Volleyball Ranked #2 -- WSoc Panic Time? -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 Volleyball Ranked #2

With the most recent AVCA Poll getting released yesterday, we had plenty to celebrate as Louisville Volleyball moved up to #2 in the rankings. The #2 ranking is the highest in program history.

The Cards continued their undefeated streak as they swept Boston College easily Friday night before sweeping Syracuse in a tighter match on Sunday.

Pitt hosted Georgia Tech over the weekend and the Yellow Jackets took the upset victory in five sets, dropping the Panthers to #4 in the latest rankings. Georgia Tech moved up to #16.

Texas retained their top spot and held onto all 64 first place votes. Wisconsin rose to #3. Kentucky (#5), Purdue (#6), and Nebraska (#9), all whom the Cards beat, stayed in the Top 10. Miami (Fla) is in the receiving votes category, but no other ACC squads cracked the Top 25.

Louisville sits alone atop the ACC standings with Pitt and Miami both looming nearby in the shadows with one loss each.

Louisville  6-0

Pittsburgh  5-1

Miami  5-1

Georgia Tech  4-2

Florida State  4-2

Notre Dame  4-2

Syracuse  3-3

Clemson  3-3

NC State  3-3

North Carolina  2-4

Duke  2-4

Boston College  2-4

Wake Forest  1-5

Virginia  1-5

Virginia Tech  0-6

Louisville swept Miami in their only match against the Hurricanes this year. Louisville swept Georgia Tech on the road earlier this season and will host them in a rematch on November 12. The Cards swept Florida State in their only meeting this year. Notre Dame is still creeping nearby and the Cards and Irish will play twice- November 15 and the season finale on November 26.

The Cards' next three matches come against the bottom three in the conference and one should hope Louisville cruises by each of them. But you can never overlook any opponent or you'll be seeing the losses column rise.

Assuming Louisville wins those three matches and improves to 19-0, the big showdown will be on October 24 with Pitt comes to town. The two volleyball rivals will be vying for the top spot in the conference with the ACC Championship potentially on the line. A win against the Panthers would also tie Louisville's best start in program history at 20-0.

For now, the best approach would seem to be to take things one match at a time and keep playing the style of Louisville Volleyball.

Panic Time for Women's Soccer?

Is it time for Louisville Women's Soccer to go on Red Alert? With just four matches remaining and the Cards outside of the top six in the ACC, you could argue that it's time to panic.

The ACC shortened the ACC Tournament from eight teams to six teams this season with the top two seeds earning a first-round bye. The other eight teams get left behind. Why they decided to do this is anyone's guess. Maybe it was a message in a fortune cookie...or a dream that the ACC Commissioner had. I've got to think the coaches wouldn't have voted to do this. The mystery continues. 

At 7-4-1 overall and a 3-3 conference mark for nine points, Louisville has some... er... a lot of work to do. Sitting at seventh in the conference is "no bueno."

Boston College is next on the schedule. The Eagles come to Lynn Stadium winless in conference play. This is a must win for the Cards.

The Cavalier not known for his front-line blocking...

They head to visit a 12-1-1 Virginia team who is ranked #2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and is third in the conference with 16 points after that. Like Florida State and Notre Dame, the Cavaliers are no joke and can score on you in a hurry. You hope for a draw at worst to walk away with one point.

The Cards remain on the road to face a receiving votes Clemson team. The Tigers are 8-5 on the year and have nine points in the ACC, like the Cards. Two of those losses came to FSU and ND. This is another must-win for the Cards to get the full three points and remain ahead of Clemson (sorry, Arthur).

The season finale and senior night welcomes #4 Duke. The Blue Devils haven't had as great of an ACC outing as they had hoped so far at 3-2-1 with seven points, but any highly ranked team is an immediate threat. Like Virginia, you hope to at least manage a draw.

By that calculation, the Cards would finish with 17 points (highest possible is 21, lowest possible is 12), which should be enough to get them in the top six, but it could still be a stretch depending how the higher teams perform.

So no Red Alert yet, but anything but a win this Friday night could easily end any postseason chances for Louisville.

Louisville Football Disappointment

We ARE NOT a football site, but, regular reader Arthur posed a question in the comments section yesterday that I will provide an answer for. It concerns Louisville football -- an item of intense discussion around the city since Saturday night.

To answer Arthur's question from yesterday, Paulie and Sonya were out in the stands cheering on Louisville Football Saturday as I was making my rounds on the field taking pictures.

It was a disappointing result -- after the Cards held a 17-point lead late in the game. Thankfully, for me, I have plenty of other photo opportunities with fans, band, cheer, and dance.

It was cool seeing many of the Louisville women's teams represented and recognized on the field. I got a chance to speak with a few players and coaches before they went out there. Louisville Volleyball also received acknowledgement and recognition for their 2020 ACC Championship. Goodness, that trophy is much bigger in person.

I do want to close out the article on a much lighter note and wish my better half a very Happy Birthday! Katy celebrates another year around the sun today and I'm fortunate to be able to spend part of the day with her and treat her to dinner.

It's no impromptu trip to Walt Disney World like her 21st birthday  a few years back, but we'll still make the most of it!

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!
Jared