Chapel Hill, N.C.- Louisville could get nothing going against No. 5 Minnesota and No. 2 Wisconsin in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Cards lost each match 0-3.
On Friday, U of L faced the Minnesota Gophers and fell 25-10, 25-12, and 25-13. The 23 errors, compared to Minnesota's 6, proved fatal for the struggling Cards. They were also out blocked 15-4. The Gophers bad 42 kills, compared to Louisville's 27.
The next day the Cards faced the Wisconsin Badgers. Uof L fared a little better, even though they were swept 25-19, 26-24, and 25-20. The Badgershad 38 kills compared to Louisville's 36. U ofL also had 24 errors,while Wisconsin had 21. The blocks, however, were even at 13 apiece.
Big Ten teams have been the Achilles heel for the Cards, who are 1-11 against teams from the conference since 2013. Rival Kentucky has also been a weak point for the Louisville volleyball team, who has only won twice since 2010, when the teams renewed their rivalry.
The Cardinals host the Wildcats on Thursday, September 15, at the KFC Yum! Center and turn around to host Lipscomb on Friday, September 16, at Cardinal Arena.
UK comes into the match at a 5-4 ranking, and recently dropped out of the AVCA coaches poll rankings. Expect a solid crowd at the KFC Yum! Center in a battle of two teams who are looking to turn their seasons around. If the Cards can get their passing and execution going then they can "upset" the Wildcats.
Lipscomb is 7-2 on the year and on a four game winning streak. They have struggled against better teams while dominating lesser opponents. This could be a game where U of L gets their season heading back in the right direction or could send it spiraling out of control.