No. 5 Volleyball Signs Three

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The No. 5 ranked University of Louisville volleyball team has added three players to their roster for next season as part of this year's Signing Day. Outside hitters Ava Utterback and Payton Petersen and setter Nayelis Cabello have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their careers at the University of Louisville.

"We are thrilled to announce the 2024 class," said University of Louisville head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. "First, we feel like we are adding a setter with great athleticism and the ability to run a 5-1 offense. Nayelis Cabello has had great success in club and high school and understand what it takes to win at the highest level. Payton Petersen is signing today after winning the Iowa State Championship and finishing her career as one of the best volleyball players ever from the state of Iowa. Ava Utterback will add explosiveness and skill to our pin hitters. Both Payton and Ava are true six rotations outside attackers and could find themselves on the court very early in their careers. Fans are going to enjoy watching this talented group as they bring a lot of the fun characteristic Card Nation has grown to love."

Nayelis Cabello is a 6-0 setter from Clermont, Florida, where she played for East Ridge High School under head coach Mayra Cuebas. Cabello also played club for Top Select Volleyball Academy under coach German Del-Valle and earned All-American status two times and was AAU runner-up in 2023 as a part of both teams. She was named an MVP at the Under Armour Next Selection Camp in 2022.

Payton Petersen is a 5-10 outside hitter from Dike, Iowa, where she played for Dike-New Hartford under head coach Diane Harms as well playing club for Six Pack under coach Jay Grassley. During her time with Six Pack, her team finished as national runner-up and she was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2022 before becoming the 2023 national champion where Petersen was named the 2023 MVP in the national division. At Dike-New Hartford, she was a three-time state champion in 2020, 2021 and 2023 and was state runner-up in 2022. Her 2023 team compiled a 41-0 record enroute to the state championship. She was a four-time All-Conference, All-District, and All-State selection in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. The three-time team captain also named Elite Team All-State in three consecutive seasons and was named the Co-Player of the Year in 2021. In 2022, she named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and was a 2023 Under Armor All-American.

Ava Utterback is a 6-0 outside hitter from Plainfield, Indiana, where she played for Plainfield High School under head coach Lori Pax in addition to playing club for Circle City under coach Jenna Tadros. With Circle City, she was named a top-five national player for Prep Dig Indiana, athlete of the week, best outside hitter, and preseason super team by Indy Star, Prep Volleyball Fab 50 as well as named the most complete outside hitter in the class of 2024, also named by Prep Volleyball. At Plainfield High School, she was a two-time All-Conference selection her sophomore and senior years as well as being a two-time MVP. The two-time captain was named All-District and second-team All-State as a sophomore. She was named to the ACVA Phenom Watch List her sophomore and junior years as well as being named to the ACVA All-American Watch List her senior year. She is also a member of the 1,000 kills club. In 2020, she attended UN Winter Training U18 in Colorado Springs.

University of Louisville Athletics

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