Volleyball wraps up season tonight...Football Saturday vs. Cats -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

BOSTON COLLEGE VISITS AS VB WRAPS UP SEASON

The end of the 2016 UofL Volleyball season comes tonight when Boston College visits the Cards in the KFC YUM! Center at 7 p.m. Louisville (11-18, 6-13) will not being going to post-season play and the Anne Kordes era ends as well as the Cards take on the Eagles (8-21, 3-16) in a match that has little more significance than both teams trying to end their season on a win and positive note and, in Louisville's case...sending off a beloved coach with a win. 

Kordes is 274-136 (66.8%) going into her final game. Her Louisville record is 132-61 (72.3%)...the Wide Net Cards won titles and she was coach of the year in three different leagues (Big East, AAC, ACC).

This probably wasn't the type of season that Anne would have picked to end her 20 year career in college volleyball. Even though the Cards only lost three to graduation from last year, a couple of key transfers and a relatively young and inexperienced squad struggled with in-state foe Kentucky and the majority of the ACC opponents this season. 

Kordes leaves behind some very good emerging talent that her successor (still unnamed) can build on...plus a noted recruiting class potentially arriving on campus. Defense and consistency are a couple of things that the new floor boss will need to work on...but with Melanie McHenry, Morgan Miller, Jasmine Bennett, Molly Sauer, Tess Clark, Maggie DeJong, Kali Eaken and others returning...the Cards do have a solid nucleus with game experience back in the fold...pending transfers, of course. Only Lyndsay Palmer and Janelle Jenkins graduate.

Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich is conducting a nationwide search for Kordes' successor...but more than just a few feel that the new skipper should be a guy who is already on the staff...associate coach Alex Wilharm. 

Kordes gives him high marks: 

"Alex has proven he can make an impact in the gym and with recruiting and building relationships within our team and the university. He is a phenomenal representative of the Louisville Volleyball team and the University. He is also one of the sharpest and youngest coaching minds out there. He is going to rise fast."

Sounds like a good fit to us. Jurich has rolled the dice many a time on candidates that, for whatever reason, weren't getting high profile attention. Consider the names Dan McDonnell, Ken Lolla, Charlie Strong and Jeff Walz...just to name a few. 

Neither age nor lack of head coaching experience should be a factor in the hiring, in my opinion...but a few have told me they think it eventually will be in this case. If that happens, Wilharm...who has been the subject already of inquiry from other programs...is probably gone. It would be a shame to lose him. The thing is...Jurich rarely replaces at the top from within the ranks. (See McDonnell, Lolla, Strong and Walz) 

A season ends, a new era begins and the future is full of questions for Louisville Volleyball fans. The program is vastly attractive as a "end destination" job to many...with high attendance, superb facilities, competitive conference and a large fan-base. We await the next chapter after tonight. 


😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤


BATTLE OF THE BLUEGRASS SATURDAY

ESPN has determined that Louisville and Kentucky shall play at noon in the 29th meeting to see who wins the Governors Cup. The series is tied at 14-14. 

I've said it before and I'll mention it again that I'm not a fan of noon kickoffs. First, it means we either cancel or pre-record THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR that we do weekly...experiments with Jeff in the studio and me on game site for game day just didn't turn out as well as we wanted...and it also means we have to prepare for a show without any knowledge of late-breaking events that can sometimes occur Friday or early Saturday. 

It is what it is...though...and we carry on. 

The game. Can the Cards contain the potent Kentucky rushing game that features Stephen Johnson, Boom Williams and Benny Snell, Jr.? Will Louisville get a dysfunctional offensive line back together that was absolutely "el-stinko" against Houston last Thursday? Can the Cats run "The Wildcat" effectively against a fearsome Cardinal defense? Does Lamar Jackson have a field day in rushing and finding receivers against a Cats secondary that has improved immensely since the season began? Do the Cards take their sixth straight?  

I'll visit with THE MORNING JAM crew on WCHQ 100.9 FM this morning at 8:00 to preview the game and the women's sports schedule for the weekend with Kevin and Bryce. Case, Worldwide and I will gather later today to record the radio show and ponder these same questions. Then, it's off to Churchill Downs to record the final segment of HANDICAPPING HEROES for the year. If I have any energy left, a trip downtown to see the final Louisville kills and sets of the season. 

You can listen to The Morning Jam, which starts at 7 AM at the link below:

KEVIN AND BRYCE BRING PAULIE IN FOR THE MORNING JAM

Black Friday? Nope, don't think so. More like a Cards and Churchill Friday. Not a bad combination at all...


paulie
xxxxx

Alex Wilharm promoted to Associate Head Volleyball Coach -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

RAPID RISE THROUGH THE CARDINAL RANKS FOR BIG RED

If you have ever attended a Louisville Volleyball game over the past four years, chances are you've seen Alex Wilharm. Towering over six feet, a shock of bright red hair and patrolling the sideline with the frequency and intensity of his head coach Anne Kordes...Alex isn't just another face in the crowd or body on the sidelines. 

He arrived at Louisville in 2011 as a volunteer assistant. Fresh from graduating from Clarke University in Iowa, he had been the Male Athlete of the Year and led the Crusaders to the NAIA national finals in Volleyball. The school is similar to Bellarmine here locally...a small liberal arts Catholic university with it's roots in Dubuque. The son of a high school Volleyball coach...he got his feet wet in the coaching pool while in college...working with club teams and even coaching the women's team his senior year at Clarke in the fall before playing for the men's team in the spring.  

He moved quickly through the UofL ranks...starting as a volunteer assistant..to assistant coach and now as an associate head coach. Earlier this year he was named as one of The American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 award recipients. The honor recognizes up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of the sport.  

Louisville will probably not be the last stop for Alex. Under the careful tutelage and learning experiences from Anne Kordes...there will be head coaching possibilities down the road. He's known as an excellent recruiter...being a part of bringing three Top 25 classes to Louisville. 


Bright skies ahead for the Iowa native as Louisville prepares to get the 2016 season underway with a trip to Bowling Green, OH to participate in the Hampton Inn Bowling Green Tournament. The Cards will get in three games in two days on the Falcon campus in the Stroh Center starting tomorrow. 

Louisville will face Oakland at 10 a.m. Friday to kickoff the action. As my co-host on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR pointed out to be Saturday, this is not the Al Davis, John Madden, Fred Bilitnekoff band of Raiders from the Bay area...it's the Horizon League Golden Grizzlies from Rochester, MI. Worldwide is attending the events and will have reports on our Saturday morning show about the games vs. Oakland and the Friday 4:30 p.m. match-up against Virginia Commonwealth. The Wide Net Cards will also take on host Bowling Green on Saturday.

Oakland went 18-13 last year and is expected to contend for the Horizon League title this season with five starters returning. Bowling Green struggled through a 7-22 year in 2015 and is a part of the MAC Conference. VCU ended last year with a 14-17 record and plays in the CAA. 

Not top notch, stellar competition for the Louisville Wide Netters...but a great chance to test a young team's skills on the road early in the season. We'd be surprised if the Cards lose a set in any of the three matches...but all three opponents could add a significant feather to their cap by knocking off the #23 squad in the nation early on. 

Fall sports. They're here and coming rapid fire at us now. 

Besides Volleyball..we have Field Hockey (at IU) and women's soccer (vs. UAB) on tap Friday also. Plenty of chances to get out and cheer on the Red and Black! Next week gets even crazier...but don't fret...your Cardinal Couple tour guides are here to navigate you through it all. 


Seats upright, tray's locked...prepare for takeoff, fans! 

paulie
xxxxx

Accolades and Radio -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION GALORE FOR LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S SPORTS

Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, our mission statement is to report on the joy and excitement of Louisville women's sports. We did drift away from that in yesterday's column, but we're happy to return to it today with four very deserved and outstanding achievements. 



WORRELL RECEIVES HONDA SPORT AWARD FOR SWIMMING

The senior splasher from Mt. Holly, NJ adds to her impressive list by being named the swimmer of the year by The Collegiate Womens Sports Awards committee. A nine time All-American and ACC Swimmer of the Year in 2015 and 2016...Worrell was chosen for the honor from a group of over 1000 college sports administrators and is now in the running for Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup. 

Her coach, Arthur Albiero, couldn't be prouder: 

"It is fitting for Kelsi to win the Honda award for swimming and diving. She earned her success through work ethic, a team-first attitude and a huge heart. During her four years at Louisville, she has captured our imaginations and allowed us to dream bigger as a program...she embodies the 'humble and hungry' approach that has impacted our swimming and diving program at all levels." 

The Honda Cup will be presented June 27th. in Los Angeles.


BRITTANY READ ON TEEWAARATON WATCH LIST 

Louisville Lacrosse's sophomore goalkeeper makes the list that determines the most valuable men and women's lacrosse player of the year. She was added to the watch list with three other college lacrosse players. Kaylin Morissette, the Cards hard-charging senior mid-fielder and draw control specialist was previously named to the list. 

Five men and women's finalist will be announced on May 12th and the winner in each category will be revealed on June 2nd in Washington, D.C.

Read, who is from Gibbsboro, NJ, is third in the nation with a save percentage of .541 and fifth in the nation with a 6.49 goals against average number.  

She and her teammates have posted a 12-1 record on the season and are ranked #5 in the nation. They will do battle today in Chapel Hill, NC at noon against #3 North Carolina, who sits atop the ACC standings with a 10-2, 4-0 record. 


SPIRIT GROUPS GET A HAT TRICK IN FIRST DAY OF CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS.

The Cardinal LadyBirds and Cheerleaders are nationally recognized at being the best in what they do and that bore out again yesterday when they took all three finals events in the NCA and NDA events at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center Bandshell.

The LadyBirds took the Dance Team competition over NC State with a awesome 9.75 score. In the Large Co-ed team events for the cheerleaders, Louisville finished #1 with a final grade of 97.20...downing runner-up Oklahoma State by almost three points. The All-Girl squad was also impressive with a victory over the OSU squad...taking the title 95.68 to 91.20. 

Louisville will compete in two more events today...Hip Hop for the LadyBirds and Small Co-ed for the cheer squad. 

Todd Sharp, Spirit Group Coordinator and LadyBirds coach was effusive in his praise for the results: 

" I am elated for all the amazing kids in our spirit program. They work so hard year around and to see them rewarded at the highest level is so satisfying." 


ALEX WILHARM WINS AVCA UNDER 30 AWARD

Louisville assistant volleyball coach Alex Wilharm is a hard guy to miss on the sidelines. The Iowa native stands around 6'5" or so and has a brilliant shock of red hair that complements his fiery and energetic pacing of the coaches area during events. 

He's also getting NCAA women's Volleyball recognition with the AVCA Under 30 Award. The award was created in 2009 to honor up and coming coaching talent in all levels of the sport. 

Wilharm arrived on the Cardinal's campus as a volunteer assistant in 2011 after graduating from Clarke College in Iowa, where he led his team to the national finals. After two years under Anne Kordes' tutelage he was promoted to assistant coach and has won the respect and admiration of Coach K: 

"He has proven he can make an impact in the gym, with recruiting and building relationships within our team and the university. He is a phenomenal representative of the University of Louisville Volleyball program and the athletic program. I also think he is one of the sharpest and youngest minds out there today and he is going to rise fast."


RADIO TODAY...WALZ INTERVIEW

We'll be on at 11 a.m. for another edition of The Cardinal COUPLE RADIO HOUR on WCHQ 100.9 FM and streaming live on the internet at: 

www.crescenthillradio.com


Today's format will be slightly different than normal...with WorldWide Jeff McAdams joining us live via phone from Louisville Spring Volleyball action. In the studio with Paulie will be Louisville Cardinal student newspaper sports editor and Cardinal Couple intern Sam Draut. 

A great show that will also feature the entire Jeff Walz interview Paulie recorded with Coach earlier in the week. We'll have lacrosse news and recap the Cards WBB season...as well as comments from the wide net action from Worldwide. 

We'll also discuss Louisville Softball today against Virginia Tech at Ulmer and keep in mind that the start of the game has been moved to 2 p.m. and they'll just play one today...with a doubleheader Sunday. 

It should be a grand time...tune in and sing along, won't you?

paulie
xxxxx

Catching up with...Softball, Lacrosse and Volleyball -- Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE

A BUSY COUPLE OF DAYS FOR YOUR INTREPID CARDINAL COUPLE CO-OWNER

Ol' Paulie's been a busy boy over the past 48 hours with things in addition to women's basketball...getting interviews with Softball Head Coach Sandy Pearsall, Lacrosse Head Coach Kellie Young and attending the Volleyball 2015-16 banquet. Let's catch up with what's happening with these three sports...


SANDY PEARSALL READY FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

One of the reasons I enjoy interviewing Sandy Pearsall so much is the concise but totally spontaneous way she presents the program. It's almost like an improv act at a nightclub...she easily rolls with whatever direction the conversation goes and questions that are presented.  

Softball gets it started in Corpus Christi in 36 days and Coach is looking forward to get team practices started on Monday. Individual practices to date with the squad has brought some delights and some things  The team this year is a combination of several team leaders from last season, a solid nucleus of role players from 2015 and a mix of promising incoming freshmen and transfers. 

Who should we keep an eye on beginning in Feburary? Maryssa Becker, possibly the best pitcher in the ACC, is back for her junior season and had been a hands-on, team leader in fall ball and the off-season. Hailey Smith returns at third base, with a healed shoulder and renewed energy. Morgan Meyer has stepped up and caught the coaches eye and everyone's favorite slap-hitter, speed merchant Jordan McNary returns as an ever-present threat at bat and on the bases. The outfield has speed and power and the freshmen are fulfilling needed roles quite capably.

Be sure to catch the full and exclusive interview with Coach Pearsall this morning on The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour.

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LACROSSE ENTERS ACC: SEASON II WITH CONFIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE

One of the first things that you notice when you walk into  Kellie Young's office is the massive white-board by the south window that is filled with notes, processes, phrases and game-time strategies....all filled out in several different magic marker colors. Coach nods approvingly when you compliment her on the manifesto. 

" I like to be an organized person. This board helps me stay that way." 

Beyond the board in the distance is the brand new press box that sits behind the west sidelines. 

" We're so happy to have this amazing press box for the support staff and media and it'll give them a chance to do their work in comfort if the weather conditions aren't ideal." 

There are changes abound in the decor of the Lacrosse offices and hallways as well, but not so many changes in the Lacrosse team makeup that fared well last year and made yet another NCAA appearance. 

Back are attackers Kaylin Morissette, Cortnee Daley and Hannah Kolowski and solid defenders Heidi Smith, Steph McNamara and Emily Howell when official practice starts on Wednesday. Combined with other returnees from 2015 and a stellar freshman class, Young has the weapons and talent to compete successfully in the toughest lacrosse conference in the universe. 

It all gets underway Saturday, Feb 6th. when Marquette comes to town. Be sure to catch our great interview with Coach Young this morning on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. 

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VOLLEYBALL BANQUET ANOTHER SMASHING SUCCESS

Louisville Volleyball celebrated the 2015 season Friday night at the PNC CLUB at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and a overflowing crows of over 250 people spent an enjoyable three hours taking in the event.

Cardinal P.A. announcer extraordinaire Sean Moth performed the emcee duties in the unique, delightful and slightly irreverent way only he can and I was fortunate to be seated at a table which included The Cardinal Newspaper Volleyball columnist Noah Allison, players Ashley Pettibone and Eleni Georgiafandis, her parents, Sports Information staffer Taylor Sherrill and Coordinator of Facilities & Game Operations Stanley Hall. 

The pre-dinner conversation was entertaining and informative....Ashley remembering that I interviewed her at last year's banquet and Stanley laying out to us what all was involved in moving a playing floor from one facilities to another. The food was a step above the usual banquet fare and the cheesecake delicious. 

Janelle Jenkins provided the invocation and after the meal the seniors present (Katie George and Roxanne McVey) address the audience. Both are naturals at public speaking and regaled the audience with personal glimpses into the life of a college student-athlete. 

George was also awarded the GPA Award and accepted while mentioning she had forgot to thank her parents during her senior speech. (Her mom reminded her). 

The Courtney Robison Award...with Courtney on hand to present it...went to Roxanne McVey. She's headed to LSU next season as a graduate student and will get a chance to play sand volleyball for a season. 

Anne Kordes provided a great review of the season, players and all involved with Louisville Volleyball during her keynote address. Her poignant, thoughtful and...at times... humorous recounting of the season was a great insight into just what is involved to create a successful program. 

The evening ended with the players gathering around the ACC Championship Trophy for photo opportunities. Worldwide and I were able to get a great couple of interview minutes with assistant coach Alex Wilharm that we'll play on the radio show today. 

Sadly, I didn't get a repeat interview with the beautiful Pettibone...she's a popular teammate and I couldn't get within 10 feet of her after the proceedings with all the selfies and chatter going on.

Maybe that was by design...not many can handle repeats of the pressures plus unpredictability of a Paulie interview. 

Nevertheless, a great night celebrating and chronicling the unforgettable season Louisville Volleyball had and the bright future ahead for Kordes' Killers...and a sincere thanks to Anne for inviting us attend and be a part of it. 

I headed to the car a bit weary at 9 p.m...aided by the timely and clutch reminder from Stanley that I was headed to an elevator that was out-of-order...

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NOW HEAR THIS...

We'll be broadcast The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour this morning at 11 a.m. from the cozy confines of the Crescent Hill Radio studios and have a great show planned for you.

Hoops, Volleyball, Softball and Lacrosse. All four of the major food groups and no calories at all!

Paige Sherrard promises to stop in and break down Carinal women's basketball past, present and future and we have great audio from Sandy Pearsall, Kellie Young, Jeff Walz, Myisha Hines-Allen, Briahanna Jackson, Alex Wilharm and the founding fathers of the constitution. 

(OK, we don't have audio from the founding fathers...but it's still gonna be a great show!) 

Link below for immediate internet access:

LOUD, PROUD AND SPORTSY

paulie
xxxxx 

Tuesday Cardinal Couple - Preseason in full swing

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


Fall sports are all geared up...literally...and busy with practices.  That leaves us without a great deal of hard news, but plenty of anticipation.  Things aren't completely silent from Floyd Street, however.  We are getting a steady stream of countdowns to season openers and other preseason engagement.

Countdowns

Both UofL Volleyball and Field Hockey are running countdowns highlighting various participants that are involved in the programs.  Student-athletes, coaches, and support staff are all getting attention.  Its a great way to get to know both new players such as freshmen and transfers, as well as parts of the staff that you may not have been familiar with.  Various countdown entries have highlighted assistant coaches, Sports Performance coaches, Sports Medicine personnel, Directors of Operation, and of course players.

Monday's Volleyball countdown entry

You can find the Field Hockey and Volleyball countdown content on their Twitter (or Facebook) pages.  Field Hockey and Volleyball.

Highlighted by Volleyball so far has been; Sophomore Maya McClendon, Director of Operations Sarah Drury Petkovic, the Volleyball Team's "Happy" video, Assistant Coach Alex Wilharm, Athletic Trainer Nicole Lowery, and Assistant Coach Lee Maes.

Meanwhile, Field Hockey's home opener is closer so they have a lot more entries so far in their countdown; new Assistant Coach Roz Ellis, freshman Rene DuFour, redshirt freshman Stephanie Byrne, Sports Performance Coach Heather Engel, redshirt freshman Elina Pereira, junior Megan Anstotz, freshman Anna DuFour, redshirt junior Sydney King, freshman Nicole Woods, Director of Olympic Sports Medicine Carole Banda, senior Hannah Boyle, and sophomore Lotta Kahlert.

Volleyball Confessions and Daily Blog

If you remember, last year, the volleyball team did a series of honest...and hilarious...videos describing preseason practices and various "gossip" of the team during the intense training period.  Well, they're back.  So far we have two Confessions videos, one by Janelle Jenkins and Brooke Betts, and the second by freshmen Eleni "Leni" Georgiafandis and Tess Clark.  These videos are posted to Alex Wilharm's Youtube channel, and get linked to from the UofLVolleyball Twitter and Facebook accounts.  The confessions are a small glimpse into what it must be like to participant in such an intense training activity on a team of 15 players, three coaches, and various managers and trainers.

Lastly, Volleyball is posting daily blog postings on the Volleyball homepage on gocards.com.  A brief recap of what the day was like, what the team did, and usually an encouragement to come to the volleyball games when the season starts.

Check it all out.  Fall seasons are quickly approaching and it's time to start getting ready as fans, just as the teams have already started their practices.

jmca