The annual showdown between UK volleyball and Louisville concluded Tuesday night with the Cats standing tall over the Cardinals 3-1.

The Cats were carried by the play of UK junior outside hitter Shelby Workman, who led all with 21 kills. No. 16 UK (6-1) fended off a fierce rally from unranked Louisville (3-3), who dropped the first set 25-20.

Louisville native and Cardinals sophomore Maya McClendon led the Cardinals to a second set victory behind her 10 kills and seven digs. Behind a fierce rally from the Cats, senior Lauren O’Connor led UK with seven digs through two sets, but was not enough for UK who went down 15-25 in set two.

The Cards started off strong in the third set, taking a 4-2 lead, but Workman notched four straight kills for the Cats, giving them a 6-4 lead. With steadfast senior Jackie Napper serving for UK, the Cats went on a 10-point run before an attack error by junior Sara Schwarzwalder halted the streak. Louisville kept it close though, pulling within five points (16-11) before UK sophomore Anni Thomasson notched three straight kills. Workman then took over and served a 25-21 second set victory for the Cats.

Louisville kept the fourth set close; down three points (16-13). It cut the lead to two behind a McClendon service ace. But Schwarzwalder and junior Morgan Bergren combined for a kill to stop Louisville’s two-point rally and finish the match on a 25-19 fourth set.

Staff Report