Cardinals Open Spring Season With Vanderbilt

Friday, March 28

Central Hardin High School

University of Louisville

Vanderbilt

Nayelis Cabello and Cara Cresse celebrate

March 27, 2025 | Women's Volleyball

The teams will play at Central Hardin High School

By: Erin Hughes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville volleyball team will open its spring season on Friday, March 28, as the Cards welcome the Vanderbilt Commodores to Central Hardin High School at 7:30 p.m. This is the first of four spring matches for UofL.

Louisville is coming off a 30-6 season, with a 17-3 bid in Atlantic Coast Conference play, that saw the Cards appear in their second National Championship match in three years. Following the 2024 season, UofL lost outside hitters Anna DeBeer, Charitie Luper and Sofia Maldonado Diaz, libero Elena Scott and middle blocker Phekran Kong. Big returners for Louisville include ACC and AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, setter Nayelis Cabello, as well as middle blockers Cara Cresse and Reese Robins. Cresse was named to the AVCA All-South Region First Team for her performance in 2024, and Reese Robins joined the list as an honorable mention. The Cards finished 2024 as the best blocking team in the country with 3.09 blocks per set. Head coach Dan Meske is beginning his first season at the helm of UofL's program after eight years as associate head coach with the Cards.

Vanderbilt is beginning its volleyball program in 2025. The Commodores are led by head coach Anders Nelson, former University of Kentucky associate head coach. Vanderbilt recently signed 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year and AVCA All-North Region First Team player, outside hitter Kamryn Cheney. The Commodores also have a trio of upperclassmen to lead the way in Florida State graduate transfer Sydney Conley and Loyola Marymount transfers Jacquelyn Moore and Isabella Bareford. Vanderbilt began spring play against Tennessee on March 7 that saw Bareford grab the first point in team history.

Louisville will play three other matches this spring: at Indiana on April 5, vs. Tennessee in Freedom Hall on April 12, and vs. Kentucky on April 18 at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena.