PITTSBURGH, Pa. – In a nail-biting Elite Eight match, the No. 2-seeded University of Louisville volleyball team suffered a defeat against the No. 1-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers. The Cardinals fought hard but ultimately fell short, losing 25-23, 25-20, 16-25, 19-25, 7-15.
Louisville finished their season with an overall record of 27-5, hitting .213 with five aces and 13 blocks in the loss. Middle blocker Phekran Kong had an outstanding performance, tying her career-high with 13 kills while hitting .600 and contributing eight blocks. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer also had an impressive game, tallying 13 kills, eight digs, and three blocks. Middle blocker Cara Cresse recorded nine kills, five blocks, and an ace, and Aiko Jones added nine kills, six blocks, and five digs in her final match as a Cardinal. Setter Elle Glock had 39 assists, four digs, and a block, while libero Elena Scott totaled 10 digs, four assists, and three aces.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, improved their season record to 29-4 and advanced to their third straight Final Four. They hit .286 with 11 aces and 14 blocks in the match. Torrey Stafford led the Panthers with 18 kills, 11 digs, and two blocks, while Olivia Babcock contributed 16 kills, eight digs, five blocks, and three aces.
In the first set, Louisville took an early lead, going up 8-4 on a five-point run, with Luper making two kills and an ace. The Cardinals extended their lead to five points at 11-6 after a slide by Phekran Kong but Pitt fought back, pulling within three at 15-12. The Panthers continued to chip away at the lead, eventually coming within one point at 22-21. However, a strong finish by Louisville, including a kill by Kong, gave them the first set win, 25-23.
The second set was closely contested, with nine ties and seven lead changes. Louisville managed to take a slim lead of 15-14 at the media timeout. After the break, the Cardinals scored three consecutive points, forcing Pitt to call a timeout while trailing 19-15. Louisville maintained their momentum and secured the set win at 25-20, thanks in part to two straight aces by Elena Scott.
Pittsburgh bounced back in the third set, taking their first lead at 11-10 after four consecutive points. They continued to build on their lead, eventually winning the set 25-16. Louisville struggled in this set, hitting .200 compared to Pitt’s impressive .560.
Pittsburgh carried their momentum into the fourth set, taking a 7-4 lead with a 5-0 scoring run that forced Louisville to call a timeout. The Panthers continued to apply pressure and extended their lead to seven points at 15-8. Although the Cardinals fought back and staved off multiple set points, Pittsburgh ultimately emerged victorious with a 25-19 win.
In the decisive fifth set, Pittsburgh quickly gained a 4-1 lead, powered by two kills from Babcock. After a timeout by the Cardinals, Pitt continued to dominate and led 8-2 at the bench switch. Louisville struggled to catch up and ultimately lost the set 15-7, giving Pittsburgh the match win and securing their spot in the Final Four.
While Louisville’s season may have come to an end, their impressive performance throughout the year deserves recognition. The Cardinals showcased their skills and fought hard in this Elite Eight match, but ultimately fell short against a strong Pittsburgh team.
