A shortened week had no ill effect on the Louisville volleyball as the Cards went on the road to sweep Notre Dame 3-0 (25-12, -18, -16).
While Louisville appears to have completed dominated based on the final score, Notre Dame had some bright spots including keeping the second set close until the Cards closed the set on a 7-0 run.
The Cards handed Notre Dame their third loss of the season and their first in ACC play. Only four teams remain undefeated in conference play.
On the night, the Irish were limited to 17 kills on -0.115 attack percentage. They did end up with more aces (five) than service errors (three). Meanwhile, Louisville doubled up their service errors (eight) over aces (four). The Cards more than doubled up Notre Dame in kills with 39 for the match. Louisville hit .250.
It's not often a middle blocker racks up the most kills, but Phekran "PK" Kong did so with 12 kills on .500 hitting. Aiko Jones (eight kills) and Anna DeBeer (seven kills) also had strong attack nights. Elena Scott and Elle Glock each had eight digs with the latter also recording 30 assists.
Set One: Louisville 25, Notre Dame 12
Louisville looked like one of the best teams in the country after racing out of the gate to a 9-0 lead. Their lead extended to 15-4 before Notre Dame burned their final timeout. The Irish pieced together a 4-0 spurt but Louisville never allowed things to get any closer.
Set Two: Louisville 25, Notre Dame 18
ACC play is rarely easy and Notre Dame reminded Louisville of that in the second set. After the Cards went up 3-0, the Irish battled back to a 7-7 tie. Neither team was able to piece together any type of run for much of the set and Notre Dame a 15-17 lead. After the Cards and Irish came even at 18 apiece, UofL then rallied for a 7-0 spurt to claim the set.
Set Three: Louisville 25, Notre Dame 16
The only good thing for Notre Dame this set was being able to string together three straight points and four straight points. Louisville went on cruise control for a good chunk of the set including building a seven-point lead late in the set. After the Irish cut the Louisville lead to 20-15, the Cards scored five of the final six points to claim the win.
Louisville improves to 12-1 on the season and reaches 3-0 in ACC play for the fifth straight season, COVID-19 season excluded. The Cards have won five straight in the series against Notre Dame and now lead the all-time series 24-23.
Next on the schedule for UofL is NC State. The Cards and Wolfpack will meet in Raleigh on Sunday at 4:00pm. This one will be on ACCN linear.
Exciting Personal News
In what has been an exciting and eventful 2023 year for me highlighted by a wedding and honeymoon, the next big thing to happen this year is becoming a homeowner! Katy and I closed on our first house here in town on Monday. Here's to many years of homeownership!
Happy Thursday and Go Cards!
Jared
All right Jared. Welcome to the wonderful word of home ownership. It can be a real nightmare sometimes, but at least you can proudly point at your new place, say "It's Mine" and explore the tricky world of DIY home repairs . (A hint, call an expert, you'll come out cheaper in the end)
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Just wanted to publicly thank my crew for covering for me while my laptop was ill and not working. (What? He was gone?) We didn't notice) I have the best columnist (yes, even including Jeff) a young man could ever hope for.
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Hello Friends
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Looks like Louisville Volleyball is on their way to another ACC title and they are fun to watch. They'll be here Nov 5th and I might see if I can get Bea or Sammy to go with me.
Congratulations Jared on home ownership. I expect you''ll go through the joys and sorrows of being a homeowner like all us homeowners do. I enjoyed raising my son and daughter in our home but wasn't quite ready when my son moved back in with me this spring.
Your friend
#1 Clemson Fan
Arthur
Greer, SC
Congratulations Jared and Katie!
ReplyDeleteI became a home owner last month also, out here in Iowa City. HyVee, the grocery chain I came out here to train with seems to like the way I turn produce departments around when I fill in at some of their locations. They gave me a title and I do that all the time now. Not saying I won't ever get back to my hometown New Albany, but, right now, things are going great. So great that I decided t buy instead of continuing to rent. It nay have had a little to do with the young lady I've been dating, too.
I love my house, it's not too far from the University of Iowa campus and I'm not saying the Hawkeyes are my #1 team yet, but I have enjoyed their volleyball and field hockey this fall. MY g/f graduated from Iowa and was a setter on the Iowa VB squad from 2017-20.
We are also thinking marriage but a bit too early to go there yet. We just did get her moved in. She's a transplant here also, born and raised and her parents still live in Minnesota. She also knew Hannah Koloski, of Cardinals lax fame.
Best of luck, Jared and Katie !
Curtis "Bee Kind to the pollinators" Franklin
Good luck Jared. Hope you are as happy in your new home as Delores and I are in our new home!
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