Cardinals Sweep Virginia Tech 25-17, 25-18, 25-20

Friday, October 12

LOUISVILLE, KY

7:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

15-4, 8-0

VIRGINIA TECH

12-7, 3-4

Louisville

October 12, 2018 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score VT at Louisville box score Louisville Season stats after VT Photo Gallery

Melanie McHenry Notches Her 1,000th Career Kill

By: Nancy Worley

Junior outside hitter Melanie McHenry had 11 kills, including her 1,000^th career kill, as the University of Louisville swept Virginia Tech 25-17, 25-18, 25-20 in ACC volleyball action Friday evening in Cardinal Arena.

"That was really a solid performance for us after this four-match gauntlet for us when we didn't get a whole lot of rest or prep time," said UofL head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. "So I am proud of the way we came out and executed. We are really starting to see this team find its identity. Now we are excited to have two days off."

The Cardinals moved to 15-4 overall and remain unbeaten in conference play at 8-0. UofL hit .305 as a team with seven aces and four blocks. UofL's Megan Sloan added 12 kills, hitting .381 with Amanda Green adding 11 kills and seven digs. Virginia Tech drops to 12-7 and 3-4 in ACC play. The Hokies were held to .112 hitting and had six blocks and no aces. They were led by Ester Talamazzi's 10 kills and seven digs.

Melanie McHenry came into the match six kills shy of joining the 1,000 career kill club and became the 20^th Cardinal to reach that plateau in program history.

"I couldn't be more proud of Melanie McHenry. I am honored that I was coaching her when she got her 1000^th kill. She works really hard to be a great player and be an outside hitter that is really hard to stop," said Busboom Kelly.

In the first set, the Hokies stayed close early, closing the gap to one at 6-5 on a kill by Ester Talamazzi. The Cards used a 9-1 run to go up 14-7 and kept that comfortable cushion en route to the 25-17 win. UofL hit .257 in the set.

In the second set, the teams were tied at eight apiece before UofL went on a 5-0 run to go up 13-8 during a serving stint by Wilma Rivera that included an ace and two kills by Piper Roe. The Hokies cut the lead to four at 21-17 on a Cardinal service error but Tech scored just once more as the Cards got the set-winning kill from Amanda Green for the 25-18 win.

In the third set, a kill by VT's Kaity Smith brought the Hokies within one point at 8-7 and then tied at 11 on another Smith kill. The Cards unleashed a 7-0 run, this time on Molly Sauer's serving to go up 18-11. The Hokies got as close as four at 23-18 on a kill by Jaila Tolbert but the Cards finished off Tech 25-20 on a kill by Wilma Rivera.

UofL heads back on the road and head to Charlottesville for a matchup with Virginia on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. before heading to a showdown with the other unbeaten squad in the ACC, the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m.