No. 5 Cardinals Beat Virginia to Stay Unbeaten in ACC

Sunday, October 12

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Virginia

October 12, 2025 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Louisville vs. Virginia Box Score Photo Gallery

Kalyssa Blackshear tallies a career-high 20 kills

By: Nancy Worley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Opposite hitter Kalyssa Blackshear and middle blocker Cara Cresse combined for 36 kills, both logging new career-high kills, as the No. 5-ranked University of Louisville volleyball defeated the Virginia Cavaliers in four sets (25-11, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17) on Sunday afternoon at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena.

Louisville (14-2, 6-0) hit .396 on the day with 71 kills, 63 digs, four service aces and four blocks. Blackshear knocked down a team-high 20 kills, and Cresse posted 16 kills of her own. Outside hitters Chloe Chicoine and Payton Petersen each recorded their sixth double-double of the year. Chicoine tabbed 12 kills and 16 digs, while Petersen added 14 kills and 13 digs. Setter/libero Hannah Kenny served three of the Cards' aces, with Chicoine adding the other ace. Kenny dug 11 balls and libero Kamden Schrand added 12 of her own in the win. Middle blocker Hannah Sherman stuffed two solo blocks and combined for one block assist to lead the defense.

Virginia (8-8) hit .273 with five aces and six blocks. Outside hitter Reagan Ennist led the Cavalier offense with 14 kills, adding two digs and one solo block to her stats. Outside hitters Kadynce Boothe and Lauryn Bowie tabbed 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Libero Katie Barrier dug a match-high 17 balls, and defensive specialist Meredith Reeg recorded 16 digs of her own.

UofL will be back in action against No. 10 SMU on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. inside L&N Arena.

Set 1: Virginia 11, Louisville 25
Blackshear started the match with three straight kills, and Hannah Kenny served an ace as Louisville pulled out to a 7-2 lead that saw Virginia use its first timeout. The Cards continued their run, eventually leading 15-6 and on a 4-0 scoring run as the Cavaliers used their second timeout of the set. UofL ended the set on an 8-0 run that was highlighted by kills from Blackshear, Petersen and Sherman along with a solo stuff by Sherman. A kill from Petersen gave Louisville set point at 24-11, and she finished off the set 25-11 with another kill.

Set 2: Virginia 21, Louisville 25
It was a back and forth second set, with Louisville taking a narrow 15-14 lead into the media timeout. The Cards got out to a 18-15 lead after the break, forcing a quick Virginia timeout. The Cavaliers got back within one, with a score of 20-19, leading to a UofL timeout. Louisville went on to win the second set 25-20, as Blackshear racked up seven kills in the second set to lead the UofL's offense. The Cards were also helped out by a trio of aces in the set, two by Kenny and one by Chicoine.

Set 3: Virginia 25, Louisville 23
UVA held a narrow 10-9 lead and were on a 4-0 run, with three kills and an ace, heading into Louisville's first timeout. Virginia continued its run, pulling ahead 16-11 and forcing UofL to burn its second timeout. The Cavaliers got out to their largest lead of the match, going up 21-11 on an 8-0 run that featured five kills and a solo block. The Cards battled back, getting within five, but still down 23-18. A kill put UVA at set point, but a solo block by Sherman and a block between Sherman and Blackshear forced Virginia's second timeout at 24-20. Louisville held off the end of the set for three more points, all kills from Blackshear, but the Cavaliers knocked down a kill to win the set 25-23.

Set 4: Virginia 17, Louisville 25
Louisville went on an 8-3 run to start set four, led by two kills from both Petersen and Cresse, causing Virginia to use its first timeout. The Cards mounted a 21-14 lead, forcing a second Cavaliers timeout. Cresse's eighth kills put UofL at match point, 24-16, and Louisville clinched the match on a UVA service error, 25-17. Cresse's eight kills in the set led the Cards' offensive effort.