FH Opens NCAA Tourney -- WBB Season Opener -- Signing Day Cont.-- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL

It is an ACTION packed weekend for the Louisville programs around the country this weekend!  Half of the gang will be out at Cardinal Stadium Saturday afternoon so *reminder* no podcast this weekend.

Friday's match-ups: 

2:30 p.m. - FH vs Harvard (away)

4:30 p.m. - WBB vs Arizona (away)

7:00 p.m. - VB vs Georgia Tech (home)

Field Hockey Opens NCAA Tournament

Ann Arbor, MI
Louisville (16-3, 6-0 ACC) vs Harvard (15-1, 7-0 Ivy)
2:30p.m. Video: NCAA.com

*This is be the first ever meeting between the Cards and Crimson

About the opponent:
The Crimson carry a 10-game win streak into the tournament, the program’s second-longest winning streak with its only loss of the season coming on Sept. 19 against then-No. 16 UConn.  Harvard has earned a berth to the tournament three times in the last five seasons, including a historical run to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2018.

Harvard is one of the top defensive teams in the nation this season, ranking first in several categories including Goals Against Average (0.42) Save Percentage (.857) and Winning Percentage (.938). The Crimson have forced 9 shutouts which is good for 3rd in the NCAA.

Harvard’s offense is ranked fifth with 2.75 assists per game and sixth with an average scoring margin of 2.03. 

Senior defender Hannah Pearce, the 2021 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous First Team All-Ivy selection.  She also leads the team with 28 points on 13 goals and two assists. Junior goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo (13-1-0) was also a First Team All-Ivy honoree.  Shahbo recorded the No. 1 save percentage (.857) and the No. 1 goals-against average (0.41) for all goalkeepers in Division I field hockey and has eight shutouts on the season.

. In addition, first-year midfielder Emily Guckian, senior captain Mimi Tarrant (Academic All-Ivy), and senior midfielder/forward Rachel Greenwood were named Second Team All-Ivy. Sophomore Avery Donahue and first-year Megan Joel earned All-Ivy League Honorable Mention.

· Head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden was named Ivy League Coach of the Year and is in his 10th season.

In the Cards

UofL owns it's share of 2021 conference stars and recent program success as well.

Alli Bitting was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, while goalkeeper Mila de Kuijer was selected as the conference's Freshman of the Year and Justine Sowry was tabbed as ACC Coach of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches.

· In addition to earning the league's major awards, Bitting and de Kuijer joined teammates Julie Kouijzer and Aimee Plumb on the All-ACC first team while Katie Schneider was selected to the second team. The Cardinals led all ACC schools with four first-team selections.

Last season, the Cardinals advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in program history. In 2019, UofL reached the quarterfinals for the first time ever.

Women's Basketball Season Opener

Sioux Falls, SD
#6 Louisville (0-0) vs #22 Arizona (1-0)

4:30p.m. ESPNU

All-time Series Record: 0-2

Series Record in Jeff Walz Era: 0-0 

Last meeting: L, 90-60 (Dec. 17, 2000 at Tucson, Ariz.)

About the opponent:

The Wildcats have one win under their belt already, cruising to a 87-44 victory vs CSUN at home on Tuesday evening. 

The probable starters for the Wildcats features Grad/Seniors Cate Reese (F), Sam Thomas (F), Shaina Pellington (G), Bendu Yeaney (G) and Sophomore Lauren Ware (F).  Thomas had 3 threes in their season opener and went 5-7 on the evening for 13 points.  Reese co-lead all scorers with 14 with 5 rebounds and an assist. 

Freshman forward Aaronette Vonleh came off the bench going 7-8 from the floor for 14 points in 14 minutes and lead the team in rebounds with 6. 

Junior guard Helena Pueyo lead the team in minutes, coming off the bench with 21 total and she went 2-3 from the floor for 5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block. 

As a team, Arizona shot 52.3% (34-65) on the night against the CSU Northridge Matadors (Big West).  The team defense had 8 steals and 4 blocks, Lauren Ware with 2. 

In the Cards:

Probable starters for the Cards - Olivia Cochran, Chelsie Hall, Hailey Van Lith, Kianna Smith and Mykasa Robinson 

This game should be one of the season's best match-ups, especially this early in the season.  I anticipate perhaps some early jitters between the two squads as the pace gets established.  I don't think either team will get up by more than 8 points on the other and it should be a close game the whole way with it coming down to the final 5 minutes of play.  No matter where you look on the floor - back court, front court, bench players, coaches - the matchup will be a great one! 

Volleyball back at home facing Georgia Tech

For the first time ever ranked as the #1 team in the country, the VolleyCards are back at home. The ranking also marks the first time an Atlantic Coast Conference school has ever held the No. 1 spot in the history of the conference.

Lou, K.Y. @ L&N Federal Credit Union Area

#1 Louisville (23-0, 13-0) vs #14 Georgia Tech (21-3, 9-2)

7:00 p.m.
Cards hold an 11-4 series lead 

Last meeting: 10/3/2021 in Atlanta.  The Cards came away with a 25-15, 36-34, 25-22 sweep.  

About the opponent:

The Yellow Jackets are on a 10-match win streak since the loss to UofL. 

GA Tech is coming off of a 3-1 win over Florida State at home.  Junior outside hitter Julia Bergmann led the Jacket attack,  20 kills and a pair of aces while pitching in defensively with nine digs and five total blocks (two solo, three assisted).  Senior setter Matti McKissock had 51 assists and three total blocks (one solo, two assisted), four digs and a pair of kills.  From the middle, junior Erin Moss tallied 12 kills at a season-high .706 clip, adding a pair of block assists and a dig defensively. Senior middle blocker Breland Morrissette anchored the defense alongside Moss, leading the team with a season-high six block assists.

· Julia Bergmann was named ACC Player of the week (11/9) 

· Bianca Bertolino was named Freshman of the week (11/9) 

In the Cards:
Louisville is second in the ACC in aces per set (1.65), seventh in the ACC in assists per set (12.15), first in the ACC and third in the nation in blocks per set (2.87), first in the ACC and fourth in the nation in hitting percentage (.304), fifth in the ACC in kills per set (13.65), first in the ACC and ninth in the nation in opponent hitting percentage (.142), sixth in the ACC in total service aces (129), and third in the ACC in total blocks (224).

Signing Day cont.

Lacrosse

• Rian Adkins, Midfielder, Upper Arlington, Ohio (Upper Arlington)
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• Aubrey Bagenstose, Goalkeeper, New Albany, Ohio (New Albany)
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• Cali Bishop, Midfielder, Weare, N.H. (New Hampton School)
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• Karli Harnischfeger, Midfielder, Penfield, N.Y. (Our Lady of Mercy)
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• Peyton Howell, Attacker, Towson, Md. (Notre Dame Prep)
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• Sophie Macleod, Attacker, Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy)
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• Morgan McCaffery, Midfielder, Richboro, Pa., (Council Rock North)
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• Maggie McMahon, Midfielder, Albertson, N.Y. (Mineola)
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• Erin Nicholson, Midfielder, Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood)
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• Aly Prasinos, Midfielder, Cincinnati, Ohio (Ursuline Academy)
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• Cece Reilly, Attacker, Fort Wash., Pa. (Springside Chestnut Hill Academy)
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• Peri Riegner, Attacker, Coconut Creek, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
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• Marissa Zeno, Midfielder, Oswego, Ill. (Oswego East/True Illinois)

Women's Basketball

• Jalyn Brown, 6-0, Guard, Baltimore, Md. (St. Frances Academy)
• Nyla Harris, 6-2, Forward, Windermere, Fla. (Lake Highland Prep)

Don't forget to wear your red today (and yes, SUNSCREEN!) 

Have a great weekend and Lets go Cards!! 

daryl