No. 4 Volleyball Opens Season with Red/Black Scrimmage

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Card Nation will get its first glimpse of the No. 4-ranked Louisville volleyball team, Friday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. when they host their annual Red/Black scrimmage, inside L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. Admission will be free on a first-come basis.

The Black squad will be coached by CC McGraw, who will have Payton Petersen, Ava Utterback and Chloe Meester at outside hitter. Setting for the Black squad will be Molly Wilson and Kalyssa Blackshear will hit at opposite. Kamden Schrand is pegged for libero and Jessica Drapp will play defensive specialist.

The Red squad will be coached by Parker Mikesch, who will have Chloe Chicoine and Alanna Bankston at outside hitter. Setting for the Red squad will be Nayelis Cabello and Reese Robins will hit opposite. Molly Urban will play libero and Hannah Kenny will play defensive specialist.

Middle blockers Cara Cresse, Addison Makun and Hannah Sherman will play for both squads as needed.

An Overview of the Cards

This will be a chance for fans to see first-year head coach Dan Meske in action. Meske replaces former Cardinals' head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. Meske brings sixteen years of coaching experience to the Cardinals' sideline.after spending the previous eight seasons at Louisville as an associate head coach.

In 2024 Louisville finished (30-6, 17-3) advancing to the national final before falling to Penn State.

Louisville returns three starters from last year's team.

Nayelis Cabello, Chloe Chicoine, and Cara Cresse were all named to the All-ACC preseason team, while Cresse and Chicoine are preseason AVCA All-Americans.

Familiar Faces

From last year's squad the Cardinals return Ava Utterback, Kamden Schrand, Nayelis Cabello, Jessica Drapp, Hannah Sherman, Cara Cresse, Molly Urban, Alanna Bankston, Payton Petersen and Reese Robins.

Newcomers

Louisville adds four freshmen: Chloe Meester, Addison Makun, Hannah Kenny and Kalyssa Blackshear.

Junior Chloe Chicoine joins Louisville after spending the previous two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers. At Purdue, Chicoine racked up All-Big Ten Second Team, AVCA All-Region First Team – Midwest and All-Big Ten Preseason Honors in her sophomore season. As a freshman she was named to AVCA Third Team All-America, First Team All-Big Ten, was a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman selection, AVCA Northeast Region Freshman of the Year, and earned Big Ten freshman of the week five times.

Senior Molly Wilson joins the Cards after previously playing at the University of Washington. Wilson, as a sophomore with the Huskies, became their starting setter, starting in 30 of 31 matches and recording 934 assists (8.19 per set). As a junior for the Huskies last season, she amassed 706 assists, leading the team while averaging 6.03 assists per set.

Departures

Louisville Volleyball had to say goodbye to graduates Anna Debeer, Elle Glock, Elena Scott, Sofia Maldonado Diaz and Charitie Luper.

Next Up
Following the Red/Black scrimmage, Louisville Volleyball 's next time in-action will be on Saturday, August 23, at 2 p.m. for the Alumni Match inside L&N Federal credit Union Arena.

University of Louisville Athletics

No. 4 Volleyball Opens Season with Red/Black Scrimmage

Players Mentioned

Alanna Bankston

Kalyssa Blackshear

Nayelis Cabello

Chloe Chicoine

Cara Cresse

Jessica Drapp

Elle Glock

Hannah Kenny

Charitie Luper

Addison Makun

Sofia Maldonado Diaz

Chloe Meester

Payton Petersen

Reese Robins

Kamden Schrand

Elena Scott

Hannah Sherman

Molly Urban

Ava Utterback

Molly Wilson

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