Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky coach Craig Skinner seems to take great pride in playing perhaps the toughest non-conference schedule of any volleyball team in the country.
It had already been announced that Kentucky would play in the inaugural Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 31 against Nebraska, a Final Four team last season that annually is one of the nation’s best teams. The Huskers have won five national championships and are now coached by Dani Busboom Kelly, the former coach at Louisville.
Thursday it was announced that Kentucky would compete in the Shriners Children’s Showdown at the Net as part of an inaugural SEC/ACC Challenge. Kentucky will play at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Pittsburgh beat Kentucky in the regional final last season to advance to the Final Four.
The SEC/ACC Shriners Children’s Showdown at the Net will feature 16 matches as SEC teams will play ACC teams across the country on the ESPN Family of Networks with 14 of the 16 matches on campus sites and two of the matches, including Kentucky’s, at Dickies Arena in Ft. Worth, Texas.
“We are excited to have the Southeastern Conference participate in the first edition of ‘Showdown at the Net’,” said Misty Brown, SEC Assistant Commissioner. “We look forward to seeing some high-caliber volleyball as the storied programs from the SEC prepare to build upon their recent successes during the 2025 season.”
2025 Showdown at the Net ACC/SEC Challenge
Tuesday, Sept. 9
Georgia Tech @ Tennessee (SEC Network)
Texas A&M @ SMU (ESPN2)
Boston College @ Arkansas (SEC Network+)
Stanford @ Missouri (ESPN)
Virginia @ Auburn (SEC Network+)
Florida @ North Carolina (ACC Network)
Georgia @ Clemson (ACC Network Extra)
LSU @ Notre Dame (ACC Network Extra)
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh (6:30pm ET, ESPN2)*
Texas vs. Louisville (7pm ET, ESPN2)*
Florida State @ Oklahoma (SEC Network)
Duke @ Mississippi State (SEC Network+)
South Carolina @ NC State (ACC Network)
Wake Forest @ Alabama (SEC Network+)
Ole Miss @ Miami (FL) (ACC Network Extra)
Vanderbilt @ California (ACC Network Extra)
* Shriners Children’s “Showdown at the Net” (Dickies Arena; Ft. Worth, Texas)
