Coach Mark Stoops expressed his enthusiasm for the invitation, stating, “On behalf of our team and all of us at the University of Kentucky, we are excited to accept the invitation to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The Big Blue Nation always represents at our bowl destination, and we are excited to spend time in Jacksonville. We look forward to a great week, and our team can’t wait to play one more time this season.”

During her time at Louisville, DeBoer helped the Cardinals’ second varsity eight to a runner-up finish in the 2011 BIG EAST Championship. She also played a crucial role in Louisville’s three NCAA regional appearances from 2008 to 2010. As a freshman, DeBoer rowed in the second varsity four boat, which finished second in the “C” final at the 2008 NCAA Regional. In her sophomore year, she helped the 2V8 boat to a sixth-place finish in the petite final at the 2009 NCAA Regional.

Leading the way for Kentucky was Ajae Petty, who showcased her dominance in the post throughout the game. The 6-3 center had a career-high 33 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds, leaving fans and head coach Kyra Elzy impressed with her performance. Elzy praised Petty’s selflessness and ability to find a way to score even when faced with double-teams.

Tickets to the general public are currently on sale through the Holiday Bowl via Ticketmaster, with prices starting as low as $94. Fans are eager to witness this clash between two renowned football programs.

The Cardinals have been a force to be reckoned with when facing nonconference opponents under Coach Walz. They hold a remarkable 182-34 (.843) record against nonconference foes in regular season play, and have won 84 out of their last 95 non-conference games. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Louisville has amassed 185 wins, ranking fourth in the NCAA, and boasts a winning percentage of .849, ranking fifth during that span.

Louisville displayed a balanced attack against the Aggies, as five players scored in double figures and seven players contributed with six points or more. This depth of scoring is a key factor for the Cardinals, as they had 10 players contribute on the scoreboard. The team’s ability to involve multiple players in the scoring allows for a well-rounded offense.

Louisville, ranked No. 7 and seeded No. 2, secured their spot in the Sweet Sixteen by sweeping Western Michigan on Friday night. With this win, Louisville’s overall record for the season now stands at 26-4. Louisville showed a strong performance with a hitting percentage of .342, hitting over .300 in every set. They also had five aces and 10 blocks. Middle blocker Cara Cresse stood out with nine kills and three blocks while hitting .538. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer recorded nine kills, nine digs, and two blocks. Middle blocker Phekran Kong added seven kills and five blocks. Reese Robbins, who came off the bench, made a crucial impact by hitting .462 with a career-high eight kills and a block. Libero Elena Scott had an exceptional performance with 22 digs, seven assists, and two aces. Setter Elle Glock contributed 26 assists, 11 digs, and an ace.

Fans can catch all the action on ESPNU and the ESPN app, with the talented trio of Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, and Katie George providing the commentary from Lincoln. The match is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the (1) Nebraska vs. Georgia Tech match, which kicks off at 2 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN2.

Director of track & field and cross country, Joe Franklin, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “It was a very good season opener…shows the progress they’ve made in their training.”

While Sheppard’s performance was commendable, it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for Kentucky. Antonio Reeves added 14 points before fouling out, while Justin Edwards and Tre Mitchell each contributed 11 points and six rebounds. Unfortunately, the Wildcats struggled from behind the arc, only making five of 17 attempts, resulting in a disappointing 29.4 percent shooting percentage.