Louisville Women's Sports Rank Sixth in Capital One Cup Standings

Louisville Women's Sports Rank Sixth in Capital One Cup Standings

January 20, 2022 | Field Hockey, General, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Cross Country

Outstanding performances in the fall key Louisville women's sports ranking

By: Lori Harmon

Following an impressive fall semester, the University of Louisville Athletic Department is currently ranked sixth in the Capital One Cup women's standings which honors the top Division I college athletics programs in the country.

The Cardinals garnered a total of 32 points to stand sixth while Florida State and Wisconsin lead the way with 60 points. BYU stands third (54 points) with Nebraska and Rutgers tallying 36 points to tie for fourth. Along with Florida State, Louisville is one of four ACC programs in the top 10, with Pittsburgh (24 points) tied for seventh and NC State tied for ninth (20 points).

The rankings are based on a combination of championship results, national rankings and coaches' polls for all NCAA-sponsored sports including: field hockey, cross country, skiing, track and field, rifle, swimming and diving, ice hockey, fencing, bowling, water polo, tennis, golf, rowing, soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, beach volleyball, lacrosse and softball.

After tracking points throughout the year, the winners take the prize after the NCAA spring championships at the ESPY awards. The winning school for both men and women will receive $200,000 to their student athlete scholarship fund.

UofL's fall season was highlighted by the Cardinals' volleyball team which finished third in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) coaches' poll after being ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. The Cardinals also made school history by advancing to the NCAA Final Four in their 30^th NCAA appearance after making AVCA National Coach of the Year Dani Busboom Kelly the first woman to finish the regular season undefeated, as the Cardinals won their fourth ACC title and had two named as first team All-Americans.

The field hockey team finished the 2021 season ranked sixth in the National Field Hockey Coaches' poll after earning their 10^th NCAA tournament bid. The Cardinals posted a 16-4 overall record, matching a school record for wins. Additionally, UofL won the 2021 ACC regular season title after compiling a program-best 6-0 record in league play.

The women's soccer team posted seven wins with Nina Nicosia earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors after recording three goals and four assists for 10 points in 16 contests for the Cardinals. Nicosia is just the second UofL women's soccer student-athlete to be named to the ACC All-Freshman Team, joining Emina Ekic in 2017.

Louisville women's cross country was led by redshirt senior Purity Sanga, who finished in the top-54 and as the Cardinals' top women's performer in all three meets she competed in this season. The season was highlighted by the emergence of freshmen, including Megan John who joined senior Ivine Chemutai as the only Cardinal women to score in all five meets.