Volleyball Falls 3-1 to No. 4 Minnesota

Saturday, August 26

Madison, Wis.

5 p.m.

University of Louisville

0-2

Minnesota

2-0

Louisville

Minnesota

August 26, 2017 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Tess Clark has 17 kills in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By: Nancy Worley

Outside hitter Tess Clark's 17 kills were not enough as the University of Louisville fell 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 to the No. 4 Minnesota Gophers in the second match of the ACC/Big Ten Volleyball Challenge.

The Cardinals did what their ACC counterparts f No. 11-ranked UNC could not, which was take a set from the Gophers. In all, the Cardinals had more kills than UM with a 54-50 edge and more aces (5-2). But UM hit .261 as a team and had eight blocks. UofL's Melanie McHenry added 14 kills and three blocks. Gabbie Wiley had a pair of aces and nine digs. Minnesota was paced by Stephanie Samedy's 17 kills and 15 digs.

The University of Louisville took the first set 25-20. The Cards powered off the blocks, going up 7-0 on the strength of Gabbie Wiley's strong serving that included two aces. The Cardinals never trailed and held off a hard-charging Minnesota team that came within one at 20-19 on a kill by Regan Pittman. The Cards scored on a Gopher hitting error and then got kills from Amanda Green and Melanie McHenry to seal the win. The Cards hit .244 with three aces and two blocks. They outdug the Gophers 19-17.

The Gophers went on a six point run early in the second set to go up 12-7 and then managed to keep the Cards at arms length despite seven kills from Tess Clark and an ace from Wilma Rivera. Overall, the Cards hit .049 to Minnesota's .235 which tipped the set to the Gophers 25-18.

Minnesota went on a 9-1 run in the third set to go up 14 -7. The Cards had a pair of 3-0 runs to come within four at 21-17 but were outscored 4-1 down the stretch as the Gophers posted the 25-18 decision. Jasmine Bennett paced the Cardinal offense with five kills in that set. UofL was out-hit .109 to .355.

Minnesota took a 4-1 lead in the fourth but watched as the Cards tied at six and then took the lead at 14-13. The Gophers answered with a 6-1 run to go up 20-18. Momentum stayed with the Gophers as they powered to a 25-20 win.

The Cardinals return to Louisville for next weekends Cardinal Invitational featuring Illinois, Western Kentucky and Kent State in the season opener in the newly refurbished Cardinal Arena.