Volleyball

Big 12 Volleyball Opening Set to Air on August 11 & 12

The Big 12 Conference announced that Big 12 Volleyball Opening Set, a two-day virtual event where the head coaches and select players of all 15 programs discuss the upcoming season, will return for a second consecutive year as part of the Conference’s commitment to growing its volleyball profile. Big 12 Opening Set will air on ESPN+ and will be simulcast on Big 12 Studios and BYUtv on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. CT and will be hosted by BYUtv’s Spencer Linton with Amy Gant, Alex Jean Glover and Sophie Smith also joining the show. Coverage will continue on ESPN+ on Wednesday, Aug. 12 beginning at 1 p.m. CT.  
 
Linton, Gant, Glover, and Smith will also provide in-depth analysis as part of a Big 12 season preview show that will air on ESPNU on Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
 
Gant spent her collegiate career as a member of BYU’s volleyball program, earning AVCA All-American honors in 1995 and 1997. During her time as a Cougar, she led the team in kills (1995, 1996, 1997), hitting percentage (1995, 1997), service aces (1995) and blocks (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997).
 
Glover spent her collegiate career at SMU (2019-23) as a middle blocker for the Mustangs before transitioning to the broadcast side, where she has provided in-depth analysis for ESPN+, the ACC Network, and Big 12 Studios.
 
Smith will serve as the Big 12 Volleyball Ambassador for the upcoming season. Smith will cover the league throughout the season after serving as the sideline reporter and on-camera host for Kansas State and ESPN+ over the last three years.
 
Linton graduated from BYU in 2007 and has been with BYUtv since 2013, serving as a play-by-play sportscaster, sideline reporter and the host of BYUtv Sports Nation.
 
This year the Big 12 will introduce a new in-season challenge for all 15 teams, using the matches from Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 1 to crown a champion via overall record. Also new for this season is “Rivalry Week”, with all of the matches being played between Oct. 15-18, where each team will play a rival opponent.
 
Big 12 Opening Set will be produced by BYUtv from its studios in Provo. The 2026 volleyball season will begin on Friday, Aug. 21 at the 2026 AVCA First Serve, with Arizona State playing Texas on the second day of the event to open the season for the Big 12.