Elena Scott doing the dirty work for Louisville volleyball

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The rise of University of Louisville volleyball into one of the nation's elite programs has not so coincidentally coincided with the tenure of Elena Scott, the local standout who stayed home and has been an integral part of an unprecedented three-plus year run. Counting this year's 7-1 start, Louisville is 97-10 since Scott arrived.

She started contributing from day one at U of L, embracing a switch from setter at Mercy Academy and club ball to the more defensive role of libero. Four fast years later, Scott is a two-time All-American and a senior leader for the Cardinals.

"It's really weird seeing all the freshmen come in and I'm like 'Oh wow, I was just in your shoes,'" Scott said. "It is cool. I feel like I've taken on a different role being a senior and kind of overlooking these girls and, hopefully, guiding them in some sort of way."

"Elena's a phenomenal player, and we are lucky that she chose to come here and take a leap of faith and switch positions," U of L head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. "The fact that she really got to excel as a libero, be considered one of the best liberos in the country and probably one of the best players ever at the University of Louisville and one of the best players ever from the city of Louisville, it's just pretty amazing. And I think she's just at another level as a senior."

Scott also happens to be the niece of WDRB morning personality Keith Kaiser. He loves watching her play but also wishes she would stop throwing her body all over the court to dive for balls.

This was her reply to that request.

"It's my job," Scott said with a laugh. "That is what I do. It hurts me just as much as it probably hurts you to watch."

The complete abandon with which she throws her body around and races beyond the confines of the court to keep the ball in the air can be frightening but also exhilarating and energizing for her team.

"I feel like it's nice when we have those moments, when it kind of shifts the momentum of the game a little bit," Scott said. "And it's obviously fun for us to cheer and celebrate those so it's a nice momentum gain for us."

"When Elena makes a spectacular play, it rejuvenates the team," Busboom Kelly said. "It makes us feel like we can beat anybody and it puts you in the match against, maybe, a more physical team when you have such a great libero and somebody so skilled at that position."

Even Uncle Keith would approve of that.

The fourth-ranked Cardinals visit No. 11 Kentucky on Wednesday and host fifth-ranked Nebraska on Sunday.