WBB Enters COVID Pause -- The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

After a couple of weeks of holiday break, I was expecting to come back to writing with some joyful feature piece due to the break in the Louisville schedule. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be, as I've been handed a mixed bag of news to report.

WBB Announces Postponement of Miami Game

It may have been an inevitability, but the Cards have officially entered into COVID-19 protocols. The university announced yesterday that tomorrow's game against Miami has been postponed. After having players miss the last two games due to illness, it is a bit of a wonder that Jeff Walz and the team were able to maintain a handle on an outbreak for as long as they did. The full extent of the spread within the program was not announced, but it is safe to assume that the players that were positive prior to the Pittsburgh game are not the only positive cases that led to the full pause.  ACC protocols mandate that you have to have seven players and at least one coach who are COVID free to take the floor, or you postpone and the league will reschedule.  

"Think we'll head to Miami? Dunno, but I packed my bathing suit."

As with last season, the pause for the women's team lags that of the men's. This is probably coincidental, and is likely more attributable to the rapid spread throughout the city, but it is an interesting note nonetheless. As of now, the university at large is still planning to start classes in person next week, so we will see if the overall problem becomes more widespread. Last season's pause for the Cards was about two weeks long, and the men's pause last month was exactly ten days. I would expect a similar length for this pause, so if we count from yesterday, the Syracuse and Boston College games are also in jeopardy. 

We may learn more about the extent in the coming days, but for now we can only hope that those that have tested positive are feeling well and that any symptomatic members of the team and staff can recover quickly and fully.

Volleyball Officially Adds Elle Glock

On a more positive note, Louisville Volleyball officially announced the incoming transfer of Elle Glock from USC. Amidst the feel-good, retrospective pieces the team has been posting about Tori Dilfer and Anna Stevenson's retirements, this announcement puts more focus on reloading the squad for another run at a title after this season fell just short. We've heard rumors about this potentially addition, so the official announcement is welcomed.

Glock joins the Cards after just one season with Trojans, and enters a setter room with large shoes to fill. Glock is a talented addition, winning three high school state championships in Nebraska. Her four all-conference selections (they have conferences in Nebraska high school sports, apparently?) and two all-state selections led her to being the 39th-ranked recruit nationally, and she amassed 3,200 assists in her high school career.

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast 

The CCRH Podcast will return this weekend after a couple of weeks off, but my break will continue. Internet issues are giving me a fit, so I'll have to miss this week. Fortunately, there should still be four on the panel with the return of Daryl. In addition to the games, Louisville WBB has given the crew even more to to talk about this weekend, so be sure to tune in. As always, you can check out the live stream of the show by going to the Cardinal Couple YouTube page and clicking on the live video. Jeff usually creates that about an hour before the show, which officially starts at 11 AM Eastern. If the live time doesn't work for you, there are plenty of playback options, so be sure to check out whichever is best for you!

Cardinal Couple YouTube: Link

Anchor (podcast host): Link

Apple Podcasts: Link

Breaker: Link

Google Podcasts: Link

Overcast (free account required): Link

Pocket Casts (free account and app required): Link

RadioPublic: Link

Spotify: Link

Until next time, Go Cards!

-CH-