GREEVER | The AVCA Showcase sets Louisville's year in the national volleyball spotlight

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Louisville volleyball head coach Dani Busboom Kelly knows, has known and will know. You don't even really have to ask.

"We've been asked a million times, 'Is there more pressure with the Final Four in Louisville?,'" Busboom Kelly said. "And of course there is. But I feel pretty calm because we've done what we can up to this point.

"The rest is to come. So we'll see. I told them, 'We might get killed!' I don't know, but I feel good about where we're at today."

The humorous humility of a woman who rose from helping on a farm in a two-stop-sign town in Nebraska to building a championship contender in the biggest city in the Bluegrass State is notable. Because at this point, the approach to the pressure of Louisville hosting the first and last serves of a season where U of L hopes to hoist the program's first national championship starts with acknowledging that doing it is realistic.

"We have a great team of returners," Busboom Kelly said. "We added some players that will fill key roles and we've done what we can to put a great team on the court. And so, we've done what we can control up to this point now."

The next thing the eighth-year head coach and her No. 6 Cardinals can control is their debut in a star-studded, end-of-summer showcase. First, at 7 p.m., No. 9 Kentucky opens the American Volleyball Coaches Association Showcase vs. No. 2 Nebraska. Then, the former Cornhusker star of a Cardinal coach leads Louisville in a 2021 Final Four rematch vs. No. 3 Wisconsin.

"It's huge for our sport," Busboom Kelly said. "And they've spent a lot of money. "

As more attention deservedly demands it with sustained increases in attendance, engagement and viewership, Busboom Kelly comes back to the product on the court. She has long respected this as an elite event, relishing an invite presently as a coach, but also formerly as a player.

"I do remember wanting to know every year as a player, 'Who's getting invited to the AVCA Showcase,' because you got a little bit of advantage, you got to start earlier," Busboom Kelly explained. "But also, it was kind of the potential preseason Final Four teams. So, to be included was a big deal."

She wants fans to pay close attention to the action too. There will be no line judges, as the event instead will use equipment that was also used at the Olympics, according to Busboom Kelly.

"Fans are going to get a glimpse of what international volleyball is like," Busboom Kelly said. "We're just trying to showcase that we can be a revenue-generating sport and there's a lot of ways to do that. I think the court setup and the way the match flows will be new.

"But that's huge and where this sport is headed. And for us to be included in that is a big testament to not only our team, but the investment the university has put into volleyball."

The crowds have closely followed the Cards as they have warranted it. Entering its 10th year in the ACC, Louisville fans have been treated to a national title game appearance, two Final Fours and three Elite Eights over the past three years.

In turn, the six largest home crowds in Cardinal history have all been set since 2021. Five of those six games were at the KFC Yum! Center.

"It's a trend," Busboom Kelly said. "We're going to continue to play as many games as we can down there. That makes sense."

Following Tuesday night, this season will see six more Louisville volleyball games played in the 22,000-seat arena. Five of the opponents are ranked as top-15 teams.

"Obviously, with this being the Final Four year, we wanted to showcase some really big matches down there and get the city really excited to see some awesome volleyball," Busboom Kelly said. "But talking with Josh (Heird), we want to not only continue to grow the sport nationally, but here in the city.

"We are outgrowing L&N, so we'd love to move more games down there. I think when you get late in the volleyball season, then you start competing with basketball and finding the right way we can all use the facility to make it make sense."

Pat Kelsey seems like he will play ball on that one.

Loving the vibes on Floyd Street right now pic.twitter.com/A0Zf6KfaOj

— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) August 27, 2024

But what's important to know as this special year for the sport gets going is actually something a respected rival of a head coach and friend in Craig Skinner said back at a preview news conference for this event:

Volleyball's rise has largely been because so many, especially in our region of the country, have loved watching what is being played.

"The diehard volleyball fans are going to have the best night ever," Busboom Kelly said. 

Good thing this is a diehard volleyball city.

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