Some of the University of Louisville’s biggest milestones have been achieved at Freedom Hall, which served as the home court for more than 50 years. So it’s quite possible to imagine some good things happening for UofL volleyball again this season. Like maybe an important stoop in the march to another Final Four appearance or better in the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
Coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s team looked like it felt right at home Thursday night. There was even a larger than life “Go Cards, Beat Purdue” sign on the sidelines, reminiscent of years ago when a cheerleading team called out the wrong opponent one night. A nice salute to a UofL tradition. Even better was the fact that the Cardinals were playing to perfection with 3-0 sweep over Purdue by scores of 25-17, 25-18 and 25-18.
The Cardinals could do no wrong in front of a crowd of 4,076 on the same night as a competing event featuring women’s basketball downtown at the KFC Yum! Center. Fans gotta do better Saturday night, despite a men’s rival game against Kentucky in Lexington. The volleyball Cards will face off against Stanford in the Regional championship.
Louisville recorded a season-high hitting percentage, posting a .467 clip on 52 kills, 33 digs, five total blocks, and three service aces. Freshman setter Nayelis Cabello served all of the Cards’ aces and added 23 of UofL’s 51 assists.
Outside hitter Charitie Luper hit .571 on the match with 13 kills and nine digs. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer posted a .393 hitting percentage with a team-high 15 kills and seven digs.
Sofia Maldonado Diaz recorded seven kills on 14 attempts and led Louisville in blocks with three. Middle blockers Phekran Kong, Cara Cresse, and Reese Robins each added to the block total as Robins contributed seven kills on 10 attempts to the offense.
“It was a great effort by us,” said Busboom Kelly. “We are pretty excited with the way we came out tonight and just stayed super consistent the whole match. Purdue is a great team. They are always fighters. I mean, they hit [.273], which is excellent,” said head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. “They did a lot of great things well, but I’m just really proud that we finally feel like we learned from the last three matches we’ve had. So, it’s like we came out and just had a different attitude and mindset.”
