2026 Shriners Children's Showdown at the Net: ACC vs SEC Showdown in NCAA Women's Volleyball

On September 8-9, 2026, 32 top NCAA women's volleyball programs from the ACC and SEC conferences will face off in the Shriners Children's Showdown at the Net. The event features 16 matches, with 14 held on home campuses and a special neutral-site doubleheader at the State Farm Field House at Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. The marquee matchup at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 pits No. 1-ranked Pitt Panthers against Tennessee Volunteers. Following that, Stanford Cardinal, a nine-time NCAA champion, takes on Texas A&M Aggies at 9 p.m. ET also on ESPN2. This is the first time the ACC and SEC have organized a cross-conference challenge in women's volleyball, reflecting the ambition to elevate the sport. The remaining matches will be broadcast on ACC Network, SECN+ and ACCNX. The event is not only an opportunity for teams to accumulate RPI points for the NCAA tournament, but also a measuring stick between two conferences undergoing transformation after Stanford and California joined the ACC. Although exhibition-like in nature, results will directly impact NCAA tournament selection. Teams include Pitt, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, California, NC State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Auburn, Mississippi State, Wake Forest and Notre Dame. This is good news for women's volleyball fans as media attention grows, with matches broadcast live on national television. However, it should be noted that Pitt's No. 1 ranking is a point-in-time snapshot; by September 2026, the AVCA poll may shift. The event also raises questions about the development of women's volleyball amid NCAA transfer portal and sponsorship changes. Nonetheless, it is a positive step, providing a larger stage for female athletes. With cooperation between the two conferences and ESPN, the Showdown at the Net promises to be a notable women's sports event in 2026.