Sunday, September 20
Lexington, KY
3:00 p.m.
University of Louisville
10-2,0-0ACC
at
#4 Kentucky
8-2,0-0SEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 25 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 1 |
| Kentucky | 19 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics
No. 3 Cardinals Fall to No. 4 Kentucky in Four Sets
September 20, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
Chloe Chicoine led the Cards with 17 kills, 10 digs and four blocks.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 3-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team fell to No. 4 Kentucky in four sets (25-19, 27-29, 21-25, 19-25) on Sunday afternoon in Lexington, Ky.
"Credit to Kentucky," said Dan & Maria Durbin Head Coach Dan Meske. "Great crowd too. They played a great match – they played really aggressive and killed a whole bunch of balls. They were just very, very aggressive at the net. We had some opportunities to bounce back, but I thought at times, whether it was the energy or the crowd, we just got kind of soft in moments and Kentucky did not, so big credit to them. It was a back-and-forth match for the most part, but they did a lot more in big moments than we did to win the match."
With the loss, Louisville falls to 10-2 heading into conference play next weekend, while Kentucky improves to 8-2.
The Cardinals tallied a season-best 13 total blocks on Sunday while adding 58 digs on the defensive side of the court. Offensively, UofL posted 51 kills on a .255 hitting percentage and served up three aces.
On the other side of the net, Kentucky finished the match with 73 kills on .277 hitting, while recording 65 digs and six team blocks.
Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine secured her fifth double-double of the season with 17 kills on a .356 clip and 10 digs while tying a career high with four blocks.
The Louisville defense was led by middle blocker Addison Makun, who earned a career-high with eight blocks, and libero Payton Petersen, who led the Cardinals with 18 digs.
Setter Nayelis Cabello stuffed the stat sheet once again, recording 33 assists and 10 digs while also chipping in seven kills and two blocks.
SET 1
The Cards set the tone early, scoring the first four points of the match, highlighted by back-to-back tandem blocks by Chicoine and Makun. UK put a pair of points on the board, but UofL scored three more to force a Wildcats' timeout with a 7-2 lead. Kentucky scored out of the break before Louisville authored a 7-2 run to gain its largest lead of the match at 14-5. UofL kept the Wildcats at arm's length as they maintained at least a five point lead for the remainder of the set. A solo block by Kentucky transfer Brooke Bultema secured the 25-19 win.
SET 2
The second set was a game of runs in the early going with both teams rattling off multiple runs of at least a three points. With Louisville holding a narrow 15-13 lead at the media timeout. UK came out of the break with a 7-2 run to earn a 20-17 advantage. The Cardinals answered with a 7-3 run of their own, capped by a Payton Petersen ace to earn set point at 24-23. The back-and-forth affair continued as the teams went to extra points until the Wildcats earned the hard fought 29-27 victory in a set that saw 16 ties and seven lead changes.
SET 3
The squads stayed close early in the third, with Louisville taking the slight 5-3 edge. UK went on a quick 5-0 run to force a Cards' timeout with an 8-5 lead. UofL stayed within striking distance, but the Wildcats maintained their advantage heading into the media break at 15-11. UK scored a pair of points to extend its lead to 17-11, forcing a Louisville timeout. Kentucky continued to keep their foot on the gas, coming within three points of victory at 22-16. UofL cut the deficit to three at 22-19 to force a UK timeout, but the Wildcats held on to claim the 25-21 win.
SET 4
The teams played to a 3-3 tie early in the fourth, but Kentucky regained its momentum and threatened to pull away. Back-to-back kills by Chicoine cut UK's advantage down to 11-9, but the Wildcats scored six straight to force a Cardinals' timeout at 17-9. Louisville came back with a 6-2 run of its own to force a Kentucky timeout at 19-15, but Kentucky came away with the 25-19 win.
UP NEXT
The Cards are set to begin ACC play against Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 25 in Syracuse, N.Y. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET, and the match will be streamed on ACCNX.
"Credit to Kentucky," said Dan & Maria Durbin Head Coach Dan Meske. "Great crowd too. They played a great match – they played really aggressive and killed a whole bunch of balls. They were just very, very aggressive at the net. We had some opportunities to bounce back, but I thought at times, whether it was the energy or the crowd, we just got kind of soft in moments and Kentucky did not, so big credit to them. It was a back-and-forth match for the most part, but they did a lot more in big moments than we did to win the match."
With the loss, Louisville falls to 10-2 heading into conference play next weekend, while Kentucky improves to 8-2.
The Cardinals tallied a season-best 13 total blocks on Sunday while adding 58 digs on the defensive side of the court. Offensively, UofL posted 51 kills on a .255 hitting percentage and served up three aces.
On the other side of the net, Kentucky finished the match with 73 kills on .277 hitting, while recording 65 digs and six team blocks.
Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine secured her fifth double-double of the season with 17 kills on a .356 clip and 10 digs while tying a career high with four blocks.
The Louisville defense was led by middle blocker Addison Makun, who earned a career-high with eight blocks, and libero Payton Petersen, who led the Cardinals with 18 digs.
Setter Nayelis Cabello stuffed the stat sheet once again, recording 33 assists and 10 digs while also chipping in seven kills and two blocks.
SET 1
The Cards set the tone early, scoring the first four points of the match, highlighted by back-to-back tandem blocks by Chicoine and Makun. UK put a pair of points on the board, but UofL scored three more to force a Wildcats' timeout with a 7-2 lead. Kentucky scored out of the break before Louisville authored a 7-2 run to gain its largest lead of the match at 14-5. UofL kept the Wildcats at arm's length as they maintained at least a five point lead for the remainder of the set. A solo block by Kentucky transfer Brooke Bultema secured the 25-19 win.
SET 2
The second set was a game of runs in the early going with both teams rattling off multiple runs of at least a three points. With Louisville holding a narrow 15-13 lead at the media timeout. UK came out of the break with a 7-2 run to earn a 20-17 advantage. The Cardinals answered with a 7-3 run of their own, capped by a Payton Petersen ace to earn set point at 24-23. The back-and-forth affair continued as the teams went to extra points until the Wildcats earned the hard fought 29-27 victory in a set that saw 16 ties and seven lead changes.
SET 3
The squads stayed close early in the third, with Louisville taking the slight 5-3 edge. UK went on a quick 5-0 run to force a Cards' timeout with an 8-5 lead. UofL stayed within striking distance, but the Wildcats maintained their advantage heading into the media break at 15-11. UK scored a pair of points to extend its lead to 17-11, forcing a Louisville timeout. Kentucky continued to keep their foot on the gas, coming within three points of victory at 22-16. UofL cut the deficit to three at 22-19 to force a UK timeout, but the Wildcats held on to claim the 25-21 win.
SET 4
The teams played to a 3-3 tie early in the fourth, but Kentucky regained its momentum and threatened to pull away. Back-to-back kills by Chicoine cut UK's advantage down to 11-9, but the Wildcats scored six straight to force a Cardinals' timeout at 17-9. Louisville came back with a 6-2 run of its own to force a Kentucky timeout at 19-15, but Kentucky came away with the 25-19 win.
UP NEXT
The Cards are set to begin ACC play against Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 25 in Syracuse, N.Y. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET, and the match will be streamed on ACCNX.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/L
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
LOU
UK
Kills
51
73
Errors
12
27
Attempts
153
166
Hitting %
.255
.277
Points
67.0
84.5
Assists
43
69
Aces
3
5
Blocks
13
6.5
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
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