Cards, Irish Volleyball at 7 p.m. but...back to back?? - WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 # 4 CARDS TOIL AGAINST IRISH TONIGHT ..AND 1 PM. SATURDAY. 

The two ACC squads battle here in the KFC Center tonight and then go to South Bend for another match a half a day later on the UND Campus. ACCNX will show them both.

We have no idea why the teams, or the ACC decided to play back to back, or maybe they had no say in the scheduling quirk. The contests are usually fun ones, though. The Cards are 12-2 going into the one. We'll have much more on it later today. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

paulie

Louisville Volleyball's Addison Makun selected ACC Defensive Player of Week - TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 SOPHOMORE CARDINALS MIDDLE BLOCKER HONORED

The role of the middle blocker in college volleyball is aptly defined in the title. Teams want to score on opponents down the middle of the court in offensive attacking. The middle blocker's duty to to answer, "No, not on my watch". And few do it better in the ACC than Addison Makun. 

Makun had 2.33 blocks per set in Louisville wins over Syracuse and Boston College. Her 50 total blocks in action this season leads the team.

Louisville has had some very good middle blockers over the past few years. Volleyball fans will remember the names Cara Cresse, Amaya Tillman, Hannah Sherman and Brooke Bultema as essential to the UL successes. They even got Bultema to transfer in from UK. And once Tillman was finished playing for the Cards, UK lured her away to be an assistant coach there. 

When you have the #4 and the #6 teams in NCAA DI Volleyball in the commonwealth, and a former coach in in charge of the #1 team in the nation (Dani Busboom Kelly - Nebraska) you could say the sport has a lot of success and popularity here. 

I remember a few years ago when I was in a Louisville sports social club and they decided to have a raffle of goods and services. I went to Louisville Volleyball to see if they might be interested in putting up an item to help in the auction. A certain operations director casually asked me if I thought the club's members might be interested in bidding on a head coach signed volleyball. I almost fell out of my chair. Yes, they would, I managed to reply. It did quite well in the raffle. That was an OK club to be in for a couple years, but there were too many people with too many of their own selfish agendas they wanted to pursue. I backed out, indicating the sandbox was a little too crowded for my pail and shovel. And ,once I got my kidney diagnosis, I tendered my resignation. 

Congratulations to Addison! Keep blocking!

paulie

Sunday brings three contests for UoL women's athletics. -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 WIN, LOSE AND DRAW FOR CARDS SUNDAY 

A very busy day for UofL women's athletics playing on the west coast, east coast and in Louisville. Let's see how the results came out, we'll start with the win. 

VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS BOSTON COLLEGE IN BEANTOWN

#4 Louisville went went to 12-2 with the straight set romp against the Eagles. The Cards took the sets 25-19, 25-21, 25-14.

Kalyssa Blackshear had 16 kills and nine aces to leads Louisville in the bird battle.  Chloe Chicoine was next with11 kills. 

The Cards return to the Ville and will bring Notre Dame on Wednesday. 

FIELD HOCKEY FALLS TO UC DAVIS 1-0

#12 Field Hockey took a surprising 1-0 loss in California to UC Davis.

After a scoreless first half, UC Davis got a goal from Molly Main in the third quarter and that concluded. the scoring. 

The loss dropped Louisville to 7-3 while the homestanding Aggies improved to 3-6. 

The Cards led in only one of the offensive categories...shots taken.  

Justine Sowry expressed disappointment . "That is a tough result for our team and credit to UC Davis for taking it to us."

UofL returns home and brings i powerhouses UNC and Stanford on Friday and Sunday.

CARDS WSOC DRAW WITH FSU AT LYNN

Ideal outdoor weather for women' s soccer and the Cards and Noles battled to a 90 minutes scoreless tie in front of the Cardinals faithful. 

Louisville had nine shots, FSU three. Each team had one on goal and the Cards tried eight penalty corners where FSU attempted just two. 

The Cards go to 8-1-2 and FSU 4-1-3.

A fun Sunday of recovering and watching on laptop and TV. 

paulie

Louisville Field Hockey, Women's Soccer and Volleyball in action Sunday -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 Volleyball, Field Hockey on road, WSOC in Lynn 

A busy day for UofL women's sports squads, with three in action. Volleyball is at Boston College, Field Hockey in California and takes on UC Davis and Women's Soccer hosts FSU on campus in Lynn Stadium. let's look at the contests. 

LOUISVILLE VOLLEYBALL IN BEANTOWN

The 11-2 Volley Cards are #4 in the AVCA Poll and 1-0 in conference. It should be a classic one.  They'll take on a B.C. squad that is 10-2 but not in the top 16 rankings.

The Eagles losses came to Vanderbilt and Dartmouth. 

Game time is 1 p.m. and ACC Network Extra (ACCN) will have the broadcast.

LOUISVILLE FIELD HOCKEY GOES TO U.C DAVIS

Cards Field Hockey goes into the UC Davis game with a record of 7-2. They are #12 in the NFHCA poll.

U.C. Davis in 2-6 on the season and is on a four game losing streak. UMass Lowell, Columbia, Northeastern, Yale, Northwestern and Northwestern have delived the defeats. They did defeat Bellarmine and Central Michigan. They are unranked. A 1:30 ET game but no broadcast information is listed.  

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S SOCCER HOSTS FSU

Cards WSOC kicks it off against FSU and the Noles are 4-1-2 and #22 in the nation. Louisville WSOC is 8-1-1 and not ranked but receiving votes. It's set for a noon start and will be shown nationwide on ESPN.

The Noles have defeated Stetson, FIU, Florida Atlantic and Georgia, , they tied Rice and NCST and lost to Florida. The Noles are not ranked at all....a rarity for them but they do have five National championships....including last season.  Don't overlook them. 

paulie

Cards FH defeat California in Overtime -- SATURDAY CARDINAAL COUPLE

 LOUISVILLE GETS THE 3-2 WIN TO GO TO 2-0 IN ACC

it was Aubreigh Uba's goal with 11:43 gone in the first overtime period that gave the Cards the win out at California . Her score ended the contest and it was the only time in the entire contest that Louisville ever lead against Golden Bears. 

#12 UofL had only nine shots against UC defense while Cal fired away at the Cards19 times

After Cal's first score, Uof L countered with a goal from Tyler Everslage.  Cal went up 2-1 a minute later but the Cards equalized it again when Mary Wordelmann tied it. 

The Cards will face UC Davis Sunday. The Cards are now 7-2 and on a three game win streak. 

pauie

VOLLEYBALL, FIELD HOCKEY IN ACTION ON FRIDAY -- FRIDAY CARDIAL COUPLE

VOLLEYCARDS AT SYRACUSE, FIELD HOCKEY GOES TO CALIFORNIA

#4 LOUISVILLE VOLLEYBALL TO FACE THE ORANGE.

The Louisville vs Syracuse rivalry used to be a "thing" when Leonid Yelin was coaching the Syracuse squad.. And , just because the Orange aren't in the top 25 anymore, Syracuse fans won't stay away and can still be to show up and boo against the Cards when they show up for the game tonight. Bakeer Ganesharatnam is their head coach. He is in his fifth season. You figure out how to pronounce his name, I'll just call him Coach B.

The Cuse is 5-4 on the season and this will be their first ACC game. They opened in a tournament in Illinois and lost to Cincinnati and the Illini. Wins over Howard and Albany followed, though..before losing to Arkansas in four sets. 

Canisius and FDU fell to the Orange before Buffalo swept then in straight sets. 

Kiernan Stamey is the clear kills artist with 117.

It'll be a 6 p.m. start and ACCNX will have the coverage. 

FIELD HOCKEY ON WEST COAST

Justine Sowry's 6-2 and #12 Louisville Field Hockey is ranked #12 and will face the #17 Cal Bears today at 5 p.m.. 

The Bears are 5-1 with just a loss to Michigan State. Louisville enters 6-2.

They show a start time of 5 p.m. Out there, you never know 

Cal's leading scorer is Liz Klompmaker is the leading scorer for Cal with six goals. Cal is coached by co-head coaches Tara and Steve Danielson, husband and wife team in their first year of coaching the Bears

It's another one set for ACCNX. 

paulie

 

Who's Next? THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 WHO'S NEXT? 

It is a question we get asked from time to time, here at Cardinal Couple, when it comes to the contests ahead for the Louisville women's sports squads. If I am in a playful mood. I wiil respond:

"Yes, an excellent release by the Who with classics such as "Baba O'Riley, "Bargain", "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" I believe the release date was summer 1971. Who can ever forget the opening chords by Pete Townsend on "Won't Get Fooled Again" once you have heard them (A,G,D) and Roger Daltry's screaming opening?" . 

After I finish ny recap, and see they are staring at me with blank eyes, I then ask them if they were referring to UofL women's athletics events. 99% percent nod yes. I apologize forr the answer, letting them know it was just a bit of old man's humor. 

Let's look at the next four days for UofL women's sports we cover and feel free to air guitar along as you listen to WHO'S NEXT

THURSDAY 9/24

All three squads we cover the most in fall sports are off. Field Hockey, Women's Soccer and Volleyball

FRIDAY 9/25

Volleyball is at Syracuse, Field Hockey is at California. WSOC still off,

SATURDAY 9/26  

All three are off.

SUNDAY 9/27

Volleyball is at Boston College, Women's Soccer hosts FSU and Field Hockey goes up against UC Davis. 

We'll have recaps and observations for you as the events come up. 

paulie

FH's Emily Young named ACC Co-Defender of the Week

 YOUNG HAS ALLOWED JUST NINE GOALS IN EIGHT GAMES

Most coaches will tell you, you need to have a solid defense to win games. When you allowed just eight goals in eight games, your goalie...in Field Hockey...is going to get a lot of the praise and credit along with her defensive unit. Louisville is (6-2) and the squad is now 10th in the latest rankings. Emily Young does the net duty and has for four years, the senior out of Houston, Texas climbed up thru the Cards ranks to be where she is today. It's the second time this season she has Defender of the Week shared honor

Young redshirted her first season on campus in 2023. She was a backup to Merljin van der Vegt. In 2024 she was the keeper in Cards wins over American University, Cornell, Ball St. and UC Davis. As the starter in 2025.she got a little better

6-2 and 4-0 so far this year .We'll take in, especiilly since the losses are against #1 Northwestern and #2 Iowa.

Keep sending them back without scoring, Cards defense and let the offense maneuver and drive. 

paulie

Where are Volleyball, WSOC and Field Hockey ranked? -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 HOW ARE THE WSOC, VB AND FH RANKED FOR CARDS?

We know all three are having good season Louisville i DI NCAA Sports..but just where are they ranked nationwide? I thought we'd take a look this Tuesday

LOUISVILLE VOLLEYBALL

In the NCAA's AVCA (Coached Poll) rankings in DI, the VolleyCards check in at #4. They basically traded placed with UK after UK got the best of them In Memorial Barnyard Coliseum in Lexington. To be quite honest, when I was up covering WBB with Sonja and Jared for Cardinal Couple a few years ago,, the place looked incredible after the renovation. Yeah, they were still serving cold Papa John's Pizza to the media and some kinda chicken...and visitor media parking puts you almost in Georgetown. but our sight lines were top notch for game viewing. Can't thank their media folks enough for assigning a couple college kids to escort the old folks around. Susan Lax, in her 30th year as director of Athletic Communications and Media Relations, is simply best in field. And a very personable and friendly lady. She's scoring goals every tine, Louisville's ex-Director of Media goon couldn't even find the ball to kick it. This guy's mode o operation was to run off home media and deny, them everything. And, no, I am not talking about K.K....

The DI committees top 16 poll has Louisville currently in sixth. 

LOUISVILLE FIELD HOCKEY

The NFHCA (Coaches Poll) puts Louisville Field Hockey at #16 in their top 20. They are one of seven ACC school in the top 20. The Stick Girls are #16 in the NCAA Committee Tournament Rankings as well. At 6-2 the Cards FH gals have played a nails tough slate against Miami, Indiana , St. Louis, Michigan, Northwestern, Boston College and St. Joseph's and. Michigan State. 

Plenty of Field Hockey left to play. Sory will get them in the top 10 and better by tournament time. Losing to #1 and #2 in the nation isn't exactly underperforming

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S SOCCER

The Kickin.women Cards are 8-1-1 and not in the top 16 in the United Soccer Coaches poll or top Selection committee's Top 16. 

They have an RPI of #31. 

Admittedly, I do not know a lot about ranking in WSOC, but 8-1-1 and #31 and not in the top 16? Scratches head, walks into kitchen more more coffee. Something seems amiss with this. 

They ya have it, have a great Tuesday!  Today is the first day of fall, someone tell the temperatures that, OK? 

WSOC ties California, Volleyball falls in four at UK -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 WSOC gets first tie of the season

Louisville battled a stingy Golden Bears in women's Soccer yesterday out on the Cal campus but could not push by them for a win. Instead, they gained a point with a1-1 tie...to start out the Cards action for the day.

Louisville, now 8-1-1, struck first off a corner in the 36th minute. Eefje Botjer earned her first goal of the season and second of her career when she headed the ball into the back of the net...following up on a Amelia Swinarski shot-on-goal. 

That 1-0 lead held thru the first half. 

California would tie it with 63 minutes played when Amelie Hoppe got her first goal of the season. And, the tie remained until the 90 minures has expired. 

The Cards had 14 shots, with three on goal. Cal took eight shots wth one on frame 

Cal goes to 2-4-4 on the season. 

Louisville returns to action Sunday when they will host FSU. It is scheduled for a noon start and will be shown on the ACC Network, if you are unable to attend. 

VOLLEYBALL LOSES IN FOUR SETS TO UK IN MEMORIAL

Louisville Volleyball took the first set 25-19 against UK, but the luck went south after that. 

Per usual,we won't offer a lot of commentary or stats on a loss, especially when it comes against UofL's in-state rival. The 7,000 in Memorial Coliseum were loud, pumped and cheering on their 7-2 Cats. The Cards go to 10-2

Brooke Bultema got a block to give Louisville the first set 25-19 win.

In the second set,UK and UofL played extra Volleyball but the Cars ended up on top 29-27

Set three had the Cards rally late but could not catch UK's early lead and lost 25-21

The final set was UK's 25-19.

Louisville stays on the road and will play Syracuse Friday. 

paulie