Praasterink Advances to 10M Finals -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Else Praasterink Advances to Olympic Finals

Photo from @LouisvilleSD on X

Recent University of Louisville diving alumna is making a name for herself at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Dutch native has qualified for and advanced to the finals for the 10M Platform Diving.

After a 15th place in preliminaries, Praasterink stepped up and improved her position to 12th in the semifinals. The top 12 finishers advanced to finals so the Dutch native just snuck in.

Praasterink is the first Louisville athlete to compete in a diving event in the Olympics and therefore is now the only Louisville athlete to advance to an Olympic final in diving. She posted a combined score of 292.80 over her five dives.

 

Photo from GoCards

The leader is Honghcan Quan of China with a score of 421.05. The current second place finisher is Yuxi Chen of China with a score of 403.05. No other divers scored higher than 367.00. Praasterink is the only representative from the Netherlands in the finals.

The 10M platform diving finals will be today (08/06/2024) beginning at 9:00am ET (3:00pm GMT+2). It can be streamed on Peacock.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared

Lacrosse Tonight; Softball Rained Out; Swimming Continues; Tennis Falls -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Lacrosse Hosts VT

Louisville Lacrosse will welcome the Virginia Tech Hokies (man, everyone is playing VT) this evening in L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. If they played in L&N FCU Arena, I think it would be quite the spectacle. That said, there should be plenty of fireworks tonight at the football stadium. Louisville is coming off of their unsuccessful comeback bid against Lindenwood Sunday. That loss dropped the team to 1-3, but they've shown fight in each game. 

Louisville is looking for consistency in their high-powered offense. The Cards have scored at least eight goals in each game and have averaged 11.5 goals per game, but they've come when Louisville had their backs against the wall in many cases, rather than when the Cards could put pressure on the opponents. If the offense can't keep pace today, they'll be playing from behind once more. Virginia Tech is 3-1 on the year, with the loss coming to 3/4 ranked James Madison in the second game of the season. They lost that one 17-5, but they've scored at least 10 in their other three games and have won their last two (over Mercer and Queens [NC]) by 13 goals apiece. 

Attendance at tonight's match is free, as is parking in the Bronze lots F and G. The clear bag policy will be enforced. The match will begin at 6PM and will be carried on ACC Network.

Friday Softball Canceled 

Louisville softball played the rescheduling game as part of the Battle of the Beach yesterday, but it ultimately didn't matter. The forecasted rain came early and it was relentless. Louisville's two games against Bowling Green and Coastal Carolina were both canceled. The Cards will be in action, weather permitting, today starting at 10am against Furman. They'll play Coastal later this afternoon (scheduled for 3:30) and they'll wrap up the weekend against Bowling Green tomorrow morning at 9:30. 

Swimming Holding Third at ACC

Louisville swimming and diving is currently at the ACC Championships and the Cards are doing well. Yesterday saw more podiums for Louisville's aquatic denizens, as Else Praasternik snagged a silver medal and the 400 medley relay team of Paige Hetrick, Ella Welch, Gabi Albiero, and Christiana Regenauer took the bronze. Those medals are added to the medals the Louisville women have already earned this week in the 800 free relay, the 200 free relay, 1m diving, 400 individual medley, 100 fly, and 200 free. Along with the medals, numerous other strong performances have helped Louisville into a solid hold on third. Louisville sits at 841 points, well clear of UNC's 627.5 in fourth place and right on the heels of NC State's 869. Virginia has just about locked up the team victory as they have 1178.5 points entering the final day. 

Events will get underway at 9:30 this morning and will include the 1650 freestyle, the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, men's platform diving, and the 400 free relay.

Tennis Drops ACC Opener

Louisville tennis went down to the wire in their ACC opener against Virginia Tech yesterday. The Cards lost 4-3, losing the doubles point with a score of 7-6 (7-3) in both the second and third doubles slots. As the day wore on, the score continued to bounce back and forth, with Louisville tying the match each time VT took the lead. Unfortunately, if you continue to trade wins in an odd numbered event, whoever took the point first will win. Such was the case as the final singles match of the day went to VT, giving them the 4-3 victory. That last match went three sets, extending the day about as long as possible. Louisville's doubles win came from Jamilah Snells and Lillian Mould, who unfortunately both lost their singles point. Singles winners were Allie Grekowski, Berta Miret, and Lika Peresypkina. 

Louisville, who now sits at 4-4 overall, will take on the sixth-ranked Virginia Cavaliers tomorrow starting at noon at Bass-Rudd. 

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

After an exciting week for Louisville athletics, which as included many ups and downs, we'll once again bring you the joy and excitement of Louisville women's athletics with the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast. There will be four on the floor in this week's episode, and there's plenty to discuss. 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

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!

Case

Olympic Cards in Action -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Track and Field Host PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational

As has become a bit of a norm moving through the late winter sports season, Saturday is a look at Louisville's Olympic sports. The Cards are at home in the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center again this week, as I mentioned in last week's post, for the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational. After an extremely strong showing last week, Louisville's women's side has been a bit more muted as far as ultimate results go, but a full day of events remains. 

Fellows in action (by Taris Smith, UofL)

Louisville posted five podiums yesterday collectively, but only one came on the women's side. Freshman Lucy Fellows finished second in the pentathlon, the first combined opportunity of the season. Fellows put up personal bests in the 60m hurdles and the shot put and led the field in shot put and long jump. 

Other strong performances came from Lydia Stuart, Zoe Yeast, and Maddie Seaby. Seaby, a freshman, was making her debut on track, where she took fifth place in the 3000m. Yeast also took fifth in the weight throw. Stuart put up a personal best in the seeded pole vault, clearing 4.03m to take fourth place.

Events continue today beginning at 10am.

Swimming & Diving Hosts UK

I talked a bit about Louisville's swimming and diving meet earlier this week in the media day writeup. Diving coach Ryan Rougeux and Lindsay Gizzi were excited to bring in the Wildcats this weekend because of the atmosphere Louisville fans create at the Ralph Wright Natatorium. If you'd like to be a part of that, head on down to Floyd Street early this afternoon. Despite a bit of confusion on the gocards site, the meet officially gets underway at 1PM. Louisville women are ranked 8th (men 15th) in the country, and the Cards are coming off a decent break, having last competed on January 5th. Louisville swept Mizzou at the Wright to open the year. 

UK last competed a week later, when they were narrowly defeated by Alabama on both sides (men: 175-144, women: 163-156). Based on the results so far this year, Louisville should have a significant advantage in this one, but just like any other sport, weird things can happen when you compete against your rival. It's a little unclear if Louisville will have Else Praasterink aiding the diving side today. Praasterink took gold in the 10m platform dive in Germany on January 19th, and she'll participate in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar which take place from February 2nd through the 18th. With diving events happening in the front half of that schedule, I would not be surprised if Else was already getting settled at the location of that event.

At any rate, whichever athletes are in attendance for the Cards today, you can be certain they'll be giving it their all. There is a "different air" around the program in an Olympic year, and everyone's desire to show out is heightened. 

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

With another midday home game for the Louisville men's basketball team, we'll be without Jared for the show this week. However, we will have Daryl, Jeff, and myself on board to bring you the joy and excitement of Louisville women's athletics. We'll talk about the down and up week for Louisville women's basketball, touch on the media day proceedings, and hear a bit from Jeff on what's happening in the Pro Volleyball Federation. 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

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!

Case

Pool Cards Face Stiff Test in Tennessee -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Swimming and Diving in Knoxville Dual Meet

Louisville swimming and diving are in Knoxville, Tennessee today for a dual meet against the Volunteers.  On the women's side, the Cards are coming off of a second-place finish in the SMU Classic and a win over Auburn in a head-to-head meet over the split-squad weekend. Louisville will look to carry their momentum into this meet where they'll take on a strong team returning three SEC champions. In addition to those three, the Vols finished in the top-10 in the NCAA tournament, with two national runners-up. 

Louisville men will have an even bigger battle with Tennessee also finishing in the top-10 on that side and returning 10 SEC champs from last year. The Volunteers are also the first school to ever return both the reigning SEC Swimmer of the Year and the SEC Diver of the Year. To add even more fuel to their fire, Tennessee also has last year's SEC Freshman Diver of the Year.

Louisville's squads boast plenty of heavy hitters of their own. The Cards currently hold all four weekly honors from the ACC, as they took home the Swimmer and Diver of the Week awards on both the men's and women's side. Else Praasterink earned top-five scores nationwide over the weekend in both the 1- and 3-meter dives on her way to winning both events. Gabi Albiero won four events at the SMU Classic and had a place and a show in two others. Albiero, a senior this year, has been an integral part of the Louisville squad since coming onboard and deserves her recognition among the stars that Louisville has seen over over the years. Here's hoping she can bring home some of the accolades this year.

Louisville and Tennessee will get underway at 2PM this afternoon, but no video is listed. We'll hope to keep an eye on this one, and you can always follow along on Louisville's social media accounts for updates. Across the athletic department, the Cards seem to be on the forefront of making information about their events accessible, especially when the events can't be viewed any other way.

It's a surprisingly light one today, considering how much there is on the calendar as we move through October. Jared will have more tomorrow on the big matchups for volleyball (Pitt) and field hockey (Duke).

Until next time, Go Cards!

Case

Mallory Comerford and FINA World Championships -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Mallory Comerford and FINA World Championships

Louisville swimmer alumna Mallory Comerford continues to show her prowess in the water. This time, Comerford is with Team USA at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Comerford was the second leg on the 4x100m freestyle relay for the United States. Comerford split 53.86 and Team USA clocked 3:35.23 to place second headed into the finals.

During her time as a Cardinal, Comerford won three 200 freestyle championships and one 100 freestyle championship, giving her the most NCAA titles of any individual Louisville swimmer or diver in program history.

Other Louisville swimmers appearing at the 2022 FINA World Championships include Abdelrahman El-Araby (Team Egypt), Andrej Barna (Team Serbia), Denis Loktev (Team Israel), Denis Petrashov (Team Kyrgyzstan), and Kledi Kadiu (Team Albania), all on the men's side.

Louisville will have another competitor at the 2022 FINA World Championships when the diving events begin. Else Praasterink will represent her home country of the Netherlands beginning in a few days.

We look forward to reporting on the final results of Comerford and Praasterink soon.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!

Jared

Lax Downs UC -- Softball Begins Bluegrass Challenge -- Praasterink to NCAAs -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LAX Cards Down Bearcats in Battle for I-71

Making just their second road trip this season, Louisville lacrosse found major success with a 16-9 win at Cincinnati. An 8-5 second quarter and holding the Bearcats to two second half goals proved to be the difference maker.

Louisville found themselves down 2-0 early inside Nippert Stadium, but powered through with a 4-0 run over the remainder of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter. A 2-0 spurt by Cincinnati evened the score before Louisville pulled off a 7-3 run to close out the half for a small lead.

Following the intermission, the Cards had a 4-1 third quarter to have a comfortable seven-goal lead. The match was never in doubt following that with a quiet 1-1 fourth quarter.

Allegra Catalano was the top scorer for Louisville with four goals. She also added an assist to go with her four scores. Caroline Blalock posted a hat trick while adding five assists, tying the fourth-best mark in assists in a single game by a Louisville player.

Kylea Dobson earned a name for herself with a hat trick and the always reliable Nicole Perroni had a three-piece of her own. Tiffany Natoli contributed two goals and the lone remaining goal came from Abby Scully.

J Pleck got the start and allowed four goals to go with four saves over 19:10. Sara Addeche came in relief for the final 40:50 to allow five goals with four saves and earn the win.

Cincinnati seems to be uncertain on where they play their games. When Paulie and I attended the LAX game up there last time, it was at Gettler Stadium (the UC soccer facility). They've also used Sheakley Athletic Center  (their on campus "bubble" for LAX and Football practice) and Nippert Stadium...where they play home football games. Judging by the attendance, Nippert was way too large a venue for the event, but the Cards won and probably would have taken UC on in an abandoned lot by the train station to extend their dominance. 

Louisville improves to 5-3 on the year. They visit #2 North Carolina on Sunday.

Softball Hosts Bluegrass Challenge

Less than ideal weather has caused Louisville softball to alter their schedule for the Bluegrass Challenge well before the first pitch is ever thrown, but the Cards are slated for five games this weekend.

Louisville opens up play at 5:00 p.m., today against Central Michigan. They will then turn around and face Valparaiso immediately after.

The Cards have a 3:00 p.m. game against Central Michigan and a 5:30 p.m. game against Ohio on Friday.

There will be no games on Saturday due to the forecast. Louisville will square off against Indiana at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Eastern Kentucky will also be in town, but the Cards and Colonels will not face each other.

The Cards are 1-0 against Central Michigan (2014) and 2-0 against Valparaiso (2012, 2021). The Cards have seen Ohio a few more times and hold a 7-2 record against them, most recently with a win in 2017. Louisville and Indiana have faced each other almost a couple dozen times with UofL holding a 19-3 advantage. Louisville defeated Indiana 9-5 in their fourth game this season.

Else Praasterink to Compete at NCAAs

Else Praasterink has punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships after finishing second in the platform diving qualifying meet in Ann Arbor.

Praasterink scored a 303.05 in prelims and a 592.05 overall score to place second.

The sophomore from the Netherlands is the only Louisville diver on the women's side to qualify but will be one of 15 Cardinals to compete in the NCAAs.

Emily Engstler Named as Cheryl Miller Award Finalist

Emily Engstler has been named one of the five finalists for the 2022 Cheryl Miller Award. The award is presented to the top small forward in NCAA Division I women's basketvball 

The other four candidates are Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Rhyne Howard (UK), Haley Jones (Stanford) and Madi Williams (Oklahoma).  Ashley Joens won the award in 2021 

Date and time to announce the winner will be determined at a later date and will be done in conjunction with the other four winners of the Women's Starting Five. Those are the point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center awards. 

Want more info?  We suggest you check out www.hoophallawards.com  

NCAA Selection Show / Cardinal Couple Pick Em

The NCAA Women's Basketball Selection Show is this coming Sunday night and the Cards should be considered a lock in the tournament and to host the opening two rounds at the KFC Yum! Center. If either of those things don't happen then there's a serious problem.

The Cardinal Couple ACC Pick Em was a big success despite a surprising couple of upsets. With 26 entries, it was our biggest entry pool to date.

With that being said, the Cardinal Couple NCAA Pick Em is good to go again this year! From the moment the teams are announced and up until right before the first games tip off, you will be able to enter. Start studying up!

We know, there are a whole lot more teams to choose from in the NCAA WBB Pick 'Em.  But, it is free and Paulie is conducting high level, top secret negotiations to secure gift cards for the winner and runner up. He also appreciates your e-mails on gift card suggestions. He did discover that Ford does not have a gift card for a new truck, and he couldn't find one for a brand new house. 

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared