Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Recruiting roundup

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Basketball recruiting is one of the favorite topics and a big source of e-mails from our readers here at the ol' CARDINAL COUPLE and who else better to handle it than our esteemed recruting columnist Jenny O'Bryan? Today, she catches us up on the latest news.) 

- Meet four impact players with Louisville on their short lists


I keep getting questions as to what is going on in the recruiting world, specifically with the students who have already made their official visit. 

As was reported Monday, by Paul, Brianna Ruiz has committed to University of Washington.  Ruiz, a guard, stated that she “feels like it is better for me on the West Coast, kind of”.  Whatever her reason, Cardinal Couple wishes her well in her collegiate career.  Kevin McGuff, formerly of Xavier, coaches U. OF  WASHINGTON and he is assembling talent on his roster.  I look forward to seeing him impact the PAC-12.

Imani Wright is a 6-0 guard out of Hooks, Texas.   She was on campus several weeks ago alongside Brianna Ruiz.  She has her final official visit scheduled for this weekend at Kentucky.  Jody Demling, at Cardinal Authority, has a really nice write-up about Wright.  Check it out, here:

The Wright choice coming soon?

Saniya Chong is a 5-9 guard out of Ossining, NY.  She visited the Louisville campus a few weeks back and visited the campus of Ohio State this past weekend.  She still has an official visit with UCONN scheduled for this upcoming weekend (10/12).  To my knowledge, those are the final 3 schools on her list.  Maryland was previously in her top 4 but appears to have been cut from her list.  I have seen no timeline in regards to when she will make her decision.

Emmonnie Henderson is a post player out of Edwardsville, IL.  Her final four includes Louisville, Tennessee, Miami and Purdue.  She took an official visit to Miami in late September.  I am uncertain of her official visit to Purdue.  Her official visit to Tennessee is scheduled for the weekend of 10/19-21 and with Louisville the weekend of 10/26-28.  As recently as two weeks ago she was quoted as saying that Louisville is currently in the lead for her services.  Like the aforementioned recruits, I have not heard a timeline for her decision. 

Mercedes Russell is the #1 player in the country and is down to 2 schools, Louisville and Tennessee.  Her official visits to Tennessee and Louisville are the same weekends as Henderson’s.  Russell has stated that she intends to make her decision before high school ball starts, and most recently has stated that she hopes to make her decision a few days after returning from the Louisville visit. 

While Russell is the only Louisville recruit on record, that I can find, as having said she will make her decision shortly after her last visit, it is reasonable to think all of these recruits will be making decisions in the very near future.  They are all winding down their visits, and all have been visited at home by coaching staffs.  While the regular signing period is not until April of one’s senior year, many student athletes opt to sign in the early signing period, which is mid-November.   

Regardless of what happens with each of these recruits, it is crucial to remember the regular signing period is not until April.   Both Shoni Schimmel and Bria Smith were signed after the regular signing period.  November is not a deadline for recruiting the class of 2013.    

Another point to keep in mind regarding these recruits, each of them has Louisville in their very short lists.  Coach Walz and his staff are up against perennial programs (Baylor, Tennessee, UCONN) for these highly sought after recruits.    Louisville may land all of them, some of them, or none of them.  Regardless of what happens, Coach Walz has elevated this program to a consistent top 20 program.  Louisville is relevant, in the conversation and rising. 

I look forward to the next few weeks as decisions are made.  The season is around the corner, Louisville is ranked preseason as a top 10 team and the program is on the cusp of landing the #1 player in the country. 

Can I get an ‘L yeah? 

( Any or all of these four excellent student-athletes would compliment a very good Cardinal WBB team in the 2013-14 season and go on to be valuable and productive players in the Cardinal system. Keep it here at CARDINAL COUPLE for any late-breaking or relevant news concerning recruiting and ALL Cardinal womens' sports! )
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Soccer wins, Field Hockey falls on Sunday

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Soccer defeats DePaul

-Field Hockey loses in East Lansing to MSU

-Who's seeing who? 

Chalk up a win and a loss for UofL women's sports on Sunday...as the soccer team completed their weekend road trip with a 2-0 win at DePaul and field hockey loses in overtime to #19 Michigan State. We'll also look at some WBB visitors in today's edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. 

Holtz, Corral lead women's soccer to shutout

Louisville scored two first half goals against the DePaul Blue Demons and that was all they needed in a 2-0 win in Chicago against the BIG EAST foe on Sunday.

Courtney Holtz got the Cards on the board early in the contest, taking a feed from Charlyn Corral and finding the net just six minutes into the contest. It was her first goal of the season and the team-leading sixth assist of the year for Corral. 

UofL added an insurance goal in the 31st. minute of action when Corral was fed by Erin Yenney and hit paydirt. It was Corral's first score of the regular season and second assist of the year for Yenney. 

Goalkeeper Chloe Kiefer earned her fourth shutout of the season...an easy day for her with no shots-on-goal for the Blue Demons. 

"We played a much more complete game today and it allowed us to get a difficult win on the road. Our backs were much better and were more involved in our attack, which is why Courtney was able to score our first goal." -- Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes. 

The Cards improve to 6-2-0 on the season and 1-1-0 in the BIG EAST. They return home for two this weekend...Syracuse on Friday at 7 p.m. and St. John's on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Michigan State pulls out 2-1 win over Field Hockey

Louisville battled the Spartans gallantly for two periods and a sudden death overtime but MSU's Abby Barker scored her second goal of the afternoon with just five minutes remaining to give Michigan State a 2-1 win in the finals of the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational Sunday on the MSU campus.

Twenty minutes into the first half before either team scored in this match...Barker getting her first score of the day. The teams went into halftime with MSU holding that 1-0 advantage. 

Louisville tied the contest early in the second half when Haley Jurich provided Alyssa Voelme with a feed and she capitalized to tie the match. 

Senior Erin Conrad had five stops in the loss. Louisvlle drops to 5-3 on the year. 

"We had an opportunity to press Michigan State in overtime when we were a player up but we were unable to recognize and take advantage of the situation. We must now shift our focus to special situations and set plays as we prepare ourselves for our opening BIG EAST game on Friday." -- Louisville head coach Justine Sowry. 

The Cards face Georgetown at 6 p.m. in Trager Stadium on Friday. A great double header for Louisville fans on campus. Field Hockey followed by soccer. 

Visitor, visitor

The University of Louisville women's basketball team getting visits in with some pretty powerful 2013 recruits. Emmonie Henderson, Saniya Chong and Mercedes Russell all being courted by Jeff Walz and the UofL coaches, players and staff on campus or home visits. 

Three girls who will make an impact on any program they decide to align with. Three girls who have pared their lists down to include Louisville. 

Angel McCoughtry was also in Louisville on Saturday. No college eligibility left for the Olympian and WNBA star but a 2nd quarter apperance and introduction at the Louisville football game. Wearing her gold medal. 

She may have got the biggest cheer of the day from the 55,000 appreciative Cardinal fans in attendance. 

Think about that...Emmonie, Saniya and Mercedes. Coming back to Louisville after four fruitful years here.

Maybe with solid gold around your neck. Maybe making headlines in the WNBA. Getting love from 55,000 CARDINAL fans and making an apperance on national television. 

Cardinal fans appreciate, honor and love their women's athletes and Cardinal coaches are among the best, if not the best in college athletics. 

The best college sports town in America. Right here. 
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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Another busy UofL women's sports weekend

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

****** These updates on Friday action...The Cards defeated MTSU in three sets 25-19, 25-11, 25-19 in Volleyball. Field Hockey won 3-2 in double overtime against Central Michigan and Soccer fell to Notre Dame 2-1. Full stories on all three games in the Saturday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. Be sure to check back! ****** 

-Volleyball hosts Louisville Tournament...MTSU first opponent

-Women's soccer travels to Notre Dame

-Field Hockey @ Spartan Invitational 

-Jay Miller joins Softball coaching staff

-Two special WBB recruits in this weekend

-Notre Dame to ACC -- Some final thoughts

A very busy weekend for UofL women's sports coming up...beginning today with volleyball, field hockey and soccer all in action. Let's get right to the coverage! 

Three Volleyball matches in the KFC YUM! Center

UofL will occupy the KFC YUM! Center for three matches as part of the Louisville Invitational this weekend, the first match against Middle Tennessee State University. Despite the Blue Raiders record (3-9), they pose a tough challenge for the Cards. MTSU has had a brutal pre-conference slate of opponents and the roster is young. They'll have a say in the Sun Belt Conference title this season and are led by freshman Chelsea Ross (177 kills, 103 digs) and Ashley Adams (144 kills).

Louisville will also face UNLV and Miami (FL) on Saturday. The MTSU game starts at 7:30 p.m. tonite.

Soccer travels to South Bend

If you're in a road-trip frame of mind...

Karen Ferguson-Dayes' soccer squad begins BIG EAST competition against Norte Dame today at 4 p.m. The match will be televised on ESPNU and also available on-line at ESPN3 at WatchESPN.com. 

The Irish (3-3-1) return from a west coast swing that saw them tie Portland and lose to Washington. Louisville (5-1-0) comes into the game after hosting the Marriott Louisville Airport Classic where they bested Toledo and lost to Kentucky. 

The Irish hold a 8-3 lifetime series advantage over the Cards, but Louisville won both contests last year...winning 1-0 at South Bend and 2-1 in the semifinals of the BIG EAST tournament at West Virginia. 

Field Hockey battles in Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational

Another destination you could motor to would be catching Louisville Field Hockey on the road. 

Justine Sowry's girls also swing into action with a 4 p.m. clash against Central Michigan on the M.S.U. campus in East Lansing, MI. They'll also face either Michigan State or American University on Saturday, depending on the outcome of the games. 

Central Michigan (3-2) takes the field after a loss at Stanford and win over Maine. They feature Erin Dye, who has netted four goals on the season and Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week in goalkeeper Anastasia Netto. 

The Chippewas lead the series against the Cards 17-11. Louisville won the last match back in 2010...getting five goals from Nicole Youman in a 9-0 drubbing.

Chong, Harris visit this weekend

Jeff Walz and the University of Louisville basketball team host two major players in the class of 2013 this weekend for official visits. Saniya Chong, a do-everything guard from Ossining, NY and Alexandra "Alex" Harris, the 6'3" board terminator from Lorain. OH. will take in the sights and see the best college sports town around this weekend. Could be a busy weekend for the duo, with football at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium against North Carolina and the volleyball at the YUM. 

Chong is one of the best, if not the best, point guard in the 2013 recruiting class. A prolific scorer, distributes the ball well and a team leader. She's down to four schools...the CARDS, UConn, Maryland and Ohio State. WE feel once she sees all that the Louisville campus and facilities offer, she'll pare that list down further. She was low-flying on the national radar until the beginning of her junior year. She's blossomed into the type of guard that can be a difference-maker in a close game. Imagine her in a lineup with Mercedes Russell in the KFC YUM! Center. If we dream it, we can achieve it...

Harris dominates action on both ends of the court with her paint presence. Scores easily from inside and is a ferocious rebounder and defender. She's pared her list to the CARDS, Penn State and Michigan. Watching her game film eerily reminds me of a slightly taller version of Candyce Bingham. She'd be a great catch for the Cards. I bet she'd like playing with Chong and Russell, also. 

Enjoy Louisville, girls! It's a great place to spend four years! If you see the dynamic duo on campus or at a sporting event this weekend, flash them an "L" and tell them you'd like to see them in the red and black. 

Jay Miller joins Cardinal Softball staff.

Miller comes to Louisville as a volunteer assistant after an impressive career. Head coach at Mississippi from 2003-11. Prior to that, 15 years at Missouri from 1987-2002. 11 NCAA tournament appearances. A lifetime record of 1004-668, just one of 13 NCAA Division I coaches to hit the 1000 win plateau. 

"We're very happy to have somebody of Jay Miller's caliber join our staff. He brings a great deal of experience not only with the USA team, but also has an extensive college background and we are excited to have him join our program." -- Sandy Pearsall, UofL head softball coach. 

A great addition to an already stellar staff that Pearsall had on board. Miller replaces Lacy Wood, who has accepted an assistant coaching position at Eastern Kentucky. Miller's offensive strategies will only buoy a Cardinal attack that features eight returning starters this year. The Ulmer will be rocking! 

When Irish Eyes are smiling...

 So much has already been said and discussed about the Notre Dame departure from the BIG EAST to the ACC, that I'll limit my commentary to the effect it will have on women's sports in the BIG EAST. 

Muffett McGraw takes a talented basketball team that has been near or at the top of BIG EAST women's hoops for a decade to a conference that may well be the second strongest in women's college basketball.

New challenges in recruiting. New opponents to learn and face. And, with the vacating of the top rung on the ladder that the Irish shared with UConn, who will climb up? 

Obviously, Louisville will vye for that spot. DePaul, Rutgers and St.John's will try and lay claim to that rare air as well. 

The Irish were contenders in BIG EAST softball, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, track and field, swimming and diving and golf each and every year. Their departure weakens the league but also provides the chances for other programs to capitalize and move up. 

Most people I've talked to in the 48 hours since the Irish announcement agree that it is a strong blow to BIG EAST conference stability but rationalize that it doesn't hurt the already wobbly football coalition.  

These same people, in a vast majority,  also would like to see the Cards follow suit and try their fortunes in another conference. Big 12, Big 10, ACC...with the BIG 12 getting the majority of the favoritism. 

Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, we'll go on record as wondering if it's better to be a big fish in a rapidly draining pond or a new fish in a different lake? 

Notre Dame and Louisville have easily been the top two programs in BIG EAST overall women's sports since the Cardinals joined the conference in 2005. With the departure of the Irish, more conference championships are in Louisville's women's sports destiny. Better to be a giant in a small kingdom? 

Of course, any move in the future will be dictated by the economic engine of football. For now, Tom Jurich better get the UofL maintenance staff busy installing more trophy cases and shelves. Cardinal superiority will only increase.

And, that's not a bad thing at all.

Finally, if you attend the Louisville vs, North Carolina football game Saturday...make sure and stop by 80 under 80 to hear Robbie Bartlett and take a bath with Poobah, Sonja and Carol the Kid. MArkie MArk might even tell you about the festivus stick we left in Charlotte. 

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Tuesday Cardinal Couple -- Laundry and more Laundry

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Columnist Sandy Walker grabs the hamper and yells out "last call" as she descends the steps to do her weekly load of CARDINAL COUPLE laundry. She takes us through the spin, rinse and fluff cycles and reminds you to empty your pockets...anything left will either be cleaned, go into her pocket or fed to Bill the Goat) 

THE LONDON PARALYMPICS 2012!

The London Paralympics are nearing their end. Videos from members of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team are available on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usparalympics. Note: Oksana Masters of Louisville, KY  and Rob Jones of Lovettsville, VA  took bronze in the first ever Paralympic medal in the trunk and arms mixed double sculls event for Team USA.   You can also check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bonnie-st-john/london-paralympics-2012_b_1866584.html? where a former medal winner, Bonnie St. John, has recapped some of the results. For more information and results visit www.usparalympics.org .

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BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Anyone who follows the Louisville Women’s basketball knows that the long anticipated 2012-2013 schedule is now published.   A quick scan made it immediately obvious that it will be much easier to be an actual attendee of home games.   Gone are the barrage of mid-day work week games and the weekend actually features some of the games which are more of a broad fan based interest. It is great to have a local team where nine of the games are of such interest that they will be nationally televised. 

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HOW IT WAS

One reader is taking us back to Ursuline Academy in the 1950 's.  Girls play was conducted from a court which was marked on a room in a campus building basement with beams that hung down across the ceiling.  Those whose shots had arches found themselves ducking as the balls rebounding back at them.  One quickly learned to create a home court flat shot but game strategy primarily focused on shooting layups which worked great as long as you followed through by targeting the end of court walls open doorway instead of the water cooler which sat to the left of the basket.

Readers Submitted Comments of How It Was Stories

Anonymous wrote: We had a deal set up years ago with a popular drive-in restaurant where they would pay our referees with gift certificates to their restaurant. Not sure how "legal" this is/was, so I'm not naming the restaurant. It was a popular place, though and referees would always request to work our games at home in basketball because of the set up. And, we seldom got very many "bad" calls.  Somewhere in Wisconsin

And from Skinny Pete: I played my high school basketball in a small western Kentucky town where the gymnasium was not large enough to have a full length basketball court. We had no center court line, just two lines on the court that were the distance of what half court was on a regulation court. This was confusing to "big city opponents" and we used it to our advantage quite frequently for ten second calls and "over and back" with our press.

We also had a second floor bleacher area that hung over the sidelines out of bounds areas and our students would sit in this area and harass opposing players who would attempt shots from the corners of the court. Imagine 75-100 screaming kids directly over you when taking a corner jumper from the sidelines. Not too many went in.

Consolidation eventually closed our school, but we had a pretty good home record because of our gym and the smallness of it. The town really showed up for these games and I remember one time our mayor actually ran out onto the court to argue a call made by the refs. He got tossed from the gym! Those old brick walls could really magnify the sound and it was a tough place to play for visitors not used to it.

UL Football History Whose Contributor Shall Be Nameless Unless They Volunteer.

I remember the days of going through the northwest corner gate at Cardinal Stadium dragging coolers, buckets of chicken and anything else we could think of and getting in by just flashing our student ID. We would take the fraternity bell and ring it in the end zone after Cardinal scores and we'd just drive the pickup truck in, park a few yards behind the end zone and tailgate right there. We had a player from Memphis once score a touchdown in front of us, toss US the ball instead of to the referee and he asked us for a beer and piece of chicken.

(Sure...I'll volunteer it. Ol' Paulie himself and I remember some of those days still.) 

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WEEKLY EVENTS

Overall  the women had a powerful week.   Total count shows field hockey with two wins and one loss, soccer balanced out at 1 win of 2 matches while volleyball hit the perfecta with not only two wins with no losses but were also the winners of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge.

Golf is participating yesterday and today in the Ptarmigan Ram Classic in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The VolleyCards have now beat No. 10 Kentucky, No. 11 Purdue and No. 20 Illinois.

Candice Wiley

This weekend is extremely busy with most of our women’s teams playing out of town.  Fortunately Volleyball is playing this weekend in the Louisville Tournament at the YUM center.   Play begins Friday against Middle Tennessee at 7:30, UNLV at 11:00 on Saturday then again that evening at 7:30 against Miami.  Also on Saturday there is all day Rowing at the G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center.  It is Red/Black day so if you attend, dress for success.  All of these activities can be squeezed between the men’s 3:30 Cardinal Stadium football game against North Carolina.

For those of you who are able to recover from the weekend games, there is always Women’s Golf being played at the Cardinal Club on Monday.

The golf team completed 36 holes Monday in the Ram Classic hosted by Colorado State. They are in third place...Emily Haas with a 144 and Katie Petrino with 146. Both are in the top ten. 

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SOCCER

Women’s soccer ( 12^th ranked)against Notre Dame is set for Friday at 4:00 ET and is being shown on ESPNU with UL bringing in a 5-1 record to the match.  Last week Junior Angelika Uremovich scored twice to lead the 12th-ranked Louisville women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Toledo.

Angelika Uremovich

 Free clinic Saturday the 22nd at 10:30 to be held at Cardinal Park Soccer Stadium.  The clinic is open to the first 30 girls ages 14-16 with an RSVP required.  E-mail  Jing Hughley at j0hugh02@louisville.edu. 

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FIELD HOCKEY

The field hockey team defeated Ohio University 2-1 Saturday afternoon at the IU Field Hockey Complex in Bloomington, Ind. Senior goalkeeper Erin Conrad

Erin Conrad

 posted nine saves in the win.   U of L takes their 4-2 record into East Lansing Michigan on Friday when they play Central Michigan with either Michigan State or American University on Sunday.

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                                                                     VOLLEYBALL

The Cards jumped to #12 in the polls after the weekend wins over Illinois and Purdue. Nice job, ladies! 

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BASKETBALL PRACTICE START DATES

First date of practice guidelines for women has been adjusted which allow teams to start preseason practice 40 days ahead of their season opener. U of L’s first game is set for November 9 against Texas A & M at the YUM! Center so the first allowed date of practice counts back to around September 30. Teams are limited to 30 practices during the extended time frame.

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BASKETBALL THIS AND THAT!

UL women are reported to be 3 deep at almost every position which will feed perfectly into Jeff’s upbeat and up tempo style of play.  As one gets slightly winded there is another to step into her place which makes for exciting and crowd inspiring entertainment.  As an old and broken down former player... there is nothing that provides an extra unknown internal spark than the opponents turnover which developed into a score from your teammates defensive pressure and extra effort.  While we read that others want to try again this year to play the “up pace pressure ball” which was discarded early during last season as ineffective – Louisville has been successfully playing this exciting style of ball for a few years now.  This team is already going to be terribly exciting and competitive this year but RECRUITS PLEASE TAKE NOTE: If next year we can continue our upbeat style of play while adding some additional height in the  front court with a great point/wing guard rotation in the back, we will be totally unstoppable.

Imani Wright and Brianna Ruiz were on campus last weekend.  Saniya Chong, Alexandria Harris, Emmonie Henderson and Mercedes Russell are reportedly still anticipated with                                                                             

Mercedes' visit scheduled for the weekend after her Tennessee visit.  Hopefully her saving us until last is a good sign as every UL fan is primed to hear the good news of her signing with a team and fan base that is already primed and ready for a championship.  I believe that she would be the key to a long list of additional signees which  we are prepared for as fortunately, the scholarships are available. 

Sara Hammond has tweeted that she has returned to her 00 high school playing number.

It’s a day late but it appears that yesterday was Angel’s birthday.  Better late than never on the shout-outs.   Happy Birthday Angel!

(Excellent work from Sandy today! The prospect of such talent hitting the Louisville campus and combining with the existing talent makes for a very exciting time for Cardinal basketball fans. One bit of sad news to report...softball pitcher Chelsea Leonard's injury to her knee in the Michigan game will keep her sidelined for the softball season...she'll continue to serve as possibly a student mgr. or assistant ) 

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Catching up on women's hoops news

(Not trying to emulate or replace Sandy's laundry day today but here are some recent updates on Louisville women's basketball. 

MONNY NIAMKE

Original 2012 target Monny Niamke will be on campus at UofL by the end of the week and will be taking classes at UofL in the fall. She spent her freshman year at Lindsey Wilson and was the starting point guard. She's also mentioned the possibility of running track her first year at Louisville. Basketball mandates that she sit out a year in that sport because of the transfer but she's eligible for track (or lacrosse, we guess.. but we hope she doesn't decide to take the sport up.) 

SHAWNTA DYER

(Photo by Charlie Springer - Card Game)

The sophomore forward recently had sports hernia surgery and will be out for six to eight weeks. This puts her timeline right around the start of October basketball practices for the squad. 

Dyer came on strong for the Cards at the end of last season and was expected to be a valuable contributor to the Lady Cards on the front line this season. Hopefully, she'll be healed and ready to go for the opener Friday, November 8th against Texas A&M in the KFC YUM! Center

ASIA TAYLOR

Our buddy A Tayy continues to rehab from her hip surgery and is expected to be available for UofL in early December. Whether she'll be up to speed and ready to go against the Kentucky Wildcats in the YUM! on Sunday, Dec 2nd. is unknown yet...but it looks she'll be ready to go for BIG EAST play if all goes as expected. 

Taylor started 20 games for Louisville last season and was second on the squad in rebounding behind Dyer. Tough to imagine not having those two...get well soon ladies! 

MONIQUE REID AND TIA GIBBS

Three survivors. Three teammates.
(Photo by Charlie Springer - Card Game)

Both continue to prepare for the season after sitting out last year with injuries. For Gibbs, it was first the shoulder, then the hip...but she's out and jogging. in her recent apperance at Cardinal Caravan, she indicated she's excited about the upcoming season and ready to get on the court.

Mo Reid is also preparing for October practices and spending a lot of time in the gym shooting and getting in playing shape. She's good to go with the knee that made it necessary for her to sit out the majority of the 2011-12 season and her scoring presence inside will be most welcome.

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SANIYA CHONG AND ALEX HARRIS

Highly ranked Class of 2013 recruits Saniya Chong and Alexandra Harris are scheduled to make visit to UofL. Harris is tentatively scheduled to visit Sept., 15th and we're hearing that the date has also been presented to Chong as a good day to be on campus. Cardinal target Emmonie Henderson has picked Oct. 26th. as the day she'll visit Louisville. 

Plenty of activities for the ladies to take part in on Sept. 15th. Louisville football at PJCS and two volleyball games at their future home...the KFC YUM! Center. 

Russell, Henderson, Chong, Harris...the Cards are on the lists of some very talented and highly regarded high school basketball players...

The four above, along with Niamke, would add greatly to an already very strong 2013-14 Louisville roster. Not saying that all five will be in the red and black. Not saying that Louisville is the leader for each girl's services.

But, when you look at the facilities, the campus, the coaches and staff, fan fervor and the popularity of women's college basketball in our fair city...how do you or why would you say "No?" 

SCHEDULE IS COMING

The women's basketball schedule should be published in a few days. We do know that the UK game is scheduled for Sunday, Dec 2nd. in the KFC YUM Center. (The Cats begin their exhibition season against Bellarmine.) We also know that UofL will start regular season play by hosting powerhouse Texas A&M in the YUM. We'll post the schedule when it becomes available and have it listed on the left side of the site also. 



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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Basketball and Volleyball are on the agenda today

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Jenny looks at recruiting and volleyball


-USA OLYMPIC Womens' Basketball update


(Columnist Jenny O'Bryan gets us caught up on the recruiting trial and previews volleyball today.)

Cam Newbauer

Women’s basketball coaches have spent the month of July travelling from city to city, coast to coast, searching, looking and watching for the next best fit for their programs. 

During a NCAA Certified Viewing period, college programs cannot have more than 3 coaches on the road at the same time.  They rotate time on the road, spanning out to tournaments all over the country.  In the course of the last month Coach Walz and his assistants have been in DC, Maryland, NC, Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, Tennessee, Chicago and Texas...just to name a few areas they've visited.  

Rest assured that one or all of the coaches have been on the trail to see the talents of Mercedes Russell, Makayla Epps, Becca Greenwell (before Louisville was cut from her list), Emmonnie Henderson and Saniya Chong to name just a few.  Showing up at tournaments of recruits who have offers, or who are considering the program, is an active way of showing continued support of a recruit at a time in the recruiting calendar when no contact is allowed between coaches and recruits.  

Samantha Williams

Additionally, while on the trail, coaches are looking for future talent for upcoming recruiting classes.    Therefore, don’t be surprised if you start to hear names of kids in the classes of 2014, 2015 and even further out who have caught the eye of Louisville Women’s Basketball Coaches. 

Welcome home Coaches!   After close to a month away from home, in gyms throughout the country some with, some without air conditioning, I am sure the comfort of your own homes and the basketball offices are a welcome sight.  


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Lola leads an experienced
bunch of volleyball returnees

In other news with Louisville Women’s Athletics, Louisville Volleyball is just 17 days away from the Alumnae match on August 18 at Cardinal Arena and just 23 days away from the season opener against WKU at KFC YUM Center on August 24 at 7:30 p.m.  The 24^th and 25^th of August is the Active Ankle Challenge and in addition to WKU, the Cards will be playing Morehead St. and Penn State.   It should be a great weekend of volleyball. 

This season the VolleyCards (as I like to refer to the team) will play 15 home games at The YUM! Center, up from 6 games last season.    A family package of 4 tickets for the season can be purchased for  $210.  This is a great deal and will give the ticket holder post season ticket sale priority should the YUM!
Center be chosen to host the 1^st or 2^nd rounds of the NCAA tournament. 

For the past few seasons my family has had the opportunity to attend 4-5 games per season.  With a daughter who is also a volleyball player there tends to be a lot of scheduling conflicts that prohibit us from attending more often. 

The Louisville Volleyball program ranked 23^rd in the country in home game attendance during the 2011 season.  The hope is to break in to the top 10 in attendance this season.  

A healthy Gwen Rucker
will make Louisville tough
to beat. 

So Cardinal faithful get your season tickets now!  If you cannot commit to the season, like my household because of our own volleyball player, mark your calendar and plan to attend a few matches this season.  If you have not seen a volleyball game lately, like say when we were kids upwards 30-40 years ago, I guarantee you will be impressed with the talent on the court.   The game has grown and changed a lot over the course of the last few decades.  Make plans now to get out there and check our VolleyCards out.  


( Louisville looks to be loaded again in Volleyball with Lola Arsenbeckova, Gwen Rucker, Emily Juhl, Kaitlynn James, Caitlin Welch and a very impressive freshman class attacking the wide net. Under Anne Kordes' direction, the BIG EAST championship and a deep NCAA run looks like it's "in the CARDS".


Great job today by Jenny! Get out & support your VolleyCards.) 


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USA OLYMPIC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM UPDATE


USA women's Olympic Basketball team faces Turkey today in pool play. The Turks are 2-0 in pool play, like the USA. Angel probably had a good scouting report on them, since she's played Euroball in Turkey and several of the Turkish players are from club team Fenerbache, a team Angel knows quite well. 

Will it increase her playing time? Knowing Geno, probably not. With the UConn twins at guard (Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi), Candace Parker, Tina Charles and Tamika Catchings getting starting assignments, Geno is comfortable with three UConn players out there and two of the best front-line players in the history of women's basketball. 


They need someone to step up from the three-point line. Candace needs to cure her start-of-the-game "drop-sy". They may win by only 20 today. Look for Angel to provide a spark off the bench and Geno to prowl the sidelines looking like a man who can't catch a cab going into the city. 


-"Big Syl" (Sylvia Fowles) sat out the Angola game because of a sore foot. 


- Brit Griner turned down her reserved spot on the team because of an ailing mom and the need to take summer classes at Baylor. 


- Who would you pick for a 2016 WBB Olympic team? 

I go with Muffet McGraw as head coach and I put Candace Parker, Angel McCoughtry, Brit Griner, Skylar Diggins and Shoni Schimmel out there as my starters. I'll select Maya Moore and the Ogwumike sisters coming off the bench and the final four spots can go to Mercedes Russell and three more UConn players. Can't break tradition, right? Someone remember this bold lineup and throw it right back in my face four years from now. 


- Game time 5:15 pm on the NBC Sports Network...way up there on the digital numbers. Louisvillian Clark Burckle swims today, too. 


L1C4, baby.   


-Paul 

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