Louisville, Nebraska post AVCA First Serve Showcase wins to open the season (2024)

The loudest eruption in the KFC Yum! Center came just around midnight as No. 6 Louisville took down No. 3 Wisconsin, 3-1 (18-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-20), in front of the home crowd. That meant the Cardinals joined Nebraska in the win column at the AVCA First Serve Showcase on the first day of the 2024 women's volleyball season. Earlier in the doubleheader, No. 2 Nebraska took down No. 9 Kentucky.

After losing the first set, the Cardinals found their rhythm in the second, going on 6-0 run and taking advantage of the Badgers' service errors — Wisconsin finished with 17 service errors to Louisville's nine in the match. Louisville's trio of Charitie Luper, Sofi Maldonado Diaz and Anna DeBeer also finished in the double digits in kills with 11, 11 and 10, respectively. Cara Cresse added eight kills while hitting .400.

DeBeer came up clutch for Louisville throughout the contest, including the game-winning block.

The Cardinals look to pick up their second win of the season against No. 15 Tennessee on Sunday, whereas Wisconsin looks to bounce back versus the reigning champs in No. 1 Texas on Sunday.

📈 CATCH UP: See the match's final stats here

Down as many as four points, Wisconsin's back was against a wall early, trailing 8-4, in the fourth set. Louisville was getting everything they wanted and more.

That's when Wisconsin's Carter Booth had something to say about it with a kill assisted by Charlie Fuerbringer. From there, Booth's kill ignited the Badgers run, climbing back and taking the lead 15-14.

With both teams battling to be the first to 25, Louisville leads 21-20.

Frank down the line?

Now THAT'S an @ATCgrid Smart Play 🤓

Set 4
UW 17
CARDS 17 pic.twitter.com/7C9rlf3TYQ

See Also

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— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) August 28, 2024

Even after Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield's successful challenge and two set points, Louisville outlasted the Badgers to take the third set (26-24), to go up 2-1.

Louisville leaned on multiple players down the stretch, including major plays from Anna DeBeer and Cara Cresse.

Once again, Wisconsin struggled with service errors, tallying five to Louisville's one.

With Set 3 turning into a bigger back-and-forth battle than Set 2, it was clear that every point mattered.

Knowing this, Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield took a risk and it paid off, issuing and winning his first challenge to tie Wisconsin and Louisville up at 21.

After multiple timeouts, both teams are knotted up at 24 a piece.

Set 2 looked like it was a head-banger. Both teams were neck-and-neck at the 15-point mark.

After the break, though, it was all Louisville, outscoring Wisconsin 10-2 to even the match at a set apiece.

A huge reason behind the Cardinals advantage was Wisconsin's struggles at serving. The Badgers couldn't find their rhythm with eight service errors to Louisville's three.

Louisville's middle Cara Cresse helped send the Cardinals into a media timeout after blocking Anna Smrek's attack — a much-needed break between two teams that had 13 ties entering the timeout.

The Cardinals and Cresse continued the momentum, though, going on a six-point run and taking control of the set.

Louisville now inches closer to tying the match up at 1-1.

Set 2 | Louisville 21 - Wisconsin 15 (1)

BOOM 😤😤😤

📺 https://t.co/Iwq2OShrLu#GoCards pic.twitter.com/KzpFLOlwE0

— Louisville Volleyball (@LouisvilleVB) August 28, 2024

After Set 1's one-sided affair in favor of Wisconsin, both teams are showing no signs of weakness in Set 2.

With just one tie in the first go-around, the Cardinals and Badgers have had NINE lead changes in the first 20 points of the set, currently all knotted up at 13.

Jumping out to 7-2 lead early, the Badgers began to slow down following Louisville's time out. However, as the set continued, Wisconsin found its groove again and kept the distance between itself and Louisville.

After reaching a seven-point edge, Wisconsin didn't allow Louisville to get within three points.

A huge difference between the two teams was the attack errors, as Louisville had 10 to Wisconsin's four, helping the Badgers hit .242 as a team.

🦡 Badgers:

• Saige Damrow
• Trinity Shadd-Ceres
• Devyn Robinson
• Sarah Franklin
• Anna Smrek
• Gulce Guctekin
• Charlie Fuerbringer
• Carter Booth

🔴⚫️ Louisville:

• Charitie Luper
• Sofi Maldonado Diaz
• Nayelis Cabello
• PhekranKong
• Cara Cresse
• Anna DeBeer
• Elena Scott

The second match of the First Serve Showcase's doubleheader is almost here. Tune in for a 9:47 p.m. ET start between No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 6 Louisville.

The Wildcats force a Nebraska timeout after attempting to mount a late comeback in set 4. Brooklyn DeLeye puts one away to keep Kentucky in the game, 19-15.

What a missile from @aandijackson! 🚀😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/NzZibUO7EV

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) August 28, 2024

Nebraska's 7-0 scoring run paired with six blocks in the third set gave the team a 2-1 match lead.

Setter Bergen Reilly incorporated her middles to give the Huskers a few more kills on the board. Though, they still trail Kentucky in total kills, 40-34.

Kennedi Orr serves up a floating ACE to conclude Nebraska's wild scoring run! Orr helps the Huskers reach a 15-7 advantage in Set 3.

Right on the 💸, @kennaorr7! ACE SERVE!@NESoybeanBoard | #GBR pic.twitter.com/4HIwDI0aDU

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) August 28, 2024