WSOC falls 4-1 to UVA -- FH vs UNC Preview - VB vs. VA: FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL

I wanted to start the day out with some gratitude.  I realized last night that I had been back in the workforce for 1 year after 7 months of being unemployed due to COVID-19...which eliminated all of my positions.  So I wanted to express some thankfulness for that as well as my coworkers with whom I share an office with.    

As the regular season wraps up for the Cards in the fall sports realm,  I am looking forward to the holiday and basketball seasons.  

WOMENS SOCCER

The Cardinals suffered their fourth straight loss on Thursday night vs #2 Virginia 1-4 in Charlottesville. 

UVA scored a goal in the first 90 seconds of play, had 6 shots in the first 15 minutes and poured on 25 shot attempts on the night as Gabby Kouzelos had her work cut out for her in the goal.  She had 8 saves as the UofL defense allowed 4 goals to the Cavs.  The Cards cut the lead to 2-1 after the half when Julia Simon scored in the 70th minute assisted by Emma Hiscock.  UVA would respond to the score with another goal of their own about a minute later.  They pretty much iced it with the final score before the 80th minute.  

UofL didn't record a single corner in this match...  a stat that stood out to me.  As Jared educated us in Thursday's edition, the Cards needed a huge performance to overcome the Cavaliers and make a case for the post season.  That didn't happen and those hopes are dwindling for the UofL women's soccer Cards.

  

FIELD HOCKEY

UofL has another tall order this afternoon with a matchup with the #10 UNC TarHeels in Chapel Hill.  UNC leads the series 10-5.  The two teams met each other three times in the 2020-21 season.  The Cards snapped the TarHeels 47-game win streak in October last year with the TarHeels getting payback in the ACC Championship in November. 

This TarHeels team is coming off a 1-0 win vs Wake Forest.  They were able to score in the 1st quarter and held on to the lead.  The Heels fell to Liberty 0-4 a week ago, a team that the Cards beat 3-1 back on Sept. 12th at Trager.  UNC Senior Erin Matson leads the nation with 18 goals and 44 points.

Bally Sports RSN Affiliates and ACCNX are listed as the broadcast providers. It's a 4 p.m. start in Chapel Hill 

VOLLEYBALL HOSTS VIRGINIA

UVA Volleyball rolls into town today for a match against the #2 VolleyCards in the LNFCU. 

It hasn't been a stellar season for the Cavaliers. They are 8-10 overall and 1-7 in ACC play. It's a rebuilding project in Charlottesville for first year head coach Shannon Wells -- the Cavs fell in straight sets to Miami last time out in Coral Gables. 

You never overlook an opponent and UV has several players who have the potential to give Louisville's defense some concerns.  Brooklyn Borum leads the waay with 157, Grace Turner has 153, Mary Shaffer has produced 148 and Alana Walker completes the list with 107.

As for the Cards, one hopes that their focus and concentration is on the task at hand. One would think dropping a set to Wake at Wake last time out caught their attention. Let's hope the "A" team and Claire the Bear are their usual efficient selves. 

The 500 lb. monster in the room is #4 Pittsburgh, though, who comes to town Sunday. One would hope Louisville comes out sharp, plays smart and takes care of business. It's a Cardinals team that does not appear to get rattled -- let's hope they don't get distracted thinking about Sunday.

ACCNX will provide the feed if you can't attend. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

I hope you readers are happy and healthy and I want to thank you for your viewership. Be sure to catch the Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast at 11 a.m. Saturday, where we'll review the week's action and preview Sunday's events. Click the image at the top of the article for the website and past broadcasts. 

Have a great weekend. Go Cards!  P.S. 21 Days until Basketball tip off :)

~Daryl

SEASON OPENER FOR LOUISVILLE WBB at UTM -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS OPEN ON ROAD AGAINST OVC FOE

It's finally here. 

The University of Louisville women's basketball team starts the 2016-17 season tonight at Skyhawk Arena in Martin, TN against the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at 6:30 ET. 

The squads met last year in the KFC YUM! Center on Dec. 28th...Louisville getting a 88-66 win over Kevin McMillian's crew. Myisha Hines-Allen had 13 for the Cards in the contest...Cortnee Walton and Briahanna Jackson added 12 each for Louisville. 



If these UofL stars look familiar to McMillian and the Skyhawks...the Cards will most likely remember Jessy Ward and Emanye Robertson...starters last year that return for UTM.  The Skyhawks come into the contest with a 76-48 exhibition win Monday against Christian Brothers. Freshman guard Kendall Spray tallied 21 points for the Skyhawks...junior transfer guard Teddy Vincent added 15 and freshman guard Ansley Eubank ended with nine points and 11 rebounds. Leading scorer from last year Ward is considered day-to-day with an injury and missed the Christian Brothers contest. 

Louisville leads the series 5-0. McMillian enters his eighth year as the UTM head coach (142-83) and has been selected OVC Coach of the Year twice in his career at UTM. UTM has won the OVC three consecutive years and defeated Memphis in the first round of the WNIT last season. Despite replacing half of their roster...they were selected pre-season to take the OVC crown again this year. 

The Skyhawks favor an up-tempo pace...which Louisville should have no problem with whatsoever. The Cards laid 97 on Lindsey Wilson in their lone exhibition game...and the speed merchant conglomeration of Asia, Briahanna, JJ, Myisha, Mariya and company would probably prefer an up-and-down the court contest for the entire 40 minutes tonight. 

Locally, this one will be on WTFX 93.1 FM and the video feed comes (free of charge) from the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network....accessible at www.utmsports.com

UTM draws well for WBB...so the Cards will face a pro-active Skyhawk fan base hoping for the upset. Skyhawk Arena holds 7,000 and they averaged close to 2,000 for home games last year...tops in the OVC. Given that it's UofL and there should be a contingent of Cardinal fans in the stands...that number should be higher tonight. 

Louisville will need to do four things (in my humble opinion) to walk out of the Skyhawk Arena with a convincing win tonight.

1) Hit free throws. The Cards were a dismal 13-26 against LWC. We set the standard here at Cardinal Couple at 70% last year. 

2) Cut back on the turnovers. 15 against LWC was simply too many. 

3) Control the paint. The Cards out-rebounded LWC 45-36 Sunday. I'd like to see that margin higher tonight. 

4) Play solid defense. Louisville did that in the 1st and 3rd quarters against Lindsey Wilson. We'd like to see 40 minutes of solid defense tonight. 

We'll be back tomorrow to recap it for you. 


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VOLLEYBALL HEADS TO CARDINAL ARENA

Louisville Volleyball looks to extend their win streak to three when they face Virginia at 7 p.m. tonight in Cardinal Arena. Don't head downtown for this one (unless you're going to see the men's BB squad play Evansville)...this one is at on-campus Cardinal Arena.

The Cavaliers are 14th in the ACC...so Louisville's chances are mas bueno for a "W". I expect Worldwide will be there and recap it with us on Saturday morning's THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. It should be a fun hour...we'll have River City Cards Jared Anderson in studio with me, Case and Worldwide Jeff. 

You have been warned.   

Volleyball gets another sweep at Virginia -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LOUISVILLE REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN ACC

Any worries that the Cards would get knocked out of the driver's seat on the road in ACC Volleyball were laid to rest last night when the Louisville Volleyball team swept the Virginia Cavaliers 25-22, 25-12, 25-21 in Charlottesville.

The straight sets win pushes the Cards record to 11-0 in the ACC and 15-4 overall. It was also the seventh straight match that Louisville has taken down the opponent in three straight games. The last team to take a game from the Cards was Syracuse...back on Oct. 2nd.

It was a balanced scoring effort out of Anne Kordes' crew. Janelle Jenkins had 12 kills for UofL, Erin Fairs and Aniah Philo added eight each and Philo also had six blocks. 

The first contest was a back and forth test...with ten tied scores before Louisville broke a 21 all score with two Philo blocks at the net, a Maggie DeJong kill and Jenkins serving ace to get the win. 

Game two was all Cards after a close early start. The teams were tied at nine when UofL went on a 9-0 run to take command. After a UVA timeout, Molly Sauer served up four straight points...including two aces to give Louisville the 13-point win. 

After the break, UVA came back unwilling to let Louisville walk over them again. The Cavs went on a 5-3 scoring run to lead 17-15 and force a Cardinal timeout. The Cards, thanks in part to Lyndsay Palmer's clutch serving, came back to lead 23-21 and took game, set and match when UVA committed two straight service errors. 

Louisville will enjoy a few days off before heading to North Carolina on Friday, Oct. 30th and NC State Sunday Nov.1st 

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RADIO BROADCAST AVAILABLE 

You won't want to miss the replay of The CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR on the Crescent Hill SoundCloud available now.

It was a "first" for us...with Jeff in the studio and Paulie on remote location outside of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. We need to do this again when it's dry outside and Paulie isn't stuck in his car for most of the broadcast. 

A wealth of audioclips to hear...mostly Volleyball...except for Paulie's interview with Field Hockey's Justine Sowry. If you're a fan of Volleyball's Anne Kordes...you do not want to miss this rebroadcast. 

Here's the link:

HEAR MR. LONELY IN THE STUDIO AND MR. SLOSHED AT PCJS


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FIELD HOCKEY IN TRAGER TODAY! 

Don't miss UofL Field Hockey today in action at Trager Stadium against Central Michigan. The action starts at 1 p.m. and there will be a clinic for aspiring young stick-swingers that starts a 11 a.m.

The Cards will play their next three at Trager as they take on non-conference foes to get ready for the ACC Field Hockey Tournament in November. 

Make sure you're a part of the action...admission to Louisville Field Hockey is free and the action is priceless!

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WSOC on road at NC State

The road trip continues for Karen Ferguson-Dayes women's soccer team with a 1 p.m. start in Raleigh, NC against the WolfPack. Louisville needs this win badly to keep any hope of getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament alive. 

The Cards are 7-7-2 on the season and face an NC State squad that is 4-12 overall and winless in seven ACC contests. 

This one will be available on ESPN3. Good luck to our Kickin' Cards! 




paulie
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