Tuesday, August 27
LOUISVILLE, KY
9:00 p.m.
University of Louisville
vs
Wisconsin
Top Teams In Nation Set to Play in AVCA First Serve Showcase on Tuesday
August 26, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
Nebraska vs. Kentucky followed by Louisville vs. Wisconsin.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Four of the nation's top collegiate volleyball teams will open the 2024 women's season at the AVCA First Serve Showcase on Aug. 27. The event features Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, with the Huskers taking on the Wildcats at 7 p.m. (ET) followed by the Cardinals versus the Badgers 30 minutes after the first match at the KFC Yum! Center.
"The AVCA is very excited to bring together four teams of this caliber to get the new season started," says AVCA CEO Dr. Jaime Gordon. "AVCA First Serve offers another way to showcase the sport and continue the momentum from the record-setting 2023 season."
The first match of the night will feature Nebraska and Kentucky. The Huskers were the 2023 NCAA runner-up and they return four AVCA All-Americans, while the Wildcats, who won the national title in the spring of 2021, are led by three-time All-American setter Emma Grome.
Wisconsin then plays Louisville, in a battle of teams that have both made the NCAA semifinals two times in the last three years. The Badgers were national champions in the fall of 2021, and the Cardinals finished second in 2022. Each team returns three AVCA-All Americans from 2023.
A Quick Look at the Cards
About the Huskers
Quick Look at the Cats
Quick Look at the Badgers
"The AVCA is very excited to bring together four teams of this caliber to get the new season started," says AVCA CEO Dr. Jaime Gordon. "AVCA First Serve offers another way to showcase the sport and continue the momentum from the record-setting 2023 season."
The first match of the night will feature Nebraska and Kentucky. The Huskers were the 2023 NCAA runner-up and they return four AVCA All-Americans, while the Wildcats, who won the national title in the spring of 2021, are led by three-time All-American setter Emma Grome.
Wisconsin then plays Louisville, in a battle of teams that have both made the NCAA semifinals two times in the last three years. The Badgers were national champions in the fall of 2021, and the Cardinals finished second in 2022. Each team returns three AVCA-All Americans from 2023.
A Quick Look at the Cards
- • Dani Busboom Kelly is in her eighth season at the helm and has guided the Cardinals to a pair of Final Four appearances, four Elite Eights, and four ACC titles.
- • The Cardinals are coming off a 27-5 campaign in 2023 where they reached their highest national ranking of the year at No. 2 and a final national ranking of No. 6
- • UofL put up an ACC record of 15-3, finishing third and made the Cards' fourth trip to the Elite Eight, ninth trip to the Sweet Sixteen and 32nd NCAA appearance.
- • ACC Year End Awards included Player of the Year Anna DeBeer and Defensive Player of the Year: Elena Scott. DeBeer was also named AVCA East Region Player of the Year. Elle Glock, Charitie Luper, Aiko Jones, Cara Cresse and Elena Scott were voted to the First Team and Phekran Kong was voted HM All-East Region.
- • The Cardinals return five starters and their libero to the 2024 roster.
- • Louisville was picked to finish third in the ACC preseason poll behind Pitt and Stanford. Cara Cresse, Anna DeBeer, Charitie Luper and Elena Scott were named to the Preseason All-ACC team.
About the Huskers
- John Cook is in his 24th season and has a career record of 689-100. Cook was named AVCA National Coach of the Year in 2023 and Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2023.
- Nebraska was the runner-up in the 2023 NCAA National Championship with a record of 33-2 overall. The Huskers finished up ranked 1st in the Big Ten with a 19-1 conference and were the Big Ten Champions.
- The Huskers are currently ranked 2nd in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
- Nebraska has five top returning players which were all selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The Big-Ten announced Merritt Beason, Lexi Rodriguez, Taylor Landfair, Harper Murray, and Bergen Reilly as part of the team.
- In 2023, the Huskers did not graduate any seniors.
Quick Look at the Cats
- Craig Skinner is in his 20th season with a career record of 444-147. Skinner was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2023.
- The Cats finished their 2023 season with an appearance in the regional semifinal with a record of 21-8 overall. Kentucky finished ranked 1st in the SEC with a 17-1 in conference play.
- They were named the Regular Season Champion in the SEC Conference.
- Kentucky is currently ranked 9th in the 2024 AVCA Preseason Poll.
- The Cats have 3 top returning players which are Brooklyn DeLeye, Emma Grome, and Eleanor Beavin. Brooklyn DeLeye was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American in 2023. Grove is a three time All-SEC Preseason team selection and AVCA All-American second-team in 2023. Eleanor Bevin is a three time All-SEC Preseason team selection.
- Kentucky loses Reagan Rutherford from 2023 team. She was named AVCA All-Region team and voted All-SEC Team.
Quick Look at the Badgers
- Kelly Sheffield is in his 12th Season with a career record at Wisconsin of 292-61.
- Wisconsin finished their 2023 season with an appearance in the Final Four with an overall record of 30-4. The Badgers finished 2nd in the Big-Ten standing with a conference record of 17-3.
- For the upcoming season, Wisconsin is ranked 3rd in AVCA Preseason Poll.
- Sarah Franklin, Carter Booth, and Anna Smrek return for the Badgers from their 2023 team.
- Sarah Franklin was named the AVCA National Player of the Year in 2023, Big Ten Player of the Year, and Preseason All-Big Ten team. Carter Booth was named AVCA Third team All-American in 2023 and Preseason All-Big Ten team. Anna Smrek was named AVCA Second Team All-American in 2023 and Preseason All-Big Ten team.Wisconsin Loses Temi Thomas-Ailara an outside hitter and Izzy Ashburn a setter from the 2023 team. Temi Thomas-Ailara was ranked fourth on the team with 2.31 kills per set. Izzy Ashburn had 187 care
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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