VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON TODAY -- WNBA SEMIFINALS -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 CARDS VOLLLEYBALL FACES NOTRE DAME AT RESCHEDULED TIME

The University of Louisville Volleyball squad begins their 2020 play this afternoon against Notre Dame in the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena on campus. The event was moved to 2 p.m. so it would not conflict with the current curfew order in place for the city of Louisville....plus television schedule revisions. 

Admission for the event is being limited to parents and guests of players coaches and visiting teams. The match will be shown on the ACC Network. 

The Cards come into the match ranked second in the the preseason ACC Volleyball poll, receiving two first place votes. Pittsburgh was selected as the top team in the ACC by the coaches and today's opponent (Notre Dame) fourth. 

Aiko Jones, Anna Stevenson and Tori Dilfer were named to the All-ACC Preseason squad. The Cards have an 18-player roster that has four seniors (Dilfer, Stevenson, Piper Roe and Alexis Hamilton), three juniors, six sophomores and five freshmen.

2019 was a magical year for Louisville Volleyball. They went to the NCAA Elite Eight in the tournament after wins over WKU and Texas. The Cards were also 12-3 in "the Arena" last year and defeated Notre Dame there in three sets. 

With the time change, restrictions and work schedules, I'm not exactly sure what kind of coverage we'll actually have in the arena, but you can expect a full reports on the match in tomorrow's Cardinal Couple column. 

ACES ACED BY CONNECTICUT 77-68

A very tough end-of-game for Angel McCoughtry and the Las Vegas Aces last night in the WNBA semifinals. Las Vegas had grabbed a seven-point lead with 4-1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter against the Sun but saw the foe go on a 20-4 run to end the game and beat Las Vegas.

McCoughtry had 14 points and seven rebounds for Las Vegas in 21 minutes. Two early (and questionable) fouls on the former Louisville great in the first two minutes of action put her on the bench for most of the first half. A'ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 20 points. 

Las Vegas now trails two games to one in the semifinal. The two will meet again Sunday, Sept. 27th at 1 p.m. for game four. 

Seattle had a big night from Jewell Loyd (20 points) to take a 2-0 lead in the other WNBA semifinal with a 89-79 win over Minnesota. The Storm now lead that best-of-five series 2-0. Seattle led 46-33 at the half and led 62-41 in the third before a Minnesota Lynx run got them back to a 68-62 deficit after three quarters. 

These two will complete the Sunday double-header at 3 p.m.

paulie                                                                                                              xxxxx