In a thrilling Sweet Sixteen showdown, the No. 7 ranked University of Louisville Cardinals will square off against the No. 17 ranked Creighton Bluejays on Thursday, Dec. 7 at noon in Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh. The winner of this match will face the winner of the clash between No. 4 seed Washington State and No. 1 seed Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 9, with the time to be determined later.
The Cardinals booked their spot in the Sweet Sixteen with an impressive sweep of Western Michigan on Friday night. UofL, who boast a 26-4 overall record this season, displayed their dominance by hitting .342 and recording five aces and 10 blocks. Middle blocker Cara Cresse led the way with nine kills and three blocks, while outside hitter Anna DeBeer contributed nine kills and nine digs. Middle blocker Phekran Kong had an impressive performance with seven kills and five blocks. Additionally, middle blocker Reese Robbins made a vital impact off the bench with eight kills. Libero Elena Scott showcased her defensive prowess with 22 digs, and setter Elle Glock contributed 26 assists. The Cardinals hold a 1-0 series lead over the Bluejays, with their last meeting resulting in a 3-2 victory for Louisville in 2015.
On the other side of the net, the No. 3 seeded Creighton Bluejays entered the Sweet Sixteen by sweeping Minnesota. This victory extended their winning streak to an impressive 17 matches and marked their third appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in program history, with their last appearance dating back to 2016. Against Minnesota, Norah Sis led the way with 16 kills, while Ava Martin and Ellie Bichelmeyer also made valuable contributions with 15 and 12 kills, respectively. Setter Kendra Wait registered her 17th double-double of the season with 44 assists and a match-high 17 digs. Creighton’s strong performance saw them record 56 kills, four aces, 53 digs, and seven blocks on .255 hitting.
The highly anticipated clash between Louisville and Creighton will be televised on ESPN2, with Jennifer Hoffman and Paul Sunderland providing commentary. For fans unable to watch the match on television, it will also be available for streaming at http://watchespn.com. Additionally, live stats for all matches in the NCAA Tournament can be accessed for free at http://www.ncaa/mediastats.
In other news, University of Louisville outside hitter Anna DeBeer was named the AVCA East Region Player of the Year. DeBeer’s outstanding performance earned her a place on the First Team All-East Region, alongside Cara Cresse, Elle Glock, Aiko Jones, Charitie Luper, and Elena Scott. Phekran Kong received an Honorable Mention All-East Region selection. The Cardinals’ strong representation on the All-Region teams highlighted their success this season.
The Louisville Cardinals have put together an impressive season, making their ninth appearance in the Sweet Sixteen and their 32nd overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In addition to DeBeer’s East Region Player of the Year award, she was also named ACC Player of the Year. Scott was honored as ACC Defensive Player of the Year, while Luper joined DeBeer and Scott on the First Team All-ACC. The Cardinals have had several standout players throughout the season, with Glock, Scott, and DeBeer earning weekly ACC honors for their outstanding performances. Jones, Glock, and Cresse were also recognized with Second Team All-ACC honors.
As the Cardinals prepare for their Sweet Sixteen clash, they will look to build on their impressive resume this season. Their notable achievements include DeBeer’s career-high 29 kills against Pitt, a win over No. 12 Georgia Tech, and head coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s 31st victory over a Top 25 team at UofL.
Fans have the opportunity to support Louisville Volleyball in the postseason by making a contribution at GoCards.com/VBPostseason. Every $50 donation gives fans a chance to win VIP treatment for the Regionals, including airfare, hotel accommodation, two tickets to the Regional, and a chance to win Louisville Volleyball gear. Show your support for the Cardinals and help them continue their postseason success.
