Awards and Speculation -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

 

CARDS GARNER HONORS IN FIELD HOCKEY AND VOLLEYBALL

A great week for Louisville Field Hockey and Volleyball when it comes to ACC Honors! Two Field Hockey student-athletes and one Volleyball student-athlete were recognized by the ACC for their accomplishments. Let's take a look. 

FIELD HOCKEY

A tip of the hat to Mercedes Pastor and Alli Bitting, who received ACC Field Hockey Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Pastor was her usual brilliant self in the Cards two games at Virginia. She tallied three goals and added an assist in Louisville's sweep of the Cavaliers. It the third time this season that "Mechi" has gotten the honor. 

On the defensive side of things, senior Alli Bitting is a huge part of the Cardinal defense that held the Cavs to just three goals in two matches and has limited opponents to just seven goals in seven contests. Bitting is also second in the ACC in assists per game. 

Louisville ends the regular fall slate of their schedule at Syracuse on Friday. The Cards have already clinch a portion of the regular season title and a win would give it to them out-right with a 8-0 record. That would also give UofL the top seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. There is no "official" rankings this fall, but, when you are the only undefeated team in DI...well, you can figure out the rest. 

VOLLEYBALL

Anna DeBeer walks away with the ACC Freshman of the Week honors after the Cards split matches with Pittsburgh last week. DeBeer "led 'em all" with 22 kills in the Cards four-set win Sunday over Pitt and she was one of three Cardinals with seven kills in Friday's match.

The freshman outside hitter from Louisville Assumption has, obviously, had a huge impact on the Cards building a 5-2 record in the shortened fall slate. Look for the VolleyCards to "bring on DeBeer" a bunch in the spring, when things will hopefully get back to a larger slate of game and a NCAA Tournament will follow.

THINGS STILL UP IN THE AIR FOR ACC WSOC TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS

Only eight teams will make the ACC WSOC Tournament in November. 10 out of the 13 squads still, mathematically, have a shot at getting an invite. It's a situation where we may need Cardinal Couple columnists Worldwide Jeff and Case to step in and develop a "cheat code" or draw up an extensive blueprint for the final slate. 

Points are the key to earning the trip to the WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary, NC starting November 10th. Just to refresh you, soccer squads get three points for a win and one for a tie. With the teams have either one or two matches left, let's take a look at the current point totals and scenarios as we go into the final week of the fall schedule. 

NORTH CAROLINA sits atop the ACC, in a tie with FSU, with 18 points. their final two matches are at Louisville and hosting Notre Dame. The TarHeels could end up with 24 points, depending on how it goes. They are definitely "in" the ACC Tournament and are playing for top seed. 

FLORIDA STATE also has amassed 18 points. They finish up hosting Clemson and Duke for their final two matches. So, wins could have them tied for first...they didn't play UNC, so the tie-breaker here could fall into play. 

CLEMSON has earned 12 points. They, too, have two matches remaining...with Pitt coming in and then a trip to FSU. They could vault themselves into a tie for the top of the conference if they win over both and UNC and FSU lose their remaining two games. Doubtful but still a possibility. Winning at FSU seems to be a tall order for anyone...

LOUISVILLE also has 12 points but just one match remaining and that's a doozy, with North Carolina tomorrow night at Lynn Stadium. The Cards could secure a berth in Cary with a win. A loss or tie makes it interesting...

NOTRE DAME has just one match left and they, too, have their work cut out for them -- travelling to North Carolina. They have to wait until Sunday to face the Tar Heels. A win would help ensure they're going to post-season. 

DUKE sits with 11 points and has two matches to go. They hit the road for contests against Miami and FSU, so they could possibly pick up six points. They'll probably handle Miami with no problem, FSU is a different story. It's possible they could end with 14 points, though, and vault over Clemson and Louisville, if those squads "lose" out. 

VIRGINIA has 10 points but could really advance if they take their final two contests on the road against Boston College and Syracuse. These are two squads who are pretty much eliminated from going to the ACC Tournament and the Blue Devils might find themselves with 16 points if they can pull off the road wins. 

PITTSBURGH checks in with 9 points. They have two matches remaining...at Clemson and Wake Forest. Winning both would propel them to 15 points. It's a tall order, but, that's why they play the games...

WAKE FOREST has 7 points and,, quite frankly,...needs a lot of help to make the top eight. They go to Pitt and Virginia Tech and have to win both, plus hope for some losses in teams ranked above them, to pack their bags and head to Wake Med. 13 points might get them in if they win out but the odds are stacked against them. 

VIRGINIA TECH has accumulated 6 points and needs a miracle of huge proportions to get to the ACC Tournament. They end with road trips to Boston College and Wake Forest. Sure, they could win both, wind up with 12 points and get a bid...but the chances of that are fairly remote. 

Teams that are mathematically eliminated are Boston College (3 points) Miami (0 points) Syracuse (0 points) The best they can try to accomplish now is being a spoiler with wins over teams with more points . Where's NC State, you might ask? They're sitting out the fall in Raleigh. Georgia Tech doesn't field an ACC WSOC squad. 

And there you have it. All clear, right? I hope so for you,,,all this speculation and "ciphering" gave me a headache and just may send me to the refrigerator for a little Bailey's with my morning coffee. 

This should be fun. By Sunday night, we'll know. My best guess is that the Cards are probably in, with 12 points, if they lose to UNC, but they'll be a #7 or #8 seed. I'd sure love to see UofL knock off the Tar Heels in Lynn and will root for that! 

Having to face either UNC or FSU in a #1 vs #8 or #2 vs #7 quarterfinal matchup isn't the best of luck in the draw, obviously...but, it's 2020 and we can all attest that it's been one strange year. And, NEVER underestimate a team that has Gabby and Emina...just sayin'. 

Have a Wonderful Wednesday