No. 6 Cardinals Sweep the Orange

Sunday, September 28

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

10-2,2-0ACC

Syracuse

9-3,1-1ACC

Syracuse

Louisville

September 28, 2025 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Nancy Worley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 6-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team swept Syracuse in a Sunday afternoon matchup in L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. Louisville won 25-8, 25-27, 25-20 for its second Atlantic Coast Conference win of the year.

Middle blocker Cara Cresse led the offense with 12 kills on 19 attempts and contributed five blocks to the defense. Opposite hitter Kalyssa Blackshear totaled 11 kills, three blocks and three digs on the match. Outside hitters Chloe Chicoine and Payton Petersen both notched 12 digs, with libero Kamden Schrand adding 10 of their own. Setter Nayelis Cabello served three of the Cards' seven aces, while Chicoine added two and Schrand served one.

UofL held Syracuse to a .040 hitting percentage on 21 kills, 39 digs, five aces and two blocks. Outside hitter Gabby McLaughlin posted a team-high eight kills and served one ace. Setter Tehya Maeva led the defense with 10 digs and also added two kills.

The Cards will head out to California for their first ACC road trip of 2025, where they will face Cal and No. 3 Stanford. The Oct. 5 match against Stanford will be broadcast on ESPN with first serve slated for 5 p.m. ET. Against Cal, first serve is set for 10 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 3.

Set 1: Syracuse 8, Louisville 25
A pair of 4-0 scoring runs allowed Louisville to get out to an early 10-3 and force Syracuse to use its first timeout. After trading points, another 4-0 scoring run put the Cards up by 11 at 16-5, highlighted by kills from Cresse, Chicoine and Blackshear and an ace from Cabello. The Orange burned their second timeout and UofL continued its run to 11-0, going up 23-5. Syracuse was able to add three more points, but Blackshear gave Louisville set point with a kill and Petersen sealed the set 25-8.

Set 2: Syracuse 17, Louisville 25
Chicoine and Hannah Sherman connected for a block to start the set, and the Cards pulled out to an 8-3 lead to force a Syracuse timeout. The Orange fought to get back within four at 13-9, but UofL went on a 6-0 scoring run to extend its lead to 10 at 19-9. Chicoine put Louisville at set point with a kill at 24-15. Syracuse held off the end of the set for two more points, but Cresse clinched the set 25-17.

Set 3: Syracuse 20, Louisville 25
Through the first 18 points, there were six ties before the Orange got out to an 11-9 lead and forced UofL to use its first timeout. Syracuse continued on a 7-0 run to lead 13-9, but the Cards got within one at 17-16 to force a timeout from the Orange. A kill from Cabello tied the set at 17, while two attack errors from Syracuse and a kill from Addison Makun gave Louisville a 20-17 lead as the Orange burned their second timeout. A service error from Syracuse gave UofL set point at 24-19, and the Cards won the set 25-20 after an attack error by the Orange.