The top-seeded Louisville Cardinals volleyball team is heading to their third NCAA National Semifinals after a 3-1 triumph over No. 2-seeded Stanford on Saturday evening at Freedom Hall. The Cardinals clinched the win with set scores of 22-25, 25-14, 28-26, and 25-20.
“When we found out the Final Four would be hosted here in 2024, it felt like a dream,” said head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. “We wondered, ‘Can we make this happen? Will we have the team to do it?’ And after navigating this pressure-filled season and performing like we did tonight, it’s just amazing. I’m so proud of this team and excited for what’s ahead.”
Louisville managed to hold Stanford to a .153 hitting percentage for the match, including a .000 mark in the second set—the lowest hitting percentage Stanford has recorded in a single set this season.
Anna DeBeer delivered another standout performance with 15 kills, six digs, two blocks, and an ace, earning the title of Most Outstanding Player for the Louisville Regional. Sofia Maldonado Diaz recorded a career-best 12 kills while hitting .385 and contributing seven blocks. Charitie Luper was also exceptional, hitting .571 and securing her eighth double-double of the season with 13 kills, 13 digs, and four blocks. Louisville’s defensive dominance was evident with 16 total team blocks, with three players recording six or more.
Both Luper and libero Elena Scott were named to the All-Regional team. Across the Purdue and Stanford matchups, Scott collected 21 digs and 11 assists, while Luper totaled 26 kills, 21 digs, and four blocks.
On the Stanford side, three players reached double-digit kills, with Elia Rubin leading the team with 14, followed by Ipar Kurt with 13 and Sami Francis with 10. Setter Kami Miner, a semifinalist for AVCA Player of the Year, contributed 46 assists and two kills in her final collegiate match. Stanford finished with a .153 hitting percentage, 51 kills, 42 digs, 10 blocks, and five aces.
With this victory, Louisville advances to the NCAA National Semifinals, where they will face top overall seed Pittsburgh. This marks the third meeting of the 2024 season between these rivals, with Pittsburgh having won both prior encounters. The semifinal match is set for Thursday, Dec. 19, at the KFC Yum! Center, with start times at either 6:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh secured their spot by sweeping No. 3-seeded Kentucky in straight sets, advancing to their fourth consecutive Final Four. The Panthers hold a 2-0 advantage over Louisville this season, including a 3-1 victory at the KFC Yum! Center in late November. Their most recent postseason clash came in the 2023 NCAA Championship Elite Eight, where Pittsburgh edged Louisville 3-2.
This semifinal promises to be a high-stakes showdown between two powerhouse programs.
