University of Louisville
vs Nebraska (NCAA Sweet 16)
Cards Fall to Top-Ranked Nebraska in NCAA Sweet 16
December 10, 2004 | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 10, 2004
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville's Jennifer Hoffman's 12 kills and three blocks were not enough as No. 1 seeded Nebraska won 30-22, 32-30, 30-19 to advance to the NCAA Volleyball Regional finals. The Huskers face defending national champion USC at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Louisville ends its season at 30-3, while Nebraska improved to 30-1.
U of L managed to outblock the Huskers 10.5 to 7.0 but were outhit .283 to .148. Nebraska was led by Chris Houghtelling and Melissa Elmer, who both had 13 kills.
In the first game, Nebraska used a five point run early to run to a 14-8 lead. U of L ran off three straight on a pair of Lena Ustymenko kills to pull within two at 14-12. Nebraska answered with a 7-1 run to go up 21-13, with four points coming off Louisville errors. The Huskers continued to pull ahead before Yelin called time out at 25-17 to try to chill the .282 hitting of the Huskers. Louisville worried the Huskers enough down the stretch that John Cook called time-out with a 28-22 lead to try to quiet the partisan crowd. U of L hit .125 and had three blocks. Nebraska had three blocks and two aces.
In the second game, the two teams stayed close in the early going. U of L tied at 12 and took its first lead at 13-12, but that sparked a five point Nebraska run to go up 17-13. U of L ran off three straight to bring it to a one point game at 17-16. The Huskers answered back with a 6-2 run to go up 22-17. Louisville scrabbled back to a three point game at 25-22 powered by two Jennifer Hoffman kills and forced a Nebraska time-out.
The Huskers regrouped and scored two straight and Yelin called time-out. U of L responded with a 5-3 run. The Cardinals staved off game point two times before John Cook used his final time-out. U of L tied at 30 but a hitting error and a lift call ended the Cardinal comeback at 32-30. U of L hitting improved to 217 and the Cardinals pulled ahead in blocking 4-3. Hoffman had four kills in the game to lead the Cardinals. Melissa Elmer had five kills to lead the Huskers.
U of L fell behind early in the final set when Nebraska went on a seven point run to go up 16-8. U of L could get no closer than six at 21-15, before falling 30-19.
Lena Ustymenko finished with nine kills and 10 digs.
