No. 2 seed Louisville Cardinals set to face Wright State in NCAA First Round

The No. 5 University of Louisville volleyball team is set to make its 32nd appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Cardinals will host Wright State on Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center. If they advance, they will face the winner of the Auburn/Western Michigan match, which is scheduled to play at 4 p.m. prior to UofL’s match.

The Cardinals have already faced Wright State earlier this season, defeating them 3-1. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly expressed excitement about playing them again and acknowledged the tough competition. She also highlighted the special opportunity to play at home in front of their fans.

The Cardinals, with a record of 24-4 and a second-place finish in the ACC, will be led on offense by ACC Player of the Year Anna DeBeer, along with Aiko Jones and Charitie Luper. The team has a strong defense as well, with All-ACC middle blocker Cara Cresse and Phekran Kong providing solid blocks. Setter Elle Glock and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Elena Scott complete the starting lineup.

Wright State, with a 21-10 overall record and a 15-3 record in the Horizon League, is coming off a nine-game winning streak and a championship in their conference tournament. Despite falling to Louisville earlier in the season, the Raiders have shown resilience and are led by head coach Travers Green. Megan Alders and Callie Martin lead the attack, while libero Jenny Wessling excels defensively with an impressive 5.26 digs per set.

Fans can support Louisville Volleyball in the postseason by purchasing tickets for the First and Second Rounds at the KFC Yum! Center. Additionally, the Cardinal Athletic Fund is offering fans a chance to win unique match day experiences by making a donation. These donations will directly impact the Louisville Volleyball program.

Overall, both Louisville and Wright State are prepared for an intense match, with Louisville aiming to move further in the tournament and Wright State seeking to pull off an upset. It promises to be an exciting game for both teams and their fans.