The end of the cross country season means that Vanroose and the rest of the Cardinals will now shift their focus to the indoor track & field campaign. Their next event will be the Rod McCravy Memorial Invite, scheduled for January 12-13.

Louisville finished their season with an overall record of 27-5, hitting .213 with five aces and 13 blocks in the loss. Middle blocker Phekran Kong had an outstanding performance, tying her career-high with 13 kills while hitting .600 and contributing eight blocks. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer also had an impressive game, tallying 13 kills, eight digs, and three blocks. Middle blocker Cara Cresse recorded nine kills, five blocks, and an ace, and Aiko Jones added nine kills, six blocks, and five digs in her final match as a Cardinal. Setter Elle Glock had 39 assists, four digs, and a block, while libero Elena Scott totaled 10 digs, four assists, and three aces.

Head coach Kenny Payne expressed his disappointment with their performance, stating, “I was very disappointed in how we came out today. We prepared for this game, but it felt like we played for ourselves, not for Louisville. That’s a problem.”

UK currently holds the upper hand in the rivalry, leading UofL with a 34-24 record in their 59 previous meetings. However, Louisville has emerged victorious in their last six encounters. Kentucky will be looking to end this losing streak and get back in the win column after suffering a 76-57 defeat against Minnesota in their last game.

Bradshaw demonstrated his potential as he achieved his first double-double, recording 17 points and 11 rebounds in the game. He also contributed three blocked shots and a steal, showcasing his defensive skills. In addition to this remarkable feat, Bradshaw even managed to sink his first career three-pointer, highlighting his versatility as a player.

Vanroose punched her ticket to the European Championships after a strong performance at the Belgian Cross Country Championships on November 19, where she finished in third place in the women’s junior race. This achievement has set the stage for a promising showing at the international level.

Junior Logan Coles made history for UK by setting a new school record in the weight throw, with a distance of 68’04.50”/20.84 meters. Coles surpassed the previous record set in 2017 by David Cline.

In their previous match against Western Michigan, the No. 7-ranked and No. 2-seeded Cardinals swept their opponent to secure their spot in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. With this win, Louisville improved to 26-4 for the season. The Cardinals dominated on the offensive end, hitting above .300 in every set, with a total hitting percentage of .342 throughout the match. Cara Cresse continued to impress with nine kills and three blocks, hitting an impressive .538. Anna DeBeer delivered an all-around performance with nine kills, nine digs, and two blocks, while Phekran Kong contributed seven kills and five blocks. Middle blocker Reese Robbins, who provided a much-needed spark off the bench, hit .462 with a career-high eight kills and a block. Libero Elena Scott shined again with 22 digs, seven assists, and two aces, while setter Elle Glock recorded 26 assists, 11 digs, and an ace.

Looking ahead to the Holiday Bowl matchup against the University of Southern California, Brohm expressed his team’s excitement. He acknowledged USC’s talent and coaching but remained confident in his players’ ability to compete. Despite not finishing the regular season as desired, Brohm emphasized the importance of getting back to their brand of football.

Louisville is coming off a tough 75-68 road loss to Virginia Tech in their ACC opener. Meanwhile, DePaul is looking to bounce back after a 89-64 defeat at the hands of Texas A&M, marking their fifth consecutive loss.