Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Volleyball wins two

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Sunday Cardinal Couple

-Volleyball takes two

The #12 University of Louisville volleyball team continued its hot streak by defeating UNLV and Miami (FL) yesterday to win the Louisville Invitational. The Cards triumphed over UNLV in the morning session 23-25, 26-24, 25-6, 25-21 and downed Miami 26-24, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17 in the nightcap. 

UNLV falls in four sets to Louisville

Kaitlynn James took charge of the net in the match against the Runnin' Rebels with 16 kills. 

Louisville started slowly by losing the first game after trailing most of the way before taking a brief lead at 21-20 late. UNLV ran off four straight points, though, to get a 24-21 lead and hold on for the win. 

Louisville responded in the second game slowly again, falling behind 14-6 at one point before James went to work. Her three straight kills got Louisville to within three at 15-12. Managing to tie the contest at 20-20, James gave the Cards a one-point lead with a kill and UofL pulled out a close one by two.

After the break, the Cards roared out to an early lead they never looked back from. Runs of 3-0 and 9-0 had  Anne Kordes' team sitting comfortably at 16-3. Emily Juhl put the Runnin' Rebs out of their misery with a slam to give Louisville the 19-point romp and a 2-1 lead in the match. 

UNLV was not ready to quit, though, and jumped to a 8-5 advantage in the final game. They increased that to 12-5 before UofL pieced together a 9-1 run and a 14-13 edge. The Cardinal hot streak continued behind Lola Arslanbekova and it was 23-18 after a service ace by her. James finished the match with a kill and the 25-21 win.

Cards fend off Miami in four sets

Lola stepped up big in the evening session with 21 kills and UofL improved to 11-1 on the season with a four game win against the Canes. 

The Cards started slowly in game one and trailed deep into the contest at 22-15 before four Lola kills and a block and two Tanya Lukyanenko kills and a block late rallied the Cards to the narrow two point win. Lola had 10 kills in the first game. 

Louisville jumped out to an early lead in the second contest 16-11 but Miami rallied to get back to just a four-point deficit at 21-17. After a timeout, the Cards regrouped and won four of the final six points to take a 25-19 win and go 2-0 in the match. 

The teams played fairly evenly in the third game until a 9-0 Canes run boosted them to a seven point advantage that the Cards could not overcome. At 24-16, UofL managed to get three straight points but Caitlin Welch's serving error gave Miami a six point win.

Louisville and Miami played the final game evenly at the start until a 6-2 Cardinal run took a 7-7 score to a 13-9 UofL lead. Miami would get no closer and the Cards coasted in with a 25-17 victory. 

Middle blocker Gwen Rucker sat out both contests with an illness.

Lola earned MVP honors for the Cards and James and Brooke Mattingly joined her on the All-Tournament team. 

( BE SURE TO CHECK BACK LATER TODAY FOR JEFF MCADAMS ANALYSIS AND REPORT ON THE WEEKEND VOLLEYBALL ACTION)

2500 for the evening game. On a football Saturday. Best college sports town in America.  Right here in River City.

We don't do a lot with football here, of course...we're a women's sports site...but wanted to share with you this series of texts between me and a buddy who was unable to attend and watching on TV...

Buddy:  ACC? No wonder ND wants to leave. EZ pickings.
Paul: ACC! ACC! ACC! I just busted one of my thundersticks.
Buddy: U staying for 2nd half?
Paul: For at least 3 quarters. Need to get over to 80 u 80.
Buddy: U at 80 u 80?
Paul: Leaving in a few. It's on TV there. Ladies behind me driving me nuts. 
Buddy: What in the world?
Paul: Need D. C'mon cards!
Buddy: Ugh. Fumbled kickoff? 
Paul: We're fine. Good deflect. Run clock out now.
Buddy: L1C4.
Paul: Wow. I've still got my sunglasses on. 
Buddy: Go change your drawers.
Paul: LOL. A W a W no matter how u get it.   
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