No. 4 Cardinals Hit the Road for the NKU Invitational

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team head to travel to Highland Heights, Ky. for the Northern Kentucky Invitational and will face NKU, Missouri and South Dakota this weekend.

UofL is coming off a loss on Tuesday when Cara Cresse and Charitie Luper each had eight kills but it was not enough as the No. 4-ranked University of Louisville fell 25-15, 25-19, 25-13 at No. 7 Penn State. The Cardinals suffered their first sweep since 2022 when they were swept by Texas in the NCAA finals. UofL moves to 2-1 on the season.

University of Louisville senior libero Elena Scott was voted the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week for matches played during the opening week of the regular season and the Cardinals' setter Nayelis Cabello was tabbed the ACC Freshman of the Week. Scott was named the Defensive MVP of the AVCA First Serve Showcase on Tuesday after she totaled 22 digs and averaged 5.50 digs per set in Louisville's 3-1 win over No. 3 Wisconsin. The Louisville, Kentucky, native forced the Badgers to hit just .179 for the match, capped off by a .079 mark in the fourth set. On Sunday, the senior posted eight digs in a 3-0 sweep over No. 15 Tennessee. As a team, the Lady Vols hit just .151 with a .057 average in the final and third set. Cabello helped set up the Louisville attack with 37 assists and 13 digs in the Cardinals' perfect 2-0 start to the regular season. In her first collegiate match last Tuesday, the Clermont, Florida, native totaled 20 assists in Louisville's 6-2 offense, as the Cards knocked off No. 3 Wisconsin. In Sunday's 3-0 sweep of No. 15 Tennessee, the freshman posted 17 assists and six digs to clinch Louisville's second ranked win of the week.

Quick look at South Dakota

Leanne Williamson is in her 11^th season coaching with an overall record of 210-91.
Overall record of 18-11 for the 2023 season. Finished 4^th in the Summit League with a conference record of 12-4. Appeared in the quarterfinals of the Summit League conference championship against North Dakota State.
South Dakota is ranked 3^rd in the 2024 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll. Kylen Sealock is an outside hitter returning for her senior season. She was named to the All-Summit League First Team.
The Coyotes lose senior middle blocker Madison Harms. She was named Summit League Player of the Year, named four time All-Summit team, broke the Summit League All-Time career block records, American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA North All-Region Honorable Mention, and Summit League First Team All-Tournament Team.
The Coyotes record is 2-0 coming off a 3-0 win against Air Force on Sept. 1.

Quick look at Missouri

Dawn Sullivan is in her second season with an overall record of 127-51. She was awarded SEC Coach of the Year in 2023.
In 2023, Missouri finished with an overall record of 18-13. The Tigers finished up ranked 7^th in the SEC Conference with a 9-9 record. Appeared in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Nebraska.
The Tigers are ranked 6^th in the 2024 SEC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Missouri is receiving votes in the Sept. 2 AVCA Coaches Poll.
Senior right side hitter, Jordan Lliff was named to the 2024 Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team. She was named 2023 AVCA Volleyball Southeast All-Region Honorable Mention and 2023 All-SEC Selection. She returns for her senior campaign. Junior libero, Maya Sands returns for junior season. She was awarded 2023 SEC Libero of the Year, 2023 All-SEC Team, and AVCA Volleyball Southeast All-Region Team.
The Tigers lose Dilara Gedikoglu, an outside hitter who had a 309 kills and 35 blocks in the 2023 season. They also lost Lauren Forbes, a libero who had 496 career digs.
The Tigers record is 2-1 coming off a 3-0 win against NC State on Sept. 1.

Quick look at Northern Kentucky

Liz Hart is in her 15^th season with a career record of 245-155.
In 2023, Northern Kentucky finished an overall record of 18-13. In conference play, they finished 4^th in the Horizon League with a record of 12-6. Appeared in the Horizon League semifinals against Green Bay.
Northern Kentucky was ranked 2^nd in the 2024 Horizon League Preseason Poll.
Joy Banks was selected to the 2023 Horizon League All-League First Team. Ava Hoying returns after being selected to the All-Freshman Team.
Northern Kentucky lost middle blocker/opposite Abby Kanakry, who was selected to the 2023 Horizon League All-League First Team. The Vikings also lost defensive specialist/ libero Anna Burke, a 2023 Horizon League All-League Second Team selection.
The Vikings are currently 1-2 coming off a 3-1 win against Morehead State on Aug. 31.

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Players Mentioned

Nayelis Cabello

Cara Cresse

Charitie Luper

Elena Scott

University of Louisville Athletics