Friday Cardinal Couple -- Women's Tennis advnaces in BIG EAST Tournament

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Women's Tennis defeats Seton Hall in first-round BIG EAST Tennis Championships

-Track and Field today at Cardinal Park

-Rowing to compete in Clemson Invitational

-David Watson on Cardinal WBB

The University of Louisville women's tennis team advanced out of first round play against Seton Hall with a 4-0 win. They actually played (and won) nine matches (three doubles and six singles). I have yet to figure out tennis scoring.

The Cards are a #3 seed and will move on to play #6 seed Rutgers today beginning at noon. The Louisville players won all nine matches they participated in against Seton Hall. Top doubles team Julia Fellerhoff and Rebecca Shine and #2 team Becky Bodine and Stefanie Villajean won in games that actually counted. In singles, Shine and Fellerhoff took victories as well.

With fifteen teams competing, the overall #1 seed Notre Dame got a bye in first round action. The games are being played in Tampa, Fl. on the USF campus.

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Louisville Track and Field hosts the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational starting today at Cardinal Park. Other teams participating are Southeast Missouri, Central Michigan and East Tennessee State.

Throwing begins at 10:30 a.m. and Amashi Kendall, who is #17 nationally in the shot put and #20 in the discus heads a strong field of tossers.

Michelle Kinsella will try to better her season best mark of 6'075" in the high jump...fifth best in the nation this year.

Margret Harris broke a Cardinal 400m record in the Border Battle and will try to best her 53.93 mark.

And, there will be a Kiyohara running in the 3000m. Not UofL softball's Hannah, but her younger sister Leah. Leah has had a great season and joins distance runners Kelsey Cramsey and Benadate Cheruiyot as Cardinals who should do well today.



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Louisville Rowing is headed to take part in the Clemson Regatta beginning Saturday. A number of nationally ranked teams will vie for top honors in the event, including the #17 ranked Cardinal squad.

Louisville was scheduled to compete in a four-way event against Iowa, #14 Wisconsin and #20 Minnesota in the Iowa Regatta last Saturday, but high winds on Lake McBride forced cancellation of the event.

-Paulie

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(David Watson sends us this observation on UofL women's basketball)

It is widely reported that Louisville head WBB Coach Jeff Walz and Connecticut skipper Geno Auriemma are good friends.

I'm glad for that. Can you imagine how badly the Huskies might have defeated the Cards in the NCAA Championship if they were enemies?

Aureimma has also indicated that Walz would have no shot at being a lead waiter in his restaurant. Something to do with clothing attire. Geno feels Walz would be better suited as a busboy and back door trash taker-out guy.

Geno's gals certainly trashed the Lady Cards in the title game.

Speaking of trashing, how about the latest antics of Duke head WBB coach Joanne P. McCauley? A freshman on her team -- Sierra Moore -- is unhappy there and wants to leave. She'd been recruited by former Duke and current Louisville assistant Samantha Williams. Sierra wouldn't have minded coming to the Cards. Coach McCauley blocked that possible transfer. Then, Coach McCauley gets on Twitter and allegedly trashes Coach Williams for trying to manipulate Sierra improperly during the season.

Some soap opera, right?

McCauley is a different bird. Ever seen her discuss a Duke loss? She takes no responsibility for it. It's always "this or that" player's fault. A real stand-up and shoulder responsibility type -- that Joanne is.

I look forward to the Cards going to the ACC. Especially the first time Duke and Louisville meet in women's basketball. Who throws the first punch. Williams or McCauley?

Finally, I'm going to miss Mo and Shelby. What two great spokeswomen and examples they were for college basketball.

Little Shelby, pressed into a starting role during that tragic 2009-10 season and then accepting a lesser, backup role her final three seasons. A player with less integrity and team commitment probably would have bolted elsewhere for more playing time. Always giving her best -- did Ms. Harper.
And, such a fan favorite!

Mo. The closest thing to a guaranteed two points you'll ever get every time she got the ball under the basket. A fantastic start to her career, amazing sophomore year and then injuries robbed her of what might have been. A tragic turn of events, indeed, but redemption -- of sorts -- when she hits the winning free throws against Baylor. A game that Louisville WBB fans will remember the rest of their lives.

Thank you, ladies, for being what you were at Louisville and I know we'll be hearing much more from you as you continue your journeys and chosen paths in life after basketball and college.

Winners.

-David Watson

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