Aniah Philo
Volleyball Set to Face Cincinnati and Kentucky
September 16, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Cards face two of their oldest rivals
The University of Louisville volleyball team hits the road for two key road matches this week against Cincinnati and nationally ranked Kentucky. The Cardinals will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday evening to face the Bearcats at 6 p.m. before traveling to Lexington, Ky. on Sunday to play Kentucky in the annual "Battle of the Bluegrass" at 2 p.m.Â
   Louisville enters the week with a 5-3 overall record after picking up three wins in the Active Ankle Challenge inside Cardinal Arena this past weekend. The Cards swept Utah and Seton Hall in three sets before taking a thrilling five set victory over Ohio. Three Cardinals picked up All-Tournament honors with senior setter Katie George capturing MVP honors after a career high 67 assists against Ohio. Sophomore middle blocker Tess Clark knocked down 48 kills on a .688 attack percentage while freshman libero Molly Sauer had a career-high 30 digs and served nine aces on the weekend to earn All-Tournament honors. Sauer's career performance over the weekend also earned her ACC Freshman of the Week honors.
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   On the season, senior outside hitter Erin Fairs leads the Cardinal attack with 126 kills averaging 3.94 kills per set. Junior outside hitter Janelle Jenkins adds 95 kills while junior outside hitter Maya McClendon adds 78 kills for the Cards. George has 363 assists on the season and leads the ACC with an average of 11.34 assists per set, while Sauer has 143 digs (4.47 digs per set) and leads the team with 15 aces.
   Cincinnati presents a familiar foe for the Cardinals as the two schools have met previously as conference members of C-USA, BIG EAST, and the AAC. The Bearcats enter the matchup against the Cards with a 7-2 overall record after going 2-1 in the Butler Tournament last weekend. Butler All-American Classic Tournament MVP and senior Emma Roberson leads the Bearcats with 104 kills (3.35 kills per set) on a .295 attack percentage. Freshman outside hitters Jordan Thompson and Carly Nolan have knocked down 92 and 68 kills, respectively. Freshman setter Jade Tingelhoff (208 assists) and sophomore setter Parker Shepherd (162) split time at setting up the offense while freshman Abby Williams leads the Bearcats with 146 digs and averages 4.56 digs per set. Thursday's meeting will be the 52nd meeting in series history. Louisville leads the series 40-11 and is currently on a ten-game winning streak including a 3-0 victory over the Bearcats last year in Cardinal Arena.
   Sunday afternoon presents the Battle of the Bluegrass as the Cardinals battle their intrastate rivals, No. 24 Kentucky. Louisville has a slight advantage in the series history with a 27-25 record but the Wildcats have won four of the past six matches including last year's 3-1 win at the KFC Yum! Center. Kentucky has a 5-5 record after going 1-2 in the Shocker Volleyball Classic, most recently defeating Northern Illinois 3-0. The Wildcats are led by sophomore duo Kaz Brown and Darian Mack, who were both named to the Shocker Volleyball Classic All-Tournament team. Mack has knocked down 117 kills and averages 3.25 kills per set while Brown has knocked down 110 kills while hitting a respectable .361. Senior setter Morgan Bergren has 362 assists (10.06 assists per set) and sophomore Ashley Dusek leads the team with 177 total digs and averages 4.92 digs per set.
   The Cardinals open up ACC play next weekend as they travel to Notre Dame on Friday before hosting their ACC opener against Miami on Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center.Â
   Louisville enters the week with a 5-3 overall record after picking up three wins in the Active Ankle Challenge inside Cardinal Arena this past weekend. The Cards swept Utah and Seton Hall in three sets before taking a thrilling five set victory over Ohio. Three Cardinals picked up All-Tournament honors with senior setter Katie George capturing MVP honors after a career high 67 assists against Ohio. Sophomore middle blocker Tess Clark knocked down 48 kills on a .688 attack percentage while freshman libero Molly Sauer had a career-high 30 digs and served nine aces on the weekend to earn All-Tournament honors. Sauer's career performance over the weekend also earned her ACC Freshman of the Week honors.
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   On the season, senior outside hitter Erin Fairs leads the Cardinal attack with 126 kills averaging 3.94 kills per set. Junior outside hitter Janelle Jenkins adds 95 kills while junior outside hitter Maya McClendon adds 78 kills for the Cards. George has 363 assists on the season and leads the ACC with an average of 11.34 assists per set, while Sauer has 143 digs (4.47 digs per set) and leads the team with 15 aces.
   Cincinnati presents a familiar foe for the Cardinals as the two schools have met previously as conference members of C-USA, BIG EAST, and the AAC. The Bearcats enter the matchup against the Cards with a 7-2 overall record after going 2-1 in the Butler Tournament last weekend. Butler All-American Classic Tournament MVP and senior Emma Roberson leads the Bearcats with 104 kills (3.35 kills per set) on a .295 attack percentage. Freshman outside hitters Jordan Thompson and Carly Nolan have knocked down 92 and 68 kills, respectively. Freshman setter Jade Tingelhoff (208 assists) and sophomore setter Parker Shepherd (162) split time at setting up the offense while freshman Abby Williams leads the Bearcats with 146 digs and averages 4.56 digs per set. Thursday's meeting will be the 52nd meeting in series history. Louisville leads the series 40-11 and is currently on a ten-game winning streak including a 3-0 victory over the Bearcats last year in Cardinal Arena.
   Sunday afternoon presents the Battle of the Bluegrass as the Cardinals battle their intrastate rivals, No. 24 Kentucky. Louisville has a slight advantage in the series history with a 27-25 record but the Wildcats have won four of the past six matches including last year's 3-1 win at the KFC Yum! Center. Kentucky has a 5-5 record after going 1-2 in the Shocker Volleyball Classic, most recently defeating Northern Illinois 3-0. The Wildcats are led by sophomore duo Kaz Brown and Darian Mack, who were both named to the Shocker Volleyball Classic All-Tournament team. Mack has knocked down 117 kills and averages 3.25 kills per set while Brown has knocked down 110 kills while hitting a respectable .361. Senior setter Morgan Bergren has 362 assists (10.06 assists per set) and sophomore Ashley Dusek leads the team with 177 total digs and averages 4.92 digs per set.
   The Cardinals open up ACC play next weekend as they travel to Notre Dame on Friday before hosting their ACC opener against Miami on Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center.Â
Players Mentioned
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