Charitie Luper and Anna DeBeer led the way with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, as the No. 5-ranked University of Louisville pulled off a 3-1 upset against No. 3 Wisconsin in the AVCA First Serve Showcase on Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals’ victory, marked by scores of 18-25, 25-17, 26-24, and 25-20, is their first win over Wisconsin since 1985 and serves as a rematch of the 2021 NCAA National Semifinals, where the Badgers emerged victorious.
With this win, Louisville begins its season at 1-0, showcasing resilience and determination after dropping the first set. The team hit .166 overall, with strong contributions from Cara Cresse, who added eight kills and six blocks, and Sofia Maldonado Diaz, who also recorded 11 kills. Elena Scott anchored the defense with a match-high 22 digs. The Cardinals’ defensive efforts were highlighted by 10 blocks and two aces.
Wisconsin, despite being ranked higher, struggled to find consistency, hitting .179 as a team. The Badgers were led by Sarah Franklin with 17 kills and two blocks, and Anna Smrek, who contributed 12 kills and four blocks. Wisconsin managed just one ace and 14 digs in the match.
The Cardinals had a shaky start in the first set, quickly falling behind 7-2 and never fully recovering, as Wisconsin’s .242 hitting percentage and four blocks proved too much to overcome. Louisville hit just .077 in that set with two blocks. However, the second set saw a turnaround for the Cardinals, who hit .364, sparked by three kills from Reese Robins, while Wisconsin’s hitting dropped to .167.
The third set was a nail-biter, with Louisville narrowly edging out a win despite hitting only .146. The Cardinals capitalized on Wisconsin’s errors, ending the set on a five-point run to take the lead in the match. Louisville hit .163 in the final set, while Wisconsin’s offense cooled off, hitting just .079, allowing the Cardinals to secure the upset victory.
2024 AVCA First Serve All-Star Team Selections
• Best Opposite: Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky
• Best Middle Blocker: Rebekah Allick, Nebraska
• Best Setter: Bergen Reilly, Nebraska
• Best Libero: Elena Scott, Louisville
• Best Outside Hitter: Charitie Luper, Louisville
• AVCA First Serve MVP: Rebekah Allick, Nebraska