The No. 1-seeded University of Louisville volleyball team began its NCAA Tournament campaign with a decisive 3-0 sweep over Chicago State (25-10, 25-18, 25-13) on Friday night at the KFC Yum! Center. This victory marked the Cardinals’ 17th sweep of the season and propelled them into the second round.
“It feels good to get that first tournament win under our belt,” said head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. “We have quite a few players that haven’t played or played a big role in a tournament match, and we got some jitters out and played well.”
Louisville’s Key Performers
- Sofia Maldonado Diaz: Nine kills, five blocks, and a .368 hitting percentage.
- Hannah Sherman: Three kills and a team-high seven blocks.
- Reese Robins: Eight kills and two blocks.
- Anna DeBeer and Charitie Luper: Nine and seven kills, respectively, with five digs each.
- Nayelis Cabello: Two service aces and 16 assists.
Match Highlights
Louisville showcased a balanced attack with a .290 hitting percentage, 45 kills, 48 digs, 10 blocks, and five aces. The Cardinals’ defense held Chicago State to a .009 hitting percentage, forcing 21 kills and 33 digs from the Cougars in their first-ever tournament appearance.
Set 1: Dominant Start
The Cardinals opened with a commanding 7-0 run, featuring kills from Luper and DeBeer. Louisville hit .550 for the set, registering 16 kills and two aces while limiting Chicago State to a .086 hitting percentage.
Set 2: Competitive Mid-Set Battle
Although Chicago State closed the gap to 12-11, Louisville responded with a 5-0 run, highlighted by four blocks from Maldonado Diaz and Sherman. The Cardinals sealed the set with an ace from Elena Scott and a kill from Payton Petersen.
Set 3: Closing in Style
Louisville stormed to a 13-2 lead with multi-point runs and contributions from Kong, Robins, Luper, and Sherman. The Cougars managed a brief 4-0 run, but the Cardinals stayed in control, clinching the set and match with Sherman’s kill at 25-13.
Next Match
With this victory, Louisville advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face No. 8 seed Northern Iowa on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Yum! Center. Northern Iowa impressed in their first-round win, setting the stage for a competitive matchup.
Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly acknowledged the challenge ahead: “UNI plays a great brand of volleyball, and when you face teams like that, they force you to be sharp on your side of the net.”
The Cardinals will look to continue their march toward the championship, backed by their home crowd and the momentum of Friday’s dominant performance.
