Softball set for NCAA regional....Volleyball releases schedule -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

PITCHING, OFFENSE KEY FOR LOUISVILLE SOFTBALL AGAINST NEBRASKA

A drizzly, overcast Tuesday afternoon did not dampen the spirits of the Louisville Softball team as they loaded up the bus in front of the Student Athletic Center for the trip to Columbia, MO for the NCAA Regionals. 

Paulie made the trek to campus to get reactions from several of the players about the bid and the tournament. The entire interviews will played on our Saturday morning radio show...THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR...but here are some highlights from our talks with Michala Riggle, Lillie Goetz and Jordan McNary.

Michala Riggle is a freshman on the Cardinal squad and a valuable reserve coming off the bench for Sandy Pearsall. At 5'9", she has the size and also the skills to become a very important first baseman for Louisville in the future. We asked her about the change in nature of the Louisville softball team since the first meeting with Nebraska back in February. 

" I think we've grown closer together as a team. With each other and also as better ballplayers. As a freshman, the upperclassmen have told us what to expect in the tournament. I'm excited to see and experience it for myself." 

Riggle has wanted to be a Cardinal softball player since the age of 10 and sees her role as being a good and supportive teammate this season and learning the game's mental aspects.

Lillie Goetz, another freshman, is out of Owensboro, KY and was pressed into action early in the season at third base while Hailey Smith recovered from a shoulder injury. She offered her thoughts on facing Nebraska for the second time this season.

" I think that Nebraska has a solid lineup. They have a couple of girls in the beginning of the lineup that can do small ball and they have a lot of power going through the middle. I think, though, if we play defense like we can and swing the bats like we can, we'll be good." 

Goetz liked the first-time experience of the ACC Tournament and thinks the Cardinal lineup is strong and has a good chance of getting out of the regionals and into the Super regionals. 

Jordan McNary is considered one of the fastest Cardinals and the junior from Madisonville, KY has had a fruitful career beating out "slap" hits to get to first base. We asked the left-fielder about improving on the previous experience the Cards had in Columbia last year. 

" We're going to try and work on the small things and not go for the big shots. Putting the ball in play and making things happen.  

We asked McNary about that blinding speed she shows on the base paths: 

"It was pretty much a natural thing, I really didn't have too work on it too much. My mom was a track athlete and I got a lot of practice chasing my brother who would run from me."

We also discussed Jordan's announcement that she was running for President and you can hear that hilarious exchange on our exclusive interview on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR this Saturday on WCHQ 100.9 FM at 11 a.m. Given the state of current politics, why not Jordan?

Consistent pitching, making contact with the ball at the plate, dependable defense and getting home the runners on base. All basic elements for success in the game of softball and the things that the Cards will try to do better than the Cornhuskers when they match up Thursday, 5:30 p.m. on ESPN 2.



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VOLLEYBALL RELEASES 2016 SCHEDULE

As one sport goes into its final stages of their season, we now get a glimpse into what the next campaign will look like for a fall sport. Louisville Volleyball has released their 2016 Schedule and it looks to be a very competitive one. We'll leave the analytical review to our wide-net guru Worldwide once he has had time to study it...here's the highlights. 

Louisville will play 15 regular season home matches in 2016. Included are eight opponents who played in the NCAA Championships in 2015. Nine of the ten Cards' ACC home games will be at the KFC YUM! Center

The Cards start it off on the road in Bowling Green, OH for a tournament that will include BGSU, Oakland and VCU. Returning home, Anne Kordes' squad will host the Active Ankle Challenge and have invited Auburn, Santa Clara and Stony Brook in to compete. The ACC/Big Ten Challenge for Louisville will take place in Chapel Hill, NC and the Cards will serve it up against Minnesota and Wisconsin...two powerhouse programs who've had great and recent success in the NCAA Tournament. 

The Cards will host Kentucky and Lipscomb in mid-September to close out the non-conference part of the schedule. Both squads were NCAA Tournament participants in 2015. 

The ACC slate look ever-challenging...starting on the road at Notre Dame and then a trip to Florida State. We've listed the ACC schedule below and certainly hope the Cards prepare well for this very tough slate of games! 

ACC Matches  

 Friday Sept. 23 at Notre Dame South Bend, IN 7:00p 

 Sunday Sept. 25 at Florida State Tallahassee, FL 1:00 

 Friday Sept. 30 Wake Forest KFC Yum! Center 7:00p 

 Sunday Oct. 2 Duke KFC Yum! Center 1:00p 

 Friday Oct. 7   at Boston College Boston, MA 7:00p 

 Sunday Oct. 9 at Syracuse Syracuse, NY 1:00p  
       
 Thursday Oct. 13 NC State KFC Yum! Center 7:00p

 Sunday Oct. 16 UNC KFC Yum! Center 1:00p 

 Friday Oct. 21 at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 7:00p 

 Sunday Oct. 23 at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA 1:00p 

 Friday Oct. 28 Florida State KFC Yum! Center 7:00p 
    
 Sunday Oct. 30 Miami KFC Yum! Center 2:00p
               
 Friday Nov. 4 at Duke Durham, NC 3:00p 

 Sunday Nov. 6 at Wake Forest Winston‐Salem, NC 1:00p 

 Wednesday Nov. 9 Notre Dame KFC Yum! Center 7:00p 

 Friday Nov. 11 Virginia Cardinal Arena 7:00p

 Friday Nov. 18 @ Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA 7:00p  

 Sunday Nov. 20 @ Clemson Clemson, SC 1:00p 

 Wednesday Nov. 23 Syracuse KFC Yum! Center 7:00p

 Friday Nov. 25 Boston College KFC Yum! Center 7:00p

PAULIE
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