Marquette volleyball is going back to Fiserv Forum, this time against a different powerhouse.
The Golden Eagles will return to the NBA arena for the third time for their season-opener against Texas on Aug. 24. Marquette played in-state rival Wisconsin in its two previous matches at Fiserv, in 2023 and 2025, losing both times.
The Longhorns are coming to Milwaukee for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) first serve event, and will play MU in the final day of the competition. Texas was a No. 1 seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament and lost to the Badgers in the Elite Eight.
“We chose Marquette because of the culture of the university and athletic department but also for this program to compete at the highest level, so playing Texas at Fiserv Forum is the type of match that our players came from around the Midwest and world to play,” head coach Tom Mendoza said in a release.
“Our team is training incredibly hard this spring to have a great season in the fall, so to have an exciting match and environment to start the season brings a level of tangibility to preparation from now until Aug. 24.”
The Golden Eagles enter their second season under Mendoza, who made it to the Round of 32 of the NCAA tournament in his first year at the helm, nearly upsetting No. 2 seed Louisville in a five set thriller.
But, Marquette lost all three of its 2025 All-Big East and AVCA All-North Region honorees, along with starting libero Adriana Studer.
Middle blocker Hattie Bray graduated after becoming the first player in program history to ever be drafted into Major League Volleyball. Outside hitter Natalie Ring transferred to Texas A&M after her career season, and setter Isabela Haggard went to Baylor.
Mendoza acquired four new players to replenish the losses.
In lieu of Ring, he got outside hitter Carson Tyler from Ball State, who won MAC player of the year after posting 506 kills, 321 digs and 43 aces during her sophomore season.
To make up for Haggard’s departure, Mendoza grabbed setter Luanna Markus as a late addition to their 2026 recruiting class, joining three other previously signed Golden Eagles Molly Welge, Caydence Doolan and Allie Beers.
Then, in early March, Marquette signed Slovenian twins Emi and Tani Juric. The libero Emi and outside hitter Tani were teammates OK Ankaran Hrvatini from 2023-26.
The Golden Eagles will play four spring season matches, including two home games at the Al McGuire Center. They face Wisconsin Monday night before crosstown rival Milwaukee April 15.
This story was written by Jack Albright. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter/X @JackAlbrightMU.
