Another day, another match. Another top 20 opponent for the University of Louisville volleyball team.
Dangerous opponent in Tennessee, which was a tough out, eliminated in the Final Four last season by Texas, the eventual national champion. Not a program or a team to be taken lightly, ranked 15th by the national pollsters. Ready to make some noise.
Charitie Luper was more than ready for the challenge. The 5-foot-9 senior transfer from UCLA having the match of her career on Sunday. She was all over the place, rolling, diving, leaping, whatever it took. She would wind up with 10 kills, 12 digs and an ace. Her heroics usually coming when Tennessee was mounting serious threats.
UofL would sweep the Volunteers in three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-22 and 25-20. In front of a crowd of 7,571 at the KFC Yum! Center.
As a team, Louisville hit .371 with seven aces and 45 kills on the afternoon. Outside hitter Sofia Diaz recorded 11 kills and outside hitter Anna DeBeer had nine kills and three aces. Setter Ellie Glock had 20 assists and an ace while middle blocker Reese Robins hit .727 and knocked down eight kills.
Another undefeated opponent straight ahead. The Cardinals travel Tuesday to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania to take on seventh-ranked Penn State. Hopefully delivering bad news to former UofL President Neeli Bendapudi’s current institution. The match is at 7:30 and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
