PITTSBURGH, PA / NEW YORK, NY / SAN DIEGO, CA (December 10, 2025) – The Opening Spike Classic, a two-day women’s college volleyball event, will return for a second year during Week One of the 2026 season and feature matchups between four of the nation’s premier programs: the University of Kansas, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), Stanford University, and the University of 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 teaming up 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,” 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.”
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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 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.
