Louisville beats Creighton in 5 sets to advance to Elite Eight

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville volleyball is just one win away from a third-straight trip to the Final Four.

The No. 2 Cardinals moved another step closer with a five-set victory over No. 3 Creighton in Pittsburgh to go to another Elite Eight, which the program has now made four times in the last five seasons. They will face conference rival Pittsburgh in the regional final on Dec. 9 at 4 p.m.

"It just is a testament to the people in it and the people that are behind it," Louisville head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said of another Elite Eight trip. "It's very hard to make the Elite Eight. To do it three times in a row is pretty amazing.

"But I think it's the players too. And once you start winning, and once you start putting together back-to-back seasons, there's even more pressure. So, it's really impressive that the players that have been here and seen this program evolve are handling that pressure so well. Because it's a different ballgame when everybody's out to get you and you're expected to be in these moments."

The first-ever NCAA Tournament meeting between the Cardinals and Bluejays was a back-and-forth battle. Louisville and Creighton traded set victories, as U of L took the first, third and fifth sets to secure the win. The Cardinals used a 6-1 run in the final set to take control and advance.

"They battled every point and it put some pressure on us," Louisville outside hitter Anna DeBeer said. "And we had to be resilient at times while grabbing that momentum back. I think it was a full-on team effort. I mean, every single person on this team contributes in so many different ways and I think that's just what really stepped up and helped everyone tonight to get that one."

Charitie Luper and DeBeer led the way for Louisville, combining for 39 kills and 23 digs. Elena Scott finished as U of L's leader in digs for the game with 27 and the Cardinals won the overall dig battle 69-54. Freshman Reese Robins came up clutch as a late substitute, tallying five kills and two blocks.

"I think Reese is a silent assassin," Luper said. "You never know when she's coming. But she's going to come and she's going to pull through. She's just that type of player who is silent, but comes through.

"So having that player especially so young, she's going to grow to be an amazing player. Having her on our team is just another weapon that we have."

Louisville-Creighton volleyball — Louisville volleyball celebrates against Creighton in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen on Dec. 7, 2023. (UofL Athletics photo)
Louisville athletics

The fifth set showed off the depth of the Cardinals. Robins subbed in to get a block and later kill. Ceci Rush and Ayden Bartlett came into the match to register aces. DeBeer played the role of closer, scoring three kills to help clinch an Elite Eight trip.

"Sometimes, it looks like Charitie and I are doing a lot," DeBeer said. "But it is the blockers that are getting good touches. Reese came in off the bench and got a solo block just to change the whole momentum.

"So, I think there's just so many little things that people don't always see. And that's what helped us. Ayden Bartlett and Ceci Rush coming off the bench, there's so many different pieces of this team. And I think a lot of it comes on us. But there's other people that stepped up and really won that fifth set for us."

In a crucial third set, the Assumption High School alumna in DeBeer came up with two of the biggest points of the match. Tied at one set each, the Cardinals and Bluejays were deadlocked at 23. That's when the ACC Player of the Year swung the set to Louisville, coming up with the decisive kill and ace in back-to-back points. Luper helped Louisville keep pace before those, getting six of her kills in the third set.

Creighton immediately responded by staying alive in the fourth set, winning 26-24. Louisville fought off two set points before Kendra Wait and Kiana Schmitt sealed the need for a final set with a block of DeBeer. The Cardinals took an early lead with a 25-21 victory in set one before the Bluejays dominated set two, winning 25-14.

Now, Louisville turns its attention to ACC rival Pittsburgh. The Panthers are the regional hosts and swept No. 4 Washington State right after U of L beat Creighton.

The Cardinals swept Pitt in the KFC Yum! Center on Oct. 13 before the Panthers got revenge with a 3-2 victory on Nov. 18 at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt also edged Louisville for the final No. 1 seed in this tournament.