Cardinals Rise to No. 3 in the Capital One Cup Standings
April 20, 2022 | General, Swimming & Diving, Women's Basketball, Track & Field
Cardinal Winter Sports' success pushes Cardinals up the rankings
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Following an impressive winter sports season, the University of Louisville Athletic Department is currently ranked third in the Capital One Cup women's standings which honors the top Division I college athletics programs in the country.
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The Cardinals have amassed a total of 61 points to stand third behind Wisconsin (64) and South Carolina (63). Louisville is the leader in the ACC with six ACC programs in the top 25, with Florida State (60) standing in third, NC State (46) in seventh, Virginia (31) in 13th , Pitt (16) in 16th, and Duke (18.5) in 23rd. Â The winter sports are comprised of Indoor Track and Field, swimming and diving and women's basketball.
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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.
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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.
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UofL's winter season was highlighted by the Cardinals' women's basketball team. Louisville finished the season with a 29-5 record and entered the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed for the third time in the past four tournaments. With a 62-50 win over Michigan in the regional final, they reached their fourth Final Four in program history. The Cards were led by Emily Engstler, who was named AP All-America honorable mention and a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist. She was also named a Cheryl Miller Award Finalist, and a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist. She and teammate Kianna Smith, who was named a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist, were both drafted into the WNBA.
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The women's indoor track and field season was highlighted by Gabriela Leon's second team All-American performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The senior pole vaulter also set the school's indoor record in the event with a silver medal finish at the 2022 ACC Indoor Championships. Additionally, the Cardinal women tallied four all-ACC performance including podium finishes by Leon and Synclair Savage.
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The Cardinals women's swimming and diving finished third in the ACC Championship and then placed sixth at the NCAA Championships. Â Diver Else Praasterink not only won silver in platform at ACCs, but qualified for NCAAs and earned HM All-American honors. At ACCs, the Cardinal women earned two silver and five bronze medals. For the women at NCAAs, the Cards had seven All-American swims and 10 Honorable Mention All-American performances. Â
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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 30th 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 10th 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.
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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.
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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.
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The Cardinals have amassed a total of 61 points to stand third behind Wisconsin (64) and South Carolina (63). Louisville is the leader in the ACC with six ACC programs in the top 25, with Florida State (60) standing in third, NC State (46) in seventh, Virginia (31) in 13th , Pitt (16) in 16th, and Duke (18.5) in 23rd. Â The winter sports are comprised of Indoor Track and Field, swimming and diving and women's basketball.
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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.
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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.
Â
UofL's winter season was highlighted by the Cardinals' women's basketball team. Louisville finished the season with a 29-5 record and entered the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed for the third time in the past four tournaments. With a 62-50 win over Michigan in the regional final, they reached their fourth Final Four in program history. The Cards were led by Emily Engstler, who was named AP All-America honorable mention and a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist. She was also named a Cheryl Miller Award Finalist, and a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist. She and teammate Kianna Smith, who was named a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist, were both drafted into the WNBA.
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The women's indoor track and field season was highlighted by Gabriela Leon's second team All-American performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The senior pole vaulter also set the school's indoor record in the event with a silver medal finish at the 2022 ACC Indoor Championships. Additionally, the Cardinal women tallied four all-ACC performance including podium finishes by Leon and Synclair Savage.
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The Cardinals women's swimming and diving finished third in the ACC Championship and then placed sixth at the NCAA Championships. Â Diver Else Praasterink not only won silver in platform at ACCs, but qualified for NCAAs and earned HM All-American honors. At ACCs, the Cardinal women earned two silver and five bronze medals. For the women at NCAAs, the Cards had seven All-American swims and 10 Honorable Mention All-American performances. Â
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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 30th 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 10th 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.
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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.
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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.
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
MF
/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Basketball
/ Cross Country
Pole Vault/Jumps
/ Track & Field
MF
/ Women's Soccer
Diver
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Cross Country
Jumps/Sprints
/ Track & Field
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