Louisville Continues Homestand Against Duke and North Carolina

Friday, October 16

LOUISVILLE, KY

7:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Duke

Photo by: Eli Dych | Louisville Athletics

Louisville Continues Homestand Against Duke and North Carolina

October 15, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

The Cards have won at least 11 straight matches against each team

By: Zach Zsido

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 3-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team continues its four-game home slate against Duke and No. 23 North Carolina on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18 at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. Friday's match against the Blue Devils is set for 7 p.m. ET and Sunday's contest against the Tar Heels is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.

The Cards enter the weekend with a perfect 6-0 record in ACC play, winning 18 of the 19 sets they have played. The Cardinals also aim to extend winning streaks against both squads as they look to win their 13^th consecutive match against the Blue Devils and 12^th straight contest against the Tar Heels.

TEAM NOTES

The Cardinals have secured six wins over ranked programs in their first 18 matches of the season, making them just one of five teams to win at least six ranked contests this year.
Louisville continues to be one of the most dominant forces in the country on the offensive side of the ball this season. Through its first 18 contests, UofL ranks third in the country in hitting percentage (.319) and seventh in kills per set (14.28).
The Cards also command one of the top defensive units in the NCAA this year, leading the ACC and ranking eighth nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.151). UofL also ranks second in the conference and ninth in the country in blocks per set (2.91).
Louisville comes in at No. 3 in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll, its sixth straight week ranked within the top five nationally.

PLAYER NOTES

Middle blocker Brooke Bultema powered the Cardinals' offense last weekend against both California and No. 14 Stanford, leading the team in kills in each contest. The senior tallied 13 kills on a .750 clip in Louisville's four-set victory against California on Oct. 8. Bultema followed the stellar performance with a career-high 14 kills on .480 hitting in the sweep against Stanford on Oct. 11. She leads the Cards with a cumulative hitting percentage of .394, a mark that also ranks fourth in the conference.
Libero Payton Petersen was one of 16 players added to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List on Oct. 8, becoming just one of three liberos to be featured on the list. The junior has headed Louisville's defensive efforts all season long, totaling a team-leading 249 digs. Her 4.15 digs per set currently rank third in the ACC.
Setter Nayelis Cabello continues to assert herself as one of the most balanced players in the country after earning back-to-back ACC Setter of the Week honors on Sept. 7 and Sept. 14. The junior ranks third in the conference and 16^th in the nation with 10.61 assists per set through the first 18 matches of the season. Cabello also leads UofL with 10 double-doubles this year.