Voleyball

Throughout the past week, Cresse showcased her outstanding defensive abilities, earning her the well-deserved recognition. She consistently demonstrated her unparalleled skills in blocking, ensuring her opponents had a difficult time finding success at the net. The ACC recognized Cresse’s outstanding efforts and accomplishments, making her the Defensive Player of the Week.

Lamb has faced challenges this season, including injuries and inconsistency. However, she seems to have found her stride at the right time. She has noticed an improvement in her play over the past few matches, which is a positive sign for the team. Reflecting on her past struggles, Lamb believes that she and the team have established a good routine, working closely with trainers and focusing on their conditioning.

The Wildcats came out with intensity, comfortably winning the opening set 25-13. They maintained a remarkable hitting percentage of .593 and a 71 percent sideout conversion rate. After falling behind early in the second set, Kentucky fought back to level the score at 19-19, taking control and closing out the set 25-23. In the third set, they never trailed, securing a 25-20 win to seal the sweep.

Louisville’s overall season record now stands at 23-3, with a 14-2 record in the ACC. The team showcased their offensive prowess, hitting an impressive .402 and recording four aces and 13 blocks in the match. Outside hitter Charitie Luper contributed 10 kills, six digs, and two blocks, while Anna DeBeer added seven kills, three digs, and two blocks. Aiko Jones and Phekran Kong also made valuable contributions to the team’s success.

Coach Skinner had high praise for the incoming players, describing them as “students, people, and ballers!” He emphasized their dedication both on and off the court, noting their commitment to excelling in the classroom as well as their fierce competitiveness. According to Skinner, their exceptional skills and explosiveness will have an immediate impact on the team’s performance.

The Cardinals currently hold a strong record of 21-3 overall and 12-2 in the ACC. They had a mixed performance over the weekend, suffering a defeat against No. 10-ranked Georgia Tech, but bouncing back with a victory over Clemson. These results have placed the Cardinals in a four-way tie for first in the league alongside Pitt, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.

Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly expressed her enthusiasm regarding the new recruits, stating, “We are thrilled to announce the 2024 class. First, we feel like we are adding a setter with great athleticism and the ability to run a 5-1 offense. Nayelis Cabello has had great success in club and high school and understands what it takes to win at the highest level. Payton Petersen is signing today after winning the Iowa State Championship and finishing her career as one of the best volleyball players ever from the state of Iowa. Ava Utterback will add explosiveness and skill to our pin hitters. Both Payton and Ava are true six rotations outside attackers and could find themselves on the court very early in their careers. Fans are going to enjoy watching this talented group as they bring a lot of the fun characteristic Card Nation has grown to love.”

With this win, Louisville now holds a record of 21-3 overall and 12-2 in ACC play. Anna DeBeer also had a strong performance for the Cardinals, recording 14 kills and two aces. Charite Luper and Cara Cresse each added 10 kills and a block to contribute to the team’s success. Luper also landed two aces against the Tigers. Setter Elle Glock played a crucial role with 52 assists and three aces, while libero Elena Scott led the match with 12 digs.

Despite a strong effort from the Cardinals, who hit .186 with seven aces and nine blocks as a team, it was Georgia Tech who had the upper hand. Outside hitter Charitie Luper led the way for Louisville with 15 kills, two aces, four digs, and two blocks, while middle blocker Phekran Kong contributed 13 kills and three blocks.

Louisville improved their overall record to 19-2 and their ACC record to 10-1 with the win. They were efficient on offense, hitting .280 and also recorded four aces and six blocks. Charitie Luper contributed eight kills, one ace, and nine digs, while Cara Cresse chipped in with eight kills and two blocks. Anna DeBeer added eight kills, one ace, and one block to the stat sheet. Elena Scott had an outstanding performance as libero, tallying 22 digs, six assists, and an ace. Setter Elle Glock played a vital role with 34 assists, 10 digs, an ace, and a block.