The University of Louisville volleyball team lost to its archrival at home for the first time in 21 years Tuesday night.
The University of Kentucky clipped the Cardinals 3-1 (25-20, 15-25, 25-21, 25-19) in front of a record crowd of 5,862 at the KFC Yum! Center.
Junior outside hitter Shelby Workman had a career-high 21 kills and 12 digs while senior defensive specialist Jackie Napper, an Assumption High School graduate, tallied 26 digs to lead the 16th-ranked Wildcats (6-1) to their first win in Louisville since 1993.
Sophomore outside hitter Maya McClendon, a Manual High School grad, led UofL with 16 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Janelle Jenkins added 12 kills while junior setter Katie George (an Assumption grad) tallied 37 assists for the Cards (3-3).
“The bottom line is we went away from our game plan,” Louisville coach Anne Kordes said afterward. “We wanted to keep all the balls away from the libero and the right back. When we did that in the second set, we won. The majority of the time we did the opposite. Our plan was as basic as it gets and I’m disappointed that I saw a mental breakdown rather than a physical one.”
The Cards next play three matches at Morehead State this weekend in the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational. They face 15th-ranked Arizona State at noon and the host Eagles at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Photo courtesy University of Louisville Volleyball Facebook Page
