The Louisville Cardinals’ volleyball team defeated Kentucky, their long-time rival, with a score of 3-2 in a thrilling spring match held at L&N Arena.
The Cardinals finished their 2023 season as National runners-up at the NCAA Championships and were ranked No. 2 in the final rankings with a formidable 31-3 record. The team managed to secure their place in the Final Four by winning against some of the most accomplished teams in the league.
They defeated No. 4 Baylor during the Sweet 16 round, succeeded in a nail-biting five-set thriller against No. 3 Oregon in the Elite Eight, and overwhelmingly dispatched Samford and Purdue in the first and second rounds at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. These results earned them the ACC’s automatic qualifier, with the ACC Coach of the Year, Dani Busboom Kelly, leading the team throughout the season.
The Cardinals’ impressive performances in the 2023 season saw them win multiple accolades. Claire Chaussee received the ACC Player of the Year award and also secured her position as an AVCA First Team All-American. Chaussee was joined by fellow teammates Elena Scott, Amaya Tillman, and Raquel Lazaro, who received Second Team, Third Team, and Honorable Mention honors, respectively. Lazaro was named ACC Setter of the Year, while Scott clinched the title of ACC Defensive Player of the Year, further cementing the team’s success at the individual level.
The Kentucky Wildcats finished their season ranked No. 14 with a record of 22-8.
