Spring Match Recap: Louisville vs Vanderbilt

Louisville took on Vanderbilt in a five-set spring match that offered a lot of insight into early lineups, chemistry, and areas for growth heading into the 2025 season. Across five sets, the Cards experimented with both a 5-1 and 6-2 offense while showcasing fresh talent and veteran leadership.

Set-by-Set Breakdown:

Set 1 (5-1 Offense)

• Payton Petersen and Chloe Chicoine held down the pins on the left.
• Reese Robins played opposite.
• Nayelis Cabello ran the offense as the setter, with Hannah Sherman and Cara Cresse in the middle.
• Kamden Schrand wore the libero jersey, while Hannah Kenney came in as a DS for Reese.
• Louisville won convincingly, 25-16.

Set 2 (5-1 Offense)

• Kalyssa Blackshear subbed in for Reese on the right.
• No major structural changes, continuing with the 5-1.

Set 3

• Blackshear stayed at opposite.
• Alanna Bankston played on the left.
• Ava Utterback stepped in to DS for Alanna, gaining valuable court time.

Set 4 (6-2 Offense)

• Both Blackshear and Reese were featured as right-side attackers.
• Setting duties were split between Nay and freshman Hannah Kenny.
• Chloe and Ava paired up on the left.
• Molly Wilson was the libero and Chloe racked up 7 kills in this set alone.

Set 5 (5-1 Offense)

• In a bit of a twist, Reese played middle.
• Molly stayed in as libero.
• Nay ran the 5-1 again.
• Ava played all six rotations.
• Alanna took the other left-side spot.

Performance Highlights & Takeaways:

• Serving Tough: The team combined for 8 aces on 13 errors—aggressive, but room to tighten up.
• Breakout Moment: Molly Wilson stepped up in serve receive and led with 9 digs, second most on the team. An unexpected standout performance.
• Offensive Firepower: Chloe Chicoine and Payton Petersen both hit over .300, showcasing high efficiency on the outside.
• Leadership Update: Captains were named post-match—congrats to Nayelis Cabello and Cara Cresse.
• Setter Spotlight: Nay logged 13 attack attempts without running a true 5-1 offense the entire match—versatility on display.

What Needs Work:

• Right Side Attack: More production is needed from the right pin. Spring is the time to explore, but this will be key heading into fall.
• Cara's Potential: High expectations for veteran middle Cara Cresse—offensive output should increase as rhythm builds.
• Backrow Offense: It was noticeably absent. Last year, backrow attacks from Charitie Luper and Anna DeBeer were essential. Reinventing that threat will be vital.
• Serving Accuracy: The aggression is there, but cutting down on errors will be a must.
• Out-of-System Setting: This was a strength for Vanderbilt. Louisville will need to clean this up to stay sharp in high-pressure moments.

This spring match showed flashes of brilliance and a few growing pains—exactly what you want in April. With new roles being tested and leadership taking shape, the fall season already looks promising.

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*Photo Credit: University of Louisville Athletics