Women's Golf at Illini Invitational -- Volleyball back in top 25 -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

HARTLAGE TIED FOR FIRST, WOMEN'S GOLF IN SECOND

A good day for Lauren Hartlage and the Louisville women's golf squad at the Illini Invitational at the Medinah Country Club. 

Hartlage, a senior, is tied for first place after 36 holes with a 5-under-par 139. Her 70-69 split on the first day included six birdies on two tours of the course . Consistency was the key for the Elizabethtown, KY turf specialist..just one bogey in yesterday's play. 

Mairead Martin, who is a sophomore out of Kanturk, Ireland, is also hitting the ball well. She's one stroke back of Hartlage with a 36-hole total of 140. Martin recorded an incredible 11 birdies on Monday and her second round 68 is tied for the second lowest round by anyone in the tournament. 

Hana Ryskova, a freshman who hails from Frydek-Mistek in the Czech Republic,  is tied for 25th place with  1-over-par 145. That includes an eagle on a par five, a rarity in golf. No, she didn't hit one of our nation's proud symbols...she scored a three on the hole. 

Agustina Gomez-Cisterna is playing in her first ever tournament for the "chip-and-putt" Cards and is one stroke back of Ryskova. The Buenos Aires, Argentina freshman 146 for the day was good for a tie for 27th. I wonder if she knew WSOC's Meche Pastor when she was there? 

Kent State sits atop the leader board with a three stroke lead over UofL. The Cards completed the 36 holes with a 570. 

It looks like this slight change in the Cards starting four has produced some beneficial results. First-year head Coach Whitney Wade Young has a vast knowledge of the game and excelled at it in high school, college and on the LPGA. Her ability to analyze "who is hot and who is not" and make the necessary line-up adjustments is paying dividends so far in Illinois.

Let's just hope the Cards can finish strong...in this fall season, the Cards have had a penchant for the "good day/bad day" syndrome.    

The squads will play 18 holes today to conclude the tournament.  You can monitor the results at  GOLF STAT.  

Go get the "W", Cardinal golfers !! 


VOLLEYBALL REJOINS TOP 25

After taking two matches last week, the VolleyCards have climbed back into the NCAA Volleyball top 25, checking in at 25th. 

The AVCA Coaches Poll has three ACC squads in the top 25. Pittsburgh (15-1) is ranked #3, Florida State (9-4) takes the #23 spot and Louisville (11-3) slides in at #25. The Cards received 79 points in the poll, enough to squeeze out Western Kentucky, who gathered 70 points.  

As you've read here over the past several days, Louisville swept Georgia Tech and Clemson last week, winning each match 3-0. 

The first RPI rankings of the season are also out now and UofL grabs #20 on that list. 

Louisville is undefeated in the ACC with a 4-0 mark. All of the three losses this season have come against top 25 opponents:  #12 Kentucky, #14 Florida and #20 Purdue

The Cards now prepare for a four-match road swing that will take them on a two-week tour that begins in North Carolina to start it off.

Any Cardinal Fans headed to Wake Forest for football Saturday might want to take advantage of the chance to see Volleyball play Duke on Friday in Durham (it's just a 80-mile drive) and then stick around Sunday in Winston-Salem for the Wake Forest match. 

Next four:  

-- DUKE  Friday, Oct 11th. 

-- WAKE FOREST  Sunday, Oct 13th.

-- NOTRE DAME  Weds, Oct 16th.

-- VIRGINIA TECH  Sunday, Oct 20th.

Dani Busboom Kelly has a plethora of competant middle blockers and outside hitters at her disposal and it is especially exciting to see freshmen Aiko Jones and Nena Mbonu contributing so strongly in the Cardinal attack. The Cards have greatly benefited from a couple of junior's strengths in Alexis Hamilton's strong "digging" skills and Tori Dilfer's steady assist capabilities. 

Here's hoping "consistently great" senior Melanie McHenry and the squad come back to the "Ville" in a couple of weeks with a 15-3 record !!




Have a terrific Tuesday !!

paulie
xxxxx