No. 5 Louisville Set to Host Duke and UNC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 5-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team returns to L&N Federal Credit Union Arena this week for a matchup against Duke Friday night at 7 p.m. followed by a Sunday afternoon clash against North Carolina at 1 p.m. The Cardinals will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday.

The Cardinals are 21-3 overall and 12-2 in the ACC after going 1-1 over the weekend. Louisville fell 24-26, 22-25, 25-17, 19-25 at No. 10-ranked Georgia Tech on Friday, then won 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-15 at Clemson on Sunday. The Cards are now locked in a four-way tie for first in the league with Pitt, Georgia Tech and Florida State.

Across the two matches, the Cardinals had a balanced attack. Outside hitter Charitie Luper led with 25 kills, four aces, 10 digs, and two blocks, opposite hitter Aiko Jones tallied 23 kills, four aces, nine digs, and four blocks, and outside hitter Anna DeBeer recorded 21 kills, 3 aces, 12 digs, and one block. Elle Glock totaled 92 assists on the weekend, including a career-high 52 against Clemson, while adding three aces, 12 digs, and two blocks. Libero Elena Scott had 36 digs, with 24 coming against Georgia Tech, while adding five assists.

About the Blue Devils
Duke is 17-8 overall and 8-6 in the conference thus far, having won five straight matches. This match will be the second matchup of these teams this season, with Louisville sweeping the Blue Devils in Durham last month. Duke is led by head coach Jolene Nagel in her 25^th season at the helm, having guided the Blue Devils to 12 NCAA tournament appearances during her tenure, including an ACC-record seven consecutive trips from 2005-11. Duke has a two-headed monster on offense, as outside hitters Kerry Keefe and Gracie Johnson lead the team with 313 and 302 kills, respectively. Libero Madison Bryant and middle blocker Jess Robinson lead the team defensively, as the former has 341 digs and the latter has 100 blocks on the year.

About the Tar Heels
North Carolina is 11-12 overall and 5-9 in the ACC thus far. This match will also be the second matchup between the two, as the Cardinals downed the Tar Heels in four sets last month. Head Coach Mike Schall is in his first season at the helm and sixth overall with North Carolina. On the court, outside hitters Mabrey Shaffmaster and Emani' Foster lead offensively with 283 and 244 kills, respectively, while libero Maddy May anchors the defense with 328 digs.

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Players Mentioned

Anna DeBeer

Elle Glock

Aiko Jones

Charitie Luper

Elena Scott

University of Louisville Athletics