No. 6 Louisville put together a statement performance Sunday afternoon in Nashville, sweeping No. 9 Texas 3-0 at the Broadway Block Party.
The Cardinals moved to 5-1 on the season and picked up their fourth win over a ranked opponent already this year. They did it by taking control in different ways across the three sets, then finishing strong when Texas had chances to swing the match.
Texas came out fast and grabbed the first two points, but Louisville quickly seized control of the opener and rolled to a 25-12 win. The Cardinals hit .286 in the set, with Chloe Chicoine and Brooke Bultema each finishing with four scoring kills.
Texas never found a rhythm, posting a .000 hitting percentage and committing six service errors. The set ended on another Texas service error.
Set two delivered the drama. Louisville trailed 24-22 before Chloe Meester sparked the comeback with back-to-back kills to level the score.
Texas briefly reached set point again after a Louisville service error, but Meester and Chloe Chicoine answered with key kills to keep the Cardinals alive. After the teams were tied at 26, Kalyssa Blackshear put Louisville in front with a kill, and then teamed with Brooke Bultema on the match-winning block assist.
The Cardinals closed it out in the third, turning in another strong frame and cruising to a 25-16 win. Meester kept the pressure on late with several important kills as Louisville pulled away.
For the match, Louisville outhit Texas .350 to .174. Meester led the way with 13 kills and a .565 hitting percentage, while Nayelis Cabello finished with 36 assists.
Louisville’s next stop is at the KFC Yum! Center for its first home match of the season, when it hosts Missouri for the Showdown at the Net as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. That match is set for Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
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