Volleyball Takes on Alumnae
August 20, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 20, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. The University of Louisville Volleyball Alumnae shook off the dust and cobwebs on Saturday evening and took on the 2011 Cardinals. However, the Alumnae's early momentum did not hold up for long as the 2011 squad swept the match 25-17, 25-14, 25-15, Saturday evening in Cardinal Arena.
"It was a great night and I am so excited to see all the alumnae from different eras get together and have so much fun," said University of Louisville volleyball head coach Anne Kordes. "Our main charge is to reach out and connect with the former players who built our tradition. We had conference champions, we have Sweet Sixteen players, All-conference, All-Americans and professional players in the gym tonight and we understand and appreciate what they built here at the University of Louisville."
The Alumnae came out strong scoring the first two points of the match before the current Cardinals came back to tie the score at four on a kill by junior Lola Arslanbekova. However the Alumnae stormed right back taking the next two points before Kaitlynn James connected on a service ace. The Alumnae tied the set at 13 before the 2011 team took the lead and dominated for the remainder of the first set. The 2011 Cardinals dominated set two from the start, not allowing the Alumnae to take the lead at all. In the third set, the pesky Alumnae took a one point lead early off of a kill. However the Cardinals responded with a 3-0 run which started with a kill by James to take the lead in the set for good.
Arslanbekova, the 2011 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, led the Cardinals attack with 11 kills and a .474 hitting percentage. Sophomore libero Caitlin Welch added 13 digs on the night. However, the Alumnae dominated the blocking department from the onset and edged the current Cardinals five to four on blocks.
Playing for the Alumnae were: Jennifer Craven, Rui Liu Davidson, Kelly McClain Garvey, Kara Hamilton, Jing Ding Hughley, Tatyana Kolesnikova, Lindsey Mango, Stacey Mercer, Denise Dzik Ranney, Dee Singleton, Amanda Simmons, and Kristie Wetterer.
Also in attendance were: Jackie Byrne Barnes, Beth Kuhnell, Stephanie Marsh Cantway, Susan Elpers Inman, Michelle Hess Husted, Casey Shelton Gamero, Kelly Gillooly Watts, Kathie Carman, Sarah Drury Petkovic, Anne Kordes, Donna Webb, Barbara Elpers Shearn, Rose Elpers Wetterer, Janet Craddock Vanliew, Betch Greichen Ahmay, Shannon Barrett, Allison Jarboe Sivori, Sherry Newton Hurley, Dawn Wafzig Hanke, Laurie Maxwell Londot, Sonya Gubaidulina, Theresa Macklin Pingel, Shannon Dingwald Greenwald, Benny Flynn Willis, Julie Uglow, Sherry Brown, Jack Graham, Dee Dee Olmstead.
The Cardinals open the season at the Georgia Tech Courtyard Classic on Friday, August 26 when they take on Tennessee Tech at 4:30 p.m.
