Anna DeBeer’s standout performance, with 13 kills, an ace, and 12 digs, propelled the No. 4-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over in-state rival Kentucky on Wednesday night at Memorial Coliseum. The Cardinals extended their winning streak against Kentucky to four straight matches, improving to 8-1 on the season with the 25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 25-16 victory.
Louisville posted a .252 hitting percentage with three aces and a season-high 17 blocks. Reese Robins contributed with an impressive .556 hitting percentage, tallying 11 kills on 18 swings. Cara Cresse added six kills and nine blocks, while setters Elle Glock and Nayelis Cabello combined for 37 assists. Libero Elena Scott anchored the defense with a match-high 20 digs.
“Volleyball in the state of Kentucky is unbelievable,” said UofL head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. “You have Louisville, Kentucky, Western Kentucky, and Morehead, who has had some good wins this year. These matches always feel like they will come down to a few key plays, and we’ve been fortunate to win those big points recently.”
No. 11 Kentucky fell to 6-3 on the season. The Wildcats were led by Brooklyn DeLeye with 17 kills and two aces, and Brooke Bultema added 11 kills and four blocks. However, the Wildcats hit just .118 as a team.
“I think Kentucky is a fantastic serving team,” Busboom Kelly noted. “We didn’t pass great, but we held our own. We knew we would have to block balls and play great defense, which we did.”
Match Recap:
- First Set: Both teams traded points early, with neither side gaining more than a two-point lead. Kentucky led 15-13 at the media timeout, but Louisville surged ahead, eventually winning 25-21 behind five blocks and two aces.
- Second Set: Louisville controlled the second set, taking a 13-8 lead and expanding it to 18-10. Kentucky managed a brief run, but Louisville’s blocking and efficient offense helped them close out the set 25-18, hitting .400.
- Third Set: Kentucky responded in the third set, building a 16-12 lead. Louisville closed the gap to 19-17, but a 4-0 Kentucky run, highlighted by two challenges and replays, helped the Wildcats secure the 25-20 win.
- Fourth Set: Louisville took control early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 9-5 lead and never looking back. The Cardinals dominated with nine blocks and .280 hitting to close out the match 25-16.
The Cardinals will return to action on Sunday, September 22, at 12:30 PM when they host No. 5 Nebraska at the KFC Yum! Center.
