It’s time for conference play! After a non-conference schedule full of surprises, teams will now be facing off against their most familiar foes and battling for conference championships. Here are the top matches to watch.

Wednesday, September 24

#5 Pitt vs. #11 SMU

This is the first of two battles between the Panthers and the Ponies; much like last year, these two teams are facing off twice in the same week. The first meeting of these teams during the 2024 season saw top-ranked Pitt sweep SMU, but SMU studied up on their opponent and returned with a vengeance to hand Pitt its only loss of the regular season.

Both teams look a lot different this year, but each has an excellent coach who can guide his or her players to victory. For Dan Fisher’s squad, blocking and defending heavy hits from SMU’s Malaya Jones and Jadyn Livings will be paramount, while Sam Erger’s team will undoubtedly be focused on shutting down Pitt’s Olivia Babcock.

When and where: 8:00pm EST on ACC Network

Friday, September 26th

#8 Arizona State vs. #18 Kansas

Kansas has had no shortage of speed bumps in its season so far; the Jayhawks are 9-5 on the season, and five of their six ranked matches ended in losses. With four of those ranked losses being fifth-set heart-breakers, Kansas has proved that it has what it takes to be competitive, but it’s yet to be seen if they can come away victorious against top teams. This is an opportunity for Kansas to show up and demonstrate that they are good enough not just to push teams to five sets, but to actually finish the job.

Arizona State, meanwhile, is having itself a very nice season. The Sun Devils are 9-2, with their only losses coming against Pitt and Texas. They made a big splash by upsetting the at-the-time second-ranked Penn State in four sets, led by Noemie Glover with 22 kills. Glover was out with an injury for several of ASU’s last few matches, but she returned to the court against Pepperdine and seems to be back in her usual form.

When and where: 8:00pm EST on ESPNU

#2 Texas vs. #21 Missouri

Last year, Missouri defeated Texas for the first time since 2006, doing so with former Longhorn Marina Crownover at the helm. Mizzou’s top scorers in that match are no longer on the squad, but the Tigers have retained key pieces, including Crownover, libero Maya Sands, and outside Janet deMarrais. With Caylen Alexander and Tyrah Ariail also as offensive options, this is a team that, in theory, has what it takes to push the undefeated Longhorns, but their non-conference performance left something to be desired. With no ranked wins under their belt, it’s asking a lot of this Mizzou team to make waves against a powerhouse team.

Texas, on the other hand, is a much different-looking team than they were at this time last year. Heading into the 2024 conference schedule, Texas already had three losses on its record. This time around, Texas is undefeated against a slate of ranked teams and boasts a lineup that appears to be firing on all cylinders. Torrey Stafford and freshman Cari Spears are a dynamic hitting duo, while Emma Halter and Ramsey Gary have made it difficult for opposing teams to put away the ball. And considering last year’s loss, the Longhorns are unlikely to take anything off the gas, even for a struggling Missouri team.

When and where: 9:00pm EST on SEC Network+

Sunday, September 28th

#18 Kansas vs. Arizona

For Kansas, the theme of this week is the Grand Canyon State, as they’ll be playing ASU and then Arizona itself in the span of a weekend. Arizona isn’t ranked, but they aren’t to be underestimated. Despite having lost their last four matches (one of which was against top-ranked Nebraska), Arizona has several solid players on their roster. Setter Avery Scoggins runs the offense well, and depending on the night, Jordan Wilson or Carlie Cisneros may prove to be a hot hand for Scoggins to continue feeding. To be competitive, Arizona’s block will need its block to step up, as they are currently ranked 224th in the country for blocks per set and are letting opponents hit over .230 against them.

When and where: 1:00pm EST on ESPN

#5 Pitt vs. #11 SMU… again!

Finally, see how the loser of the first battle between these two ACC powerhouses will respond in the second meeting. It may be the same teams on the court as on Wednesday, but each team is likely to come with a refined game plan based on what they experienced from the first meeting. If last year’s follow-up meeting is any indication, this could be a very competitive match.

When and where: 3:00pm EST on ESPN