, AVCA Announce Formal Partnership to Elevate Volleyball and Expand Year-Round Opportunities
10/1/2026 12:47:00 PM | Volleyball
Partnership launches with AVCA Match Point, an elite two-day women’s volleyball championship event featuring many of the nation’s premier programs in April 2027
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2026) – Intersport and the American Volleyball Coaches Association today announced a formal partnership that will continue to elevate the game of volleyball by creating new events and opportunities that amplify the sport throughout the year.
The partnership will launch with the creation of AVCA Match Point, an elite two-day women's volleyball championship event taking place April 10-11, 2027, at Freedom Hall in Louisville. The event will feature perennial championship contenders Nebraska, Louisville, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Wisconsin, with two additional programs to be announced at a later date that round out the eight-team field. Both the AVCA and Intersport will combine their efforts to bolster existing early season events, including the AVCA First Serve and the State Farm Volleyball Showcase, next season and beyond.
AVCA Match Point will bring together many of the sport's premier programs for a weekend of high-level spring competition, creating another national platform during a traditionally open window in the college sports calendar.
AVCA Match Point will feature a bracketed format, with each team playing three matches over the two-day event. Each school will compete twice April 10 before returning for a third match April 11.
The event will add to an already loaded volleyball weekend in Louisville, as it will coincide with the JVA World Challenge and the JVA 18U National Championships—two of the largest grassroots volleyball tournaments of the year. Hundreds of youth volleyball programs, coaches and families from across the country will converge in Louisville April 9-11, and pairing the prestige of elite collegiate programs with the passion and rising star power of youth volleyball will create a rare opportunity to connect current and future generations to the sport.
The six announced programs are among the most accomplished in college volleyball. Nebraska and Stanford have combined to win 14 NCAA national championships, while Kentucky and Wisconsin have each captured a national title in the past decade. Pittsburgh has reached five consecutive NCAA championship semifinals since 2021, while Louisville has advanced to two national championship matches since 2022.
"Volleyball has tremendous momentum, and our partnership with Intersport will help us build on it by creating more opportunities for athletes, coaches and fans to engage with the sport throughout the year," said Jaime Gordon, CEO of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. "AVCA Match Point is an important first step. It brings some of the best programs in the country together for meaningful spring competition and gives fans another reason to connect with our sport. We believe there is still tremendous room for volleyball to grow, and high-quality events like this helps move the sport forward."
"This partnership with the AVCA reflects our shared belief in volleyball's continued growth and the value of creating more stages for the sport's athletes and programs," said Intersport Senior Vice President Mark Starsiak. "Intersport and the AVCA were the first organizations to prioritize these significant exposure opportunities for women's volleyball with the AVCA First Serve and the State Farm Volleyball Showcase both launching in 2024. Our shared vision of growing the sport is further demonstrated by launching AVCA Match Point alongside the JVA World Challenge, one of the largest and most anticipated grassroots events on the youth calendar. Bringing elite collegiate programs and the youth volleyball community together creates a unique opportunity to deepen connections among players, coaches and fans of all ages."
All six announced programs are ranked among the nation's top 15 in the Sept. 28 AVCA-Taraflex Division I Women's Volleyball Poll. Nebraska is ranked No. 1, followed by No. 2 Pittsburgh, No. 3 Kentucky, No. 4 Louisville, No. 6 Wisconsin, and No. 13 Stanford.
Check out the AVCA Match Point website for further updates regarding the final two participating programs, match schedule, television coverage, NIL programming and ticket details.
About Intersport
Intersport is an award-winning agency that fills the space between marketing campaigns and consumers, helping brands make more meaningful connections. Its industry-leading team offers expertise in content marketing, experiential marketing, hospitality, partnership consulting and platform development. The Chicago-based agency also owns and operates events across the professional and collegiate sports landscape, including basketball, football, golf, pickleball and volleyball. Intersport has been headquartered in Chicago since its inception in 1985 and has an additional office in Detroit. Learn more at www.intersport.global and on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
Founded in 1981, the American Volleyball Coaches Association works to advance volleyball by placing coaches at the center of leadership, advocacy and professional development. Its membership includes more than 10,000 coaches and industry partners across the collegiate, professional, high school, club, youth and Olympic levels. The AVCA provides educational and professional development opportunities, recognizes elite players and coaches, promotes volleyball competition and supports a professional network committed to growing the sport at every level. Learn more at www.avca.org.
