The morning session was highlighted by junior Caroline Benda, who achieved an Olympic Trials cut in the 400 IM with a time of 4:48.39. Benda secured her spot in the event for next summer’s trials. Several other Wildcats also had strong morning swims, earning “A-final” lanes for the night session. Ryan Merani, Madi McGlothen, Anna Havens Rice, Max Berg, Lance Johnson, Torie Buerger, and Grace Frericks all secured top spots.

Led by Emma Grome, who tallied 55 assists, Kentucky’s balanced attack proved too much for Texas A&M. Freshman Brooklyn DeLeye led the way with 18 kills, followed by Elise Goetzinger with 13, Erin Lamb with 12, and Azhani Tealer with 12. The Wildcats attacked at an impressive .360 clip, while holding Texas A&M to just .211.

In a commanding victory, the Louisville Cardinals soared past Bellarmine with a final score of 111-33. The game, held at the KFC Yum! Center, drew an attendance of 7,486 enthusiastic fans.

This triumph marks the first postseason win for the Cardinals since the 2019 season when they reached the third round. The game against Dayton featured a flurry of goals in the first half. In the 13th minute, Josh Jones and Sander Roed combined to give Louisville the opening goal. Roed’s corner kick found Jones’ head, which deflected off the right post into the net.

Sydney Taylor shined for Louisville, delivering an impressive 15-point performance. The team showed impressive depth, with eight players scoring in double figures for the first time in program history. Taylor showcased her shooting skills, going 5-of-8 from the field and sinking 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Her contributions extended beyond scoring, as she also recorded four assists and two steals.

The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 12 in the men’s category and No. 3 in the women’s category. They are competing against the nationally ranked Buckeyes, as well as teams from Indiana, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Ohio University, Cal, and Kenyon.

The three-day meet kicked off with the 200 freestyle relay at 9:30am. Prelims were held in the morning in meters, with finals taking place at 5:30 ET in yards.

Head coach Kenny Payne expressed his satisfaction with the team’s defensive performance, stating, “That is a good sign of what we are capable of being defensively.” Despite the 20-point victory, Payne believes there is still room for improvement, emphasizing the team’s need to focus on their confidence, work ethic, and energy. He acknowledged the team’s potential to defeat formidable opponents but stressed the importance of each player understanding their responsibilities and obligations for the team’s success.

This Friday, Dillingham and the Wildcats will face off against Stonehill at Rupp Arena. Stonehill, with a 1-3 record, is coming off a tough 100-56 loss against Saint Joseph’s on Tuesday.

Vanroose, a freshman from Buggenhout, Belgium, will be competing in the Belgian Cross Country Championships on Sunday, November 19th in Hulshout, Belgium. She will be racing in the junior women’s race, which covers a distance of 5620 meters. The meet serves as a chance for athletes to qualify for the European Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Brussels on December 10th. Vanroose has had a successful season so far, with a personal-best 6K time of 21:06.2 at the Arturo Barrios Invitational.