In a thrilling match, the No. 2 seed University of Louisville volleyball team defeated the No. 3 seed Creighton 3-2 to secure their spot in the NCAA Elite Eights for the third consecutive year. Outside hitters Anna DeBeer and Charitie Luper played a crucial role in the Cardinals’ victory, combining for an impressive 39 kills. The Cardinals will now face the winner of the Pitt/Washington State match on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Throughout the match, both teams fought hard, but it was Louisville who came out on top. The Cardinals took the first set with a score of 25-21, never trailing behind the Blue Jays. DeBeer’s powerful kills and Luper’s consistent performance led to a hitting percentage of .400 for Louisville.
However, Creighton did not back down and fought back in the second set. They went on a 13-1 run, taking a commanding lead and ultimately winning the set 25-14. Louisville struggled to find their rhythm, hitting at a disappointing -.029 percentage.
Louisville regrouped in the third set and got off to an early lead, but Creighton managed to tie the game at 23. DeBeer’s kill and ace secured the set for the Cardinals with a score of 25-23. Their hitting improved to a .405 percentage, and the addition of three aces helped them secure the victory.
The fourth set was another closely contested battle, with both teams exchanging leads. Louisville fought back from a four-point deficit and tied the game at 24. However, Creighton managed to edge out a win with a score of 26-24, forcing a fifth set.
In the final set, Creighton took an early lead, but Louisville quickly turned the tide with a block by Reese Robins and kills by DeBeer. The Cardinals led 8-4 at the bench switch. Despite Creighton’s efforts to close the gap, Louisville emerged victorious with a score of 15-8.
With this win, the Cardinals improve their season record to 27-4. Their overall performance was outstanding, with a hitting percentage of .277, 69 kills, six aces, and eight blocks. In addition to DeBeer and Luper, middle blocker Cara Cresse contributed 12 kills and setter Elle Glock had an impressive 49 assists. Libero Elena Scott led the Cardinals with 27 digs.
Creighton, who played valiantly throughout the match, concludes their season with a record of 29-5. Norah Sis led the Blue Jays with 22 kills, while Ava Martin added 13 kills and two aces.
The University of Louisville volleyball team has shown themselves to be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s NCAA tournament. With their sights set on the Elite Eights, they are determined to continue their winning streak and make a deep run in the tournament.
