(OK, maybe not so very spectacular, but we do have a few interesting tidbits to talk about.)
THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE
( Staff Columnist Jeff McAdams with the report today on women's golf and NCAA Volleyball. Last seen, he was wandering the hallways of the Cardinal Couple Worldwide Corporate offices with a 5-iron in his hand, volleyball under his arm and dressed in nothing but a volleyball net and souvenir program for the NCAA Championships...yelling either "Fore" or "Set" randomly.)
- Tennis in the ACC
- Volleyball Championships have Arrived
- Volleyball All-Americans Announced
- Hammond to miss Colorado game.
Tennis in the ACC
Paulie asked me, in our look at how our athletics teams match up with our upcoming ACC competition, to cover Tennis.
Tennis...that's the sport where they use that funny scoring system, right? I must admit to not following Tennis much, so let's take a look at the ACC standings and see where they stack up in overall rankings.
For comparison, the Louisville Women's Tennis team finished up last season 13-10.
In the ACC, last season:
1. Duke (29-3, 11-0)
2. North Carolina (24-7, 10-1)
3. Miami (FL) (20-5, 9-2)
4. Clemson (17-9, 8-3)
5. Virginia (19-10, 7-4)
6. Georgia Tech (16-12, 6-5)
7. Florida State (13-11, 5-6)
8. Virginia Tech (12-13, 3-8)
9. Boston College (10-13, 3-8)
10. NC State (8-16, 3-8)
11. the departing Maryland (7-15, 1-10)
12. Wake Forest (3-18, 0-11)
So that looks like we fit in around 7th or 8th. That's a little daunting.
Let's see how current and future ACC teams are looking in the ITA Top 25:
3. Duke
8. North Carolina
9. Miami (FL)
15. Virginia
19. Notre Dame
20. Georgia Tech
25. Clemson
I gotta say, that looks pretty impressive. Looks like yet another sport that will challenge our Cardinals to greater heights. Mark Beckham has two of the finest in the nation in Rebecca Shine and Julia Fellerhoff and they will lead the Cardinal charge.
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VolleyBall Championships have Arrived
If you have followed my ramblings here at all this fall, you know that Louisville has the honor of hosting the NCAA Semifinal and Championship matches. These matches kick off tonight at 7pm with 3 seed Texas and unseeded Michigan. The nightcap should get started around 9pm with top seed Penn State playing 5th seed Oregon.
Our Cardinal team finished off the year with a 30-4 record. Of those 4 losses, 3 of them were to teams that have advanced to the Semifinals (Penn State, Texas, and Michigan)...which takes a little of the sting out of them, I should think.
Oregon arrived in Louisville early in the week, on Sunday, which is somewhat understandable since they would have the most jetlag to overcome. Because of their early arrival, they borrowed the Cardinals practice facility at the Yum! Center on campus. They also are apparently borrowing our pep band as theirs apparently couldn't make the long trip.
The other three teams arrived Tuesday. No news if any of the other teams are borrowing a band from Bellermine or elsewhere.
(Editor note: Timmy the Intern and Co-Co offered to bring a kazoo and harmonica to support the Texas squad musically. They haven't heard back from them yet. They do a great version of "Louie, Louie" and "Stairway to Heaven".)
One roster note of local interest. Penn State, perennial volleyball powerhouse, has one Deja McClendon as an outside hitter. Deja is from Louisville, playing her high school ball at duPont Manual. Deja's younger sister, Maya, has signed to play with the Cardinals next year.
Tickets are still available at the KFC Yum! Center, though the word is that they have generally sold well. The NCAA, and UofL are looking to break the all-time attendance record for a volleyball match, so come on down and check out the action.
Volleyball All-Americans Announced
Lola Arslanbekova was named a 2nd team All-American, while Gwen Rucker picked up a 3rd team nod. Caitlin Welch...only a junior, remember...got an honorable mention.
Congratulations to these three and thanks for representing Louisville so well.
Also congratulations to Gwen Rucker for graduating today with a degree in Actuarial Science.
( Great report today from Jeff McAdams and he'll be keeping us in the loop on the action in the KFC YUM! Center Thursday and Saturday...as four teams enter, but one only will emerge as the National Champion.)
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Our prayers go out to Sara Hammond and her family, who just lost their grandmother. Always tough to lose a family member and you all are in our thoughts during this tough time.
Hammond will not accompany the Lady Cards on their trip to Colorado for the Friday night game against the Buffs.
One of the most beautiful and thoughtful statements that we've ever heard about a death of a loved one goes like this. This is for you and your family, Sara.
Your pain is over
Although we still ache
You'd tell us not to
You'd tell us to make...
Every day a bright one
Each moment quite dear
Because we never really know
How long we'll be here.
Your life was special
You touched so many
The lives you changed
Were grateful and plenty
We'll meet again
Of this I am sure
While you're gone, we'll carry on
We will endure.
So, fly with the Angels
Smile down on us below
Thank you for helping
All of us grow.
-Sonja
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In addition to Haas and Petrino, the Cards graduate Haley Andreas and Sara Karlsson. 
