No. 5 Cardinals Head to Wake Forest and Virginia Tech

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No.5-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team will go on the road this week as the Cardinals head to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face off with Wake Forest on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a trip to Blacksburg, Va., to play Virginia Tech on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Cardinals are 16-2 overall and 7-1 in the ACC after sweeping then No. 8-ranked Pittsburgh on Friday 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 and sweeping Virginia on Sunday 25-16, 25-16, 25-17. Middle blocker Cara Cresse led the way as she hit .593 across both matches with 19 kills, six blocks, and a pair of aces, a performance that earned her ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Outside hitter Anna DeBeer had 20 kills, 16 digs, and two aces, opposite hitter Aiko Jones tallied 17 kills and eight digs, and outside hitter Charitie Luper had 14 kills, 20 digs, and two blocks. Setter Elle Glock continued to set the table for the Cards, recording 66 assists while adding 10 digs and three blocks and winning her second consecutive ACC Setter of the Week honor, and libero Elena Scott anchored the defense with 15 digs while adding eight assists.

About the Demon Deacons
Wake Forest is 14-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play, coming off a sweep of Virginia Tech on Wednesday in Winston-Salem followed by a four-set loss at NC State on Friday. The Demon Deacons are led by head coach Randi Smart in her fifth season at the helm. In 2022, she led Wake Forest to their best season since 2010 with a mark of 17-14 and their first postseason appearance since 1986 as they were invited to play in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Combining their 15-14 mark in 2021, Wake Forest produced back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2000-01. On the court, outside hitter Paige Crawford leads the way on both ends with 249 kills and 149 digs, while outside hitter Ava Carney has added 214 kills and 30 blocks this season.

About the Hokies
Virginia Tech is 11-8 overall and 1-7 in the ACC. They're coming off two road losses, getting swept by Wake Forest on Wednesday and again by NC State on Sunday. Head coach Marci Byers is at the helm of the Hokies, in her fourth season after an 11-18 campaign in 2022. Outside hitters Elayna Duprey and Leandra Mangual Duran lead Virginia Tech offensively with 172 and 166 kills, respectively, while libero Iliania Rodriguez (298 digs) and middle blocker Cara Lewis (57 blocks) anchor the defense.

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Players Mentioned

Cara Cresse

Anna DeBeer

Elle Glock

Aiko Jones

Charitie Luper

Elena Scott

University of Louisville Athletics