Robins to UT Martin -- Cheerleading Debate -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Seygan Robins to UT Martin

Seygan (left) with Kasa Robinson

Seygan Robins announced yesterday that she will continue her student-athlete/basketball pursuits at UT Martin.  Robins will have three years of eligibility remaining with the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions.

Robins hails from Harrodsburg, KY., and was 2018 Miss Kentucky Basketball.  She was also a two-time state champion at Mercer County.

"We are so excited to have Seygan join our women's basketball program," said UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan.  "Seygan's versatility could put her in a lot of places that can help us.  The thing I like most about her is that she is a tough, hard-nosed winner after playing for Jeff Walz, Chris Souder and David Tapley.  She is a great kid and a perfect fit to the culture of our program."

Louisville and UT Martin have played every year for the last six years with the Cards winning all of the meetings.  It is likely that the two will face each other next season.

Emma Davis

Robins played in 26 games as a Cardinal in 2018-19. She matched her career high in 2018 against UT Martin with sic points. The 2019-20 season was a rough one for her. She injured an ankle and went in for surgery after just playing in two games. She successfully applied for red-shirt status.

At UT Martin, she'll join her former Mercer County H.S. teammate Emma Davis. . Davis, a 5'10" guard, will be a junior for the 2020-21 season. Emma has  played in 54 games as a SkyHawk and started two. She has 104 career points.

Everyone at Cardinal Couple wishes Seygan Robins the best in her time at UT Martin and we look forward to seeing the impact she makes in her time there
.

Cheerleading Debate

Yesterday went from the wild news of the firing of Kentucky's four cheer coaches following a three-month investigation to a highly controversial article posted by a local news station.

If you're waiting to see what I have to say about what happened at UK keep on scrolling.  I am not here to bash another college athletics program.

For those who did not read the article, it went from discussing the investigation and what led to the firing of the coaches to accusing cheerleading (and dancing) student-athletes as being nothing but a distraction and a sexual objectification at games with words like "underdressed", "overexposed", and "titillating" used.  The article was met with plenty of disagreements, including myself as I voiced my opinion.

By the time the sun set the article was heavily revised from its original version, with the sexist remarks removed altogether.

As someone who photographs cheer and dance and has gotten to know many of the members over the years I can vouch that cheer and dance activities are much more than supposedly being targeted at slutty clothing and sexual objectification.

The student-athletes put forth ample hours of practice and gym time as they stay in shape and perfect their routine.  Like other sports, they compete for a national championship either through UCA/UDA or NCA/NDA.

Note: UofL competes through NCA/NDA while UK competes in UCA/UDA, so the two never directly compete against each other.

The stunts they pull off are impressive and something a majority of us could not do even if we tried.  From the easier skills such as tumbling to the more difficult routines that involve multiple members and some of them going airborne, each move requires precision to execute it to perfection, just like other sports.

Outfits have often been controversial with many people claiming the outfits being too revealing.  However, the outfits are designed for both comfort and flexibility.  The same as volleyball players wearing spandex, tennis players wearing skirts, or swimmers wearing form-fitting clothing, outfits are designed for more than just visual pleasure.

A longtime cheerleader shared her thoughts in a response to the local reporter in an article posted by Kentucky Sports Radio.  I shared it on my Facebook and Twitter (@mrandersonjared) if you want to read her response.

If you got a chance to read the original article where many accusations were thrown around, we would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic but also slowly start to reopen things make sure to take precautions and also use common sense.  Please stay safe.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared

Essential vs. Non-Essential -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WILL, WHEN AND HOW

I had a prolonged discussion with a long-time Cardinal women's sports fan (via phone) yesterday that I hadn't been in contact with in awhile. Although we covered a wide variety of topics and subjects, the most interesting part of our chat evolved around the slow restart of events and athletics in our world. 

This fan is a firm believer that we need to "proceed as normal" this fall with sports on the UofL campus. That was an area of dissension between us. I don't know when we'll be able to go back to the "old normal". I fear that this fall may be too soon to go to that "old normal". Especially with the prospects of a virus vaccine not being envisioned until the end of 2020. 

The "old normal" seems a bit unattainable right now. I'll lay that out for you. 

Let's say that I'm headed to campus to cover a UofL women's athletic sporting event as a media representative. It starts with parking. Will I be able to "socially distance" my parking? My next step is getting out of my vehicle. In addition to gathering the things I need to cover the event as a media representative, I'll need to add to the list a couple of things.

 A mask and hand sanitizer.

The rules may eventually stipulate that I can't bring anything in the venue, as well. Will photographers be allowed cameras? Will I be allowed a laptop and recording device? The virus can live on surfaces for varying times, you know. 

So, I'm walking to the venue. I'll normally go to the designed area I enter, go through a security "bag check" and chat a bit with the security personnel. How do we "social distance" that activity? And, with proper spacing, how long will that procedure take? I usually walk right up to the security checkpoint. At six-feet distancing, it might take a lot longer to get in. 

After getting clearance, it's to the press box. I'll normally see a few people I know on the way to the coverage area. A stop to chat in close proximity, maybe shake hands or exchange a quick hug or mutual pat on the back.

As our governor is fond of saying these days: 

"You can't do that."



Then, it's the dilemma of seating and spacing inside the press box. Press boxes can be crowded venues with the sports information director, timekeeper, stat keeper, shot clock operator, various student-interns performing various tasks, a public address announcer and members of the media. That's just to begin with, in terms of personnel. How do you socially distance all of those people in a limited area? 

We're still an hour before game time, dear friends. 

I do believe it's going to take quite some time to get back to the "old normal" and I haven't even got to, by far, the most important topic in "game day" procedures. 

The health and safety of the student-athletes that will be performing. 

How do your socially distance game action? The huddles, the player-on-player competition for control of the ball, defensive strategies, gatherings on the sidelines and other player interactions? Taking care of our student-athletes is job #1, but how can you have them compete in masks? After all, they have to breathe.  How do you socially distance multiple post-game interviews? 

The "old normal" is a ways down the path, I fear. Just how the "new normal" will look is anyone's guess.

Essential vs. Non-essential. Health and safety vs fan enjoyment. What are the rules ahead going to be? 

I watched horse racing on TV yesterday. No, the horses aren't wearing masks and neither are the jockeys -- but all the other people involved are. The trainers, hot walkers, paddock staff, out-riders and the other essential people getting a horse ready to run in a race are in masks. No, they aren't having a jockey reaching for hand-sanitizer or washing his (or her) hands in hot water in the winner's circle immediately after winning a race...but I'm confident the staging area for the jockeys before and after races are well-sanitized and spaced. I'm confident the massive barn areas where the horses are brought from and returned to on race day -- plus all the other days where they are taken care of -- are protecting the personnel involved in conducting the care and training of the horses. 

So...

Player A scores. There is no team, group celebration/hugging and high-fiving afterwards Do the teams on the field run over to the sidelines for hand sanitizer squirts from a bottle or immediately wash their hands in hot water and soap? Is there a nose swab and temperature check?

I haven't even got into the fan aspect of attending games yet. That's a completely different and complicated subject that I don't have the time, knowledge or guidance on to discuss properly here yet. How many fans are let in and who get to ( or wants to) attend?  If any at all? 

I have football season tickets. I'm not sure I'm ready to give hugs, exchange high-fives and scream in joy with my friends
sitting around me just yet. 

Interesting times ahead, readers. Yes, indeed. 

Our political leaders, NCAA and conference directors and personnel will come up with something. Whether it'll be effective first time out of the gate remains to be seen. 

I don't think any of us want to see the "curve go back up" again. Proceed cautiously. These days of having our cake and eating it, too are gone. Get used to it for awhile. 


paulie
xxxxx

     

Academic Excellence for UofL Athletics -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Academic Excellence

The NCAA recently released an updated Academic Progress Report, which tracks the academic success of student athletes in a program across multiple years.  The Cardinals continue to do well in this area, with five UofL programs showing particularly high marks.

Both basketball squads, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, and Volleyball all were highlighted for being in the top 10 percent of programs nationwide.

Women's Basketball posted a 3.688 GPA for the spring semester - better than any GPA I ever maintained at any level of schooling - and a 3.415 for the academic year.  This marks the highest semester GPA for the squad in Jeff Walz' tenure, and the 2nd highest academic year GPA in his time as coach.  Thanks to social media, we know that one great contributor to that GPA was Dana Evans, who reported in with straight As in the spring semester.  Evans and Jazmine Jones were both named to the All-ACC Academic team.  Jones, Bionca Dunham, Kylee Shook, and Yacine Diop all graduated this spring.

Volleyball posted an amazing 3.845 GPA for the spring semester, with the whole team checking in
with 3.0 or better GPAs and 11 of them were above a 3.25.  Six players had a perfect 4.0 GPA, and while not explicitly listed, we can take a guess that they were Tori Dilfer, Alexis Hamilton, Aiko Jones, Melanie McHenry, Anna Stevenson and Amaya Tillman, as they were all named to the All-ACC Academic team.  McHenry was also awarded the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship for Volleyball.  McHenry expects to complete her undergraduate degree in December.

Softball's Celene Funke picked up a CoSIDA Academic All-District nod, which makes her eligible for the Academic All-American honor as well.  Funke, who just finished her 4th year of eligibility and will get another and return due to the spring sports seasons getting cut short by Covid-19, graduated with her undergraduate degree in Finance last May with a perfect 4.0.  She is a year into her MBA studies already and will get a 2nd year of it while still on scholarship.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

It was a bit of a rough outing for the CCRH yesterday.  We had a bit of an abortive start due to audio issues on my laptop.  I didn't have my normal headset (which uses a TRRS 3.5mm jack) and instead was using some USB-C earbuds.  I had to adjust the audio setup to accommodate and didn't get it quite right to start with.  I got it adjusted and we got the show started at about 2:30 in the stream.  You can also tell the quality of my audio is not quite what it normally is, though Case, Paulie, and Jared came across normally.  Earbuds just don't have the same quality of audio as a decent headset mic does (and you can also hear the earbud mic scraping against my beard, alas).

I also had Internet issues - again - and switched before the show started to my backup connection using my mobile phone.  Near the end of the show, that dropped out leading to garbled audio near the end and even eventually the stream just quit.

We did have some great discussions, looking into Lindsey Duvall's next steps, covered Soccer Head Coach Karen Ferguson Dayes' teleconference, the Softball teleconference with Holly Aprile, Caitlin Ferguson, and Celene Funke. 

We also brought back the Cardinal Couple quiz, but it fell prey to the above mentioned Internet issues.  I'm OK with not discussing it,  it since I ended up with only 30 points out of the possible 120.

You can check out the show below.

-- 

JMcA

Effects of Lost Revenue Continue to Spread -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Impacts on College Sports Draw Nearer to P5 Conferences

To this point, the loss of revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic has yet to truly impact the athletics of Power 5 conferences and their member schools. UofL's layoffs were definitely caused by the situation, but they were not direct impacts to the athletic teams and programs. Cincinnati, a P5 adjacent, was one of the first schools to make a move, canceling men's soccer. Since that time, more schools have shuttered more programs.

Thursday, Akron announced their elimination of men's golf, men's cross country, and women's tennis. Not only eliminating sports, though, Akron will also be closing six of their eleven colleges to attempt to save up to $70 million. By one count on twitter, Akron's move brings the total number of sports eliminated across all levels to 78, 40 men's teams and 38 women's teams. These eliminations include some colleges and universities closing completely. To date, only eight D1 programs had been cut.

At the same time as Akron was cutting non-revenue sports, their conference was making financial decisions itself. The MAC announced on Friday that eight sports in the conference would no longer participate in a post-season conference tournament: baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, field hockey, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis. This moratorium on conference tournaments is set to take effect for "at least four" years in an effort to save the conference money. 

Another cost saving technique that the conference announced is that the conference's football coaches have been directed to no longer stay in hotels the night before hosting a football game. The long standing tradition of home teams staying in hotels is generally meant to reduce campus distractions and more effectively enforce curfews on football players the night before a home game. Some coaches have already implied that this may help to create an advantage for visiting teams who are removed from this distraction by default. 

While these measures have not yet been seen at the top levels of college athletics, it may be fair to say that this is only a matter of time. Earlier I mentioned UofL's layoffs. These show how tight of a budget athletics programs operate on and how big of an impact the loss of revenue can have. Louisville is not the only school to have taken measures such as these. They will not be the last. The next major question is whether or not fall sports, college football in particular, will be able to take place. The debate has raged for a few weeks now, and one of the major factors at this point is if schools will even return to session. No students on campus means no student-athletes at the facility. Another question is whether or not conferences will break off to do their own thing. At this point, the PAC-12 seems pretty likely to not open campuses this fall. However, will the SEC reorganize their season to ensure college football goes on in the south? No one really knows yet.

One thing is clear, though. College football matters to the bottom line, especially in the Power 5. TV deals are lucrative, but they typically don't pay out when the product isn't available to be put on TV. Whether or not college football comes to a campus near you this fall could make or break a number of teams, as the nest eggs that athletics programs have on hand are already running short. It's a long way out, but if college basketball is made to miss another Big Dance in addition to no football, all bets will be off.

We are still all on pins and needles. I don't want to alarm anyone with my speculation, but it seems fair to be realistic about the possibilities at play. As fans of programs that are oft forgotten, we don't want to see them go by the wayside in the event that things get worse. As long as UofL keeps supporting these programs, you can bet that Cardinal Couple will too. Continue joining us for wherever the ride takes us.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour

Now that I've put everyone through their daily gloom and doom, join us for the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour! I'll try to avoid talking about what I just wrote because it gives me anxiety to think about. However, there were a few teleconferences this week that were part of the site and we should have a full house to discuss them and any other ongoings from this past week.

Paulie has also hinted about a return of the Worldwide Cardinal Couple Quiz, so that could be an additional element to today's show. That is, of course, if he isn't standing by the fence in the Churchill Downs parking lot in a rainsuit screaming at the horses and enjoying beverages. Check out his picks for the sloppy, soggy card today at  -- PAULIE'S PICKS

Tune in to the Cardinal Couple YouTube Channel at 11 AM for all of the joy and excitement of UofL women's athletics.

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-

Teleconference with Softball's Holly Aprile, Caitlin Ferguson and Celene Funke -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SOFTBALL SPEAKS

FUNKE

A great opportunity to take part in a teleconference Thursday with Louisville head softball coach Holly Aprile and senior student-athletes Caitlin Ferguson and Celene Funke. 

The nearly 30 minute teleconference provided a lot of information on a wide variety of subjects. We heard Holly reveal her thoughts about both Funke and Ferg, her thoughts on the 2021 squad and lineup adjustments and her analysis of the shortened 2020 season.  

Holly also discussed the task behind replacing Ferguson at short-stop and a possible look at all the infield positions for rearrangement to best suit the needs of the team.  

FERG

From the two student-athletes, we heard then discuss the decisioning behind whether to stay for the additional granted year or to go and the reasoning behind the choices. Caitlin discussed why she is not using the additional season (she's going on to pursue pharmaceutical studies) and Celene outlined her reasons to come back for another year.

A great question and answer session yesterday and some very thoughtful and meaningful words from all three participants. 

You can watch the teleconference in its entirety at the link below:  

LINK:  HOLLY, CAITLIN AND CELENE

HOLLY

We wish Caitlin the best in her further pursuit of academics and a eventual career.

For Celene, the best season ever in her final year and success in her role as President of The Student Athletic Advisory Committee in 2020-21. 

We hope Holly has her best season ever at Louisville (or anywhere!) 


Thanks to the UofL S.I.D.'s for organizing the teleconference!  

Have a fantastic Friday! 


paulie
xxxxx

Funke Returns -- Duvall to NKU -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Funke Returns

Celene Funke and UofL officially announced that the center fielder would return for a fifth season.  The Carmel, Ind., product saw her senior season cut short to due the outbreak of COVID-19, so she qualified for an extra year.

We have known for some time that Funke was planning to return for another year, but we were waiting on the process of Funke submitting the request to UofL and then the NCAA for clearance of that extra season.

Funke is scheduled to be on a teleconference today with fellow graduated senior Caitlin Ferguson and Louisville Softball head coach Holly Aprile today. Paulie will have the recap tomorrow here at CARDINAL COUPLE

On the decision to return, Funke states:

"I am excited that I will be returning for a fifth year! I would like to thank Coach Holly Aprile, Vince Tyra, the ACC, the NCAA and all other support staff that have made this fifth year possible," Funke released in a virtual letter.  "I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to play in front of CardNation for one more year."

I think I speak for all of the Cardinal Couple crew when I say that we are thrilled to see her return for one more year!



Duvall Transferring to NKU

Lindsey Duvall announced last night on Instagram (@little_duv5) that she will be continuing her basketball career at Northern Kentucky University.  She announced recently her plans to leave Louisville to further her skills at another university, which Coach Jeff Walz supported the entire way. She later confirmed the transfer to the Norse in a Twitter exchange with Paulie.

"Excited for the next step but thankful for the ones that led me here! #NorseUp," Duvall said.

We are sad to see the Bullitt East product and 2017 Miss Kentucky Basketball leave us, but also wish her the best in her final two years of eligibility. Duvall averaged 23 minutes a game last year for the Cards and 5.2 points per game.

Norse head coach Camryn Whitaker has not released an official statement yet.


SCHEDULING AND A QUESTION FOR YOU

2020-2021 UofL WBB opponents have not been released, but Walz loves to face in-state teams, including four last season, so there is a good chance we may still see Duvall play in person before her career ends.

Most collegiate programs are starting to look at scheduling changes and playing schools in a closer proximity to each other, because of travelling concerns created by the CoronaVirus and also because of decreased revenues.

Pop Quiz: Can you name the four in-state teams UofL played last season?  Two of them were at home and two of them were on the road.

Remember to stay safe!  Gloves and masks can be your ally when used properly.

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared

Women's Soccer Head Coach Karen Ferguson Dayes Teleconference -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

KAREN FERGUSON DAYES

I was presented with the opportunity to join a teleconference with Louisville Women's Soccer head coach Karen Ferguson Dayes on Monday and pleased to bring you that teleconference in today's column. 

Coach mentioned right off the bat that this was her first teleconference from home and she buried it right into the back of the net -- to use a soccer term. I had the opportunity to ask Coach KFD several questions during the presentation and, quite honestly, I used the format from the phone interview I did with her last week. 

As we go through this strange period in our nation's and this world's existence, it remains quite important to hear the words and reflect on the thoughts of those who are essential to our forms of entertainment.

 With soccer traditionally being one of the first sports to start the fall season in college athletics, it's good to hear about the student-athletics, the coaches' planning and thoughts and the prospects of the future.

You can watch the teleconference at the link below: 

LINK:   KAREN FERGUSON DAYES TELECONFERENCE

We wait to see what policies and timelines the ACC will relay to their college sports members for the fall. Hearing Karen's words and thoughts make it clear that the Louisville women's Soccer team will be ready to go and poised to continue and build upon the successes of last season.

A special thanks to  Louisville women's soccer asst. SID Nick Evans for arranging the event.
And, most certainly, a big "thank you" to Coach Karen for updating and filling us in on how she and Louisville women's soccer is doing ! 

Word is that Louisville Softball's head Coach Holly Aprile and student-athletes Celene Funke and Caitlin Ferguson will be holding a teleconference on Thursday. I'll join in and bring it to you in my Friday column. 

The Thursday Cardinal Couple article places Jared Anderson in the batter's box, so check back in with us tomorrow and see what's on his mind!  


LOUISVILLE WBB RECRUITING NUMBERS

I tend to spend more time "surfing the Internet" these days (don't we all?) in these days of "stay at home" and social distancing guidelines.

A site that I like to check is Her Hoop Stats . Their newsletters are great reads on women's basketball. 

A recent analysis of NCAAWBB recruiting revealed some interesting statistics. They checked the last ten years and came up with an article on which schools were winning the recruiting battles since 2010. They listed the number of Top 100 recruits and Top Ten recruits and Louisville Women's Basketball came in fourth in their rankings. The complete Top Ten is listed below: 

SCHOOL                     TOP 100 SINCE 2010                    TOP 10 SINCE 2010

1) DUKE                              33                                                10
2) STANFORD                       29                                                 3
3) MARYLAND                      28                                                 5
4) LOUISVILLE                    28                                                 4
5) CONNECTICUT                 27                                                11
6) TENNESSEE                     26                                                 10
7) BAYLOR                          26                                                  5
8) NOTRE DAME                  24                                                  6
9) TEXAS                            22                                                  4                                             10) SOUTH CAROLINA         22                                                  6     


These leaderboards are also a great example that recruiting doesn’t guarantee success. Duke, who has the most top-100 and second most top-10 commitments over the past 10 years, hasn’t appeared in the Final Four since 2005-06. Texas has gotten past the Sweet 16 just one time since 2002-03. Recruiting is an important part of developing a program, but it’s not the only part.                                         


Over the past 10 years, the NCAA WBB Tournament Champions have been: 

CONNECTICUT           5 TITLES
BAYLOR                     2 TITLES
SOUTH CAROLINA      1 TITLE
TEXAS A&M               1 TITLE
NOTRE DAME             1 TITLE

On Louisville's Top Ten, most of you probably remember Asia Durr as being one of the four. 

Here's your Wednesday homework.  Can you name the other three? 


Have a wonderful, wet Wednesday !  (it's raining here in Louisville as i write this). 



paulie
xxxxx

Favorite Games -- Ferg's Farewell -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Jared's Favorite Games

Jared Anderson takes a look back at some of his favorite UofL women's athletic games today



Last week, I mentioned some of my favorite Cardinals.  Today, I am going to discuss some of my favorite games.  My only requirement for myself is that I had to have been physically present at the game, meaning TV, online, and live stats do  not qualify.  You can set your own requirements, though.


Field Hockey vs Duke, Nov. 3, 2017

Ayeshia

In the ACC Semifinal match hosted at Trager Stadium back in 2017, UofL went up against a highly ranked Duke team.  The foes traded goals and were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation.  Neither team could muster a goal in either overtime period so it went into a shootout.

Nicole Woods, Marisa Martin Pelegrina, Katie Walsh, and Minout Mink knocked in goals to win the shootout 4-3.  Ayeisha McFerran stood firm in goal and made a defensive stance on the final shot.

The victory advanced the Cards to their first ever ACC Championship appearance.

The 4-3 overtime win against #21 Ohio State in 2012 and and 3-2 overtime win over #6 Iowa in 2019 came in as "runners-up' in my favorite Field Hockey games. .

Soccer vs North Carolina, Oct. 8, 2015

Gabi Vincent

Going a little further back and to my Louligans days, I fondly remember a Thursday night match
against #1 North Carolina.  Louisville was struggling that season but that did not matter when the match was over.

The Tar Heels held a 1-0 advantage going into halftime but the Cards answered quickly in the second half off of a free kick by Gabrielle Vincent.  Another free kick in overtime sealed the win for the Cards when Caroline Kimble sent the ball into the back of the net.

This is the only time Louisville Women's Soccer has knocked off the #1 team.

The wins over Clemson and Vanderbilt this past season are my choices for "runner-up"  matches.

Softball vs Florida State, April 8, 2019

Rebecca Chung

Let's go to a more recent time to Holly Aprile's first season as the softball head coach.  Louisville was having a good season that finished with an NCAA Regional appearance.  The Cards and Seminoles were tied in the series at one apiece when they met up for a Monday night match-up on ESPN.

FSU shot out of the starting gate with three runs in the first inning.  The Cards pieced together seven runs over the third, fourth, and fifth innings.  But the #3 team in the country wouldn't bow down so quick as they posted a six-piece in the top of the final inning.

With the bases loaded, two outs, and down by two, Rebecca Chung sent a line drive to right center field, scoring Caitlin Ferguson, Megan Hensley, and Sidney Melton for the walk-off.

It marked Florida State's first conference series loss in seven years.

The win a couple weeks later over Kentucky came runner-up in my favorites. .

Volleyball vs North Carolina, Nov. 19, 2017

Melanie McHenry

Louisville went into a thrilling five-setter against North Carolina on Senior Day in Cardinal Arena.

 The Cards won the first two sets before the Tar Heels responded by taking the next two sets.

UofL and UNC were tied 8-8 in the fifth set before Louisville went on a 7-3 run to close the match.  The match was highlighted by Melanie McHenry's 30 kills and Molly Sauer and Gabbie Wiley going off for 25 and 28 digs, respectively.

The win concluded a perfect home season for the Cards.  A pair of road victories to close the season clinched the ACC title after the Cards were picked to finish 8th in the preseason poll.

The 3-1 win over Georgia Tech in November of 2015 and 3-2 win over Notre Dame in October 2018 were runner-up matches in my favorite choices. .

Women's Basketball vs Cal, April 7, 2013

Sara Hammond

Let's go way back to my freshman year for this one.  I was in the  pep band for the Final Four in New Orleans when Louisville faced California.

The Bears held a 10-point halftime lead in a defensive battle.  Louisville held a 17-point advantage in the second half and held on to get the win and advance to their second title game in program history. A 64-57 final against Lindsay Gottlieb's Golden Bears

Sara Hammond scored all nine of her points in the second half.  Antonia Slaughter and Bria Smith powered the way with 18 and 17 points.  All of Nita Slaughter's points came from three-point range.

This was the same tournament run where the Cards knocked down 16 three-pointers to upset Brittney Griner and #1 Baylor, which I watched on TV.  Sadly, the championship game against UConn was pretty ugly after the first seven minutes.

The 100-67 win over Notre Dame in 2018 and the 78-69 victory over UConn in 2019 came in runner-up's in my favorites. .

Lacrosse vs Vanderbilt, Feb. 22, 2017

Hannah Koloski

I did not pick up lacrosse until my later years as a student, but this one came when I went as a fan

The Cards were in a tight battle against their rival from Tennessee.  Vandy scored two goals in a two and a half minute span towards the end of the match to tie the game.

With four seconds remaining, the speed demon Hannah Koloski raced down the pitch to score the eventual game winner.  The final score ended up being 11-10.

This was one of the few bright spots in Kellie Young's final season which saw a mass exodus of players.

The 20-2 win over Mercer in February 2019 and the 16-11 over Cincinnati this past season came in as my runner-up matches for favorites. .

What are some of your favorite games?  You can set your own requirements on what qualifies.


Ferg's Farewell

#12 Caitlin Ferguson

As announced by Case on in his Saturday Cardinal Couple article and on the Carrdinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast, Caitlin Ferguson has decided to forego her fifth year option with softball.  She accepted a position in pharmacy school at UK, although she still bleeds red.

"Ferg" and Celene Funke were the only two seniors on Holly Aprile's squad and had the opportunity to return to the team for the spring 2021 season because of the shortened season in 2020.

Caitlin was a starter in all four years of her student-athlete time at Louisville, at either third base, shortstop, the outfield or first base. She started every game at shortstop her final two years.  Her career stats at the plate were a batting average of .256, 11 home runs and 92 runs batted in. Her four-year fielding average was an incredible .928.


She shared this letter on social media yesterday:


"Dear CardNation,
The majority of my life has revolved around softball. I fell in love with this sport when I was a mere six years old. Every fall and winter consisted of softball and basketball. Every spring was softball season and of course, every summer, since I can remember was spent traveling the country for games. My dream was to play softball at the Division I level. Well, I can say I have truly lived out that dream.
 
My four years at the University of Louisville have been nothing short of the best experience I have ever had. I have made lifelong friendships and memories that I will never forget. I believe that this sport has shaped the person I have become and has equipped me to succeed in the real world. Skills like self-discipline, teamwork and overcoming adversity do not really sink in until you live and practice them every day. I feel like playing any college sport at this level prepares you for anything that life can throw at you.
 
Although I would have LOVED to continue my softball career, I have decided to continue my education and go to pharmacy school next fall. Nothing can make this transition easy, especially when I have been an athlete my entire life, but I am very eager to begin my pharmacy career.
 
I want to thank my coaches, parents and the fans for all of their support. I also want to thank the athletic department for giving me opportunity to play softball for the University of Louisville. And I thank God for giving me the ability to play this sport and blessing me with an opportunity to play at the Division I level. Without all of you, none of this would have been possible.
 
So, this is my farewell CardNation. I will cherish every minute I spent playing this sport, from tee ball to college. It has been an honor to represent the University of Louisville and play on Don Dobina Field.
 
Sincerely,
Ferg #14"


We thank Ferg four her four years of dedication with the Cards and are sorry her senior season got cut short.  We wish her the best in grad school. She, Celene Funke and Coach Holly Aprile are scheduled for a teleconference this Thursday and Paulie will bring it to us in Friday's column.

Remember to continue to stay safe.  Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared

A Cardinal Couple Quiz -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

A CARDINAL COUPLE QUIZ

"You ready for this Sam? Sure, Jaz!" 

As we go into the traditionally "dead" months for UofL women's athletics (in normal times), one of the things we've liked to do in past years is put a quiz out there to let you test yourself how well you are keeping up with things. 

The quiz was a staple of our radio show THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR during the summer months and I'll attempt to bring it back for our weekly podcast this Saturday.

 Like anything these days, a few modifications will be needed, we won't be able to see our participants flash an answer on a mini-white board, I've misplaced the bell for a "right" answer and a couple of other things will be missing, but, I'm sure we'll be able to get through it in typical disorderly and "wheels-off the-track" fashion.

Jeff will probably argue answers and disrupt the proceedings, Case will complain he doesn't know much about the subject matter and refuse to take the bonus question. Jared will change his answer two or three times after asking me to repeat the question.

It ain't easy being me.... 

Today, let's look at student-athletes and coaches in the quiz. After all, they are why there are college athletics. 

DA RULES: 

You get 10 points for each correct answer. I'll toss in the bonus after the 10 questions, optional for the quiz taker, where you can either gain 20 points or lose 20 points depending on your answer. The bonus, again, is optional. 

No "peeking up your sleeve" for answers or conferring with Google or Siri for the right answer. You are on the "honor" system. Keep your eyes on your own keyboard and let us know how did in the comments section.  

OK. Here we go. Drum roll, please, for the student athlete/coaches quiz, maestro! 


1) UofL WBB has four new student-athletes joining the roster for 2020-21. Three are listed below. Which of the four listed below ISN'T one of them? 

(A) Olivia Cochran   (B) Callie McKinney  (C) Hailey Van Lith  (D) Ahlana Smith


2) We all know what a great rebounding season Kylee Shook had. Who, though, was second on the roster in rebounds?  

(A) Elizabeth Balogun  (B)  Bionca Dunham  (C) Yacine Diop  (D) Jazmine Jones


3) Who led Scott Teeter's Lacrosse team in scoring for 2020? 

(A) Ally Hall  (B) Caroline Blalock  (C) Hannah Morris  (D) Shayla Scanlan 


4) Louisville WBB had a new assistant coach this season. Who was it? 

(A) Jonneshia Pineda  (B) Penny Jones  (C) John Malkovich  (D)  Felicia Grenada 


5)  Louisville Softball recently had their shortstop graduate. What is her name? 

(A) Aiko Jones  (B) Holly Aprile  (C) Caitlin Ferguson  (D) Maddy Newman


6) Dana Evans returns for her senior year. Hooray!! Which is her hometown? 

(A) Gary, IN  (B) Fort Wayne, IN  (C) Kalamazoo, MI  (D) Cicero, IL


7)  Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook were selected in the WNBA Draft by the same team. Who selected them? 

(A) New York Liberty  (B) Phoenix Mercury  (C) Indiana Fever  (D) Connecticut Sun


8)  Mykasa Robinson, Louisville guard, has a nickname. What is it? 

(A) "Mike"  (B)  "Robbie"  (C) "Kasa"  (D) "Micro" 


9)  Jeff Walz came to Louisville from which of these Universities? 

(A) Michigan  (B) Vanderbilt  (C) Florida State  (D) Maryland


10)  Need an assist? Ask this UofL WBB student-athlete. She led Louisville in assists. 

(A)  Jazmine Jones  (B) Dana Evans  (C)  Mykasa Robinson  (D) Elizabeth Balogun


BONUS:  WBB's Beth Burns' official title is: 

(A) Sports Performance Coach  (B) Executive Director/Player Relations  (C)  Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach  (D)  Special Assistant to Jeff Walz


So, how did you do?   Answers below: 

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/

/

/

/

/

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1) B  -  Callie McKinney
2) D  -  Jazmine Jones
3) C  -  Hannah Morris
4) A  -  Jonneshia Pineda 
5) C  -  Caitlin Ferguson
6) A  -  Gary, IN
7) A  -  New York Liberty
8) C  -  Kasa
9) D  -  Maryland
10) B -- Dana Evans

BONUS - C - Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach 



HAve a meaningful Monday. 


paulie
xxxxx