The No. 4-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team is hitting the road for the first time in the 2024 season, as the 2-0 Cardinals prepare to face the 2-0 Nittany Lions of No. 7 Penn State. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in University Park, Pa.
Historically, Penn State holds a 7-2 series advantage over Louisville, but the Cardinals won their most recent matchup on September 10, 2023, with a commanding 3-0 sweep. In that victory, Anna DeBeer recorded 10 kills, while Cara Cresse hit .500 with six kills and added three blocks.
Louisville has jumped to the No. 4 ranking after securing two wins over Top 15 opponents in the opening week of the season. Senior libero Elena Scott and freshman setter Nayelis Cabello were recognized for their performances, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Week and ACC Freshman of the Week honors, respectively.
Elena Scott was named Defensive MVP of the AVCA First Serve Showcase after a stellar performance in Louisville’s 3-1 win over No. 3 Wisconsin. She recorded 22 digs and averaged 5.50 digs per set, helping to hold the Badgers to a .179 hitting percentage, with just a .079 mark in the fourth set. Scott also contributed eight digs in a 3-0 sweep over No. 15 Tennessee, where the Lady Vols were limited to a .151 hitting percentage.
Freshman setter Nayelis Cabello played a key role in Louisville’s attack, totaling 37 assists and 13 digs in the Cardinals’ 2-0 start. In her collegiate debut, Cabello recorded 20 assists in the victory over Wisconsin and added 17 assists and six digs in the sweep of Tennessee.
The Cardinals’ win over No. 15 Tennessee was marked by a dominant performance at the KFC Yum! Center. Outside hitter Charitie Luper led the way with a double-double, tallying 10 kills and 12 digs while hitting .474. Sofia Maldonado Diaz contributed 11 kills, and Anna DeBeer added nine kills and three aces. The team hit .371 overall with seven aces and 45 kills.
Louisville’s season opener against No. 3 Wisconsin was a significant upset, as the Cardinals triumphed 3-1 in a rematch of the 2021 NCAA National Semifinals. Charitie Luper and Anna DeBeer led the offensive charge with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while Elena Scott anchored the defense with a match-high 22 digs. The Cardinals recorded 10 blocks and two aces in the victory, with Luper being named Best Outside Hitter and Scott voted Best Libero for the 2024 AVCA First Serve All-Star Team.
As the Cardinals head into their matchup against Penn State, they aim to continue their strong start to the season and build on their recent successes against top-ranked opponents.
