No. 13 Volleyball Jumps Back Into ACC Play With No. 14 Notre Dame

The University of Louisville volleyball team returns to action as the Cardinals host Notre Dame in ACC play Sat., Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. at the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. The match was postponed last fall when the Cardinals went into COVID protocol and contact tracing.

The match is not open to the public but rather to player pass list only. Cardinal fans can watch the match on the ACC Network Extra.

This Week in Cardinal Volleyball
Series Record Against the Irish
The Irish and Cardinals will be meeting for the 41st times this weekend. Notre Dame holds a 23-17 edge in the all-time series.

Busboom Kelly versus The Irish
Dani Busboom Kelly has a 5-2 record against the Irish since 2017. All but two of those matches has gone five sets.

Last Meeting with Notre Dame
Aiko Jones led the University of Louisville volleyball team with 13 kills while setter Tori Dilfer added a team-high 37 assists, but it was not enough as Notre Dame topped the Cardinals 27-25, 25-22, and 26-24 at the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. Louisville hit .181 with seven blocks in the season and ACC opener. Anna Stevenson and Claire Chaussee tallied 12 and 10 kills, respectively, with Alexis Hamilton leading the team with 23 digs. Notre Dame hit .205 behind 11 kills from Charley Niego and notched seven service aces led by Hattie Monson's three.

NCAA Stat Rankings Highlights
Team
No. 3 in Blocks/Set 3.43
No. 30 in Kill/Sets 13.96
No. 33 in Hitting percentage .263
No. 60 in Opponent Hitting percentage .159

Individual
No. 4 in Blocks/Set Amaya Tillman 2.00
No. 33 in Hitting % Anna Stevenson .402
No. 26 in Blocks/Set Aiko Jones 1.44

ACC Rankings
The Cards lead the ACC in blocks, is third in opponent hitting percentage and fourth in hitting percentage and kills/set.

Best Hitting Percentage, Most Blocks & Most Assists in a Single Match
Louisville's .474 hitting percentage against Boston College on Oct. 2 is the best of any Division I team this season in a three-set match, and the Cardinals' 19.0 team blocks against the Eagles on Oct. 3 is the most by any team in a four-set match (tied with Kentucky.)

Tillman No. 4 in the Nation as Individual
Louisville's Amaya Tillman averages 2.00 blocks per set which is No. 4 the nation. She has been ranked as high as No. 1 in this category.

Recruiting Class Ranked No. 17
The Cards' recruiting class for the Class of 2020 has been ranked No. 17 by PrepVolleyball.com. The Cardinals signed Ayden Bartlett, 5-8 DS/Libero, Leavenworth (Kansas); Anna DeBeer, 5-11 OH, Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky); Phekran "PK" Kong, 6-3 MB, Washington (Sioux Falls, South Dakota); Ceci Rush, 5-6 DS/Libero, Providence (Clarksville, Indiana); Brooke Smith, 6-2 OH, Leo (Indiana).

Home Sweet Home
The Cards were 13-2 in in L&N Federal Credit Union Arena in 2019 They were 10-3 in 2018 overall and 7-2 in ACC play at home. (6-2 in Cardinal Arena and 1-0 at Sacred Heart Academy where the Notre Dame match was relocated after a power outage affected the Arena.) UofL is 2-1 this year at home.

Home Quiet Home
The Cards are playing before no more than 150 fans from their pass list due to COVID restrictions put in place on both the city and state levels.

Fresh Faces
For 18 of the past 19 years, the Cardinals have had a freshman in their starting line-up. Below is a look at Cardinals who have started as a freshman during this stretch.
2020- Anna DeBeer
2019 - Aiko Jones, Shannon Shields, Alexa Hendricks, Amaya Tillman, Amber Stivrins
2018 - Emily Scott /Claire Chaussee
2017 - Alexis Hamilton
2016 - Melanie McHenry
2015 - Molly Sauer, Aniah Philo
2014 - Tess Clark, Maggie DeJong
2013 - Maya McClendon
2012 - Haley Pouliezos
2011 - No freshmen on roster
2010- Emily Juhl
2009 - Lola Arslanbekova
2008 - Gwen Rucker and Renee Tomko
2007 - Lindsey Mango
2006 - Samantha Dabbs and Justine Landi
2005 - Nicole Bateman and Kristie Wetterer
2004 - Elena Pilnikova
2003 - Ana Yartseva
2002 - Jennifer Craven and Lena Ustymenko

No. 13 Volleyball Jumps Back Into ACC Play With No. 14 Notre Dame

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Players Mentioned

Ayden Bartlett

Claire Chaussee

Anna DeBeer

Tori Dilfer

Alexis Hamilton

Alexa Hendricks

Aiko Jones

Melanie McHenry

Ceci Rush

Molly Sauer

Emily Scott

Shannon Shields

Brooke Smith

Anna Stevenson

Amber Stivrins

Amaya Tillman

University of Louisville Athletics