Volleyball Drops Season Opener at No. 4 Louisville

Friday, August 25

Louisville, Ky.

6 p.m.

Troy University

0-1,0-0Sun Belt

Louisville

1-0,0-0ACC

Troy

Louisville

Volleyball Drops Season Opener at No. 4 Louisville

8/25/2023 8:56:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Troy Volleyball dropped its season opener Friday evening battling No. 4 Louisville in a tough three-set match falling 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-17) inside the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. The Cardinals are coming off a season where they finished as the national runner-up.

Amiah Butler led the Troy (0-1) offensive attack with 11 kills, while Tori Hester and Ella Broadhead each had six. In her first match as Troy's primary setter, Janelle Stuempfig dished out 22 assists, while Jaci Mesa led the Trojans with six digs and was responsible for the squad's lone ace.

Cara Cresse paced the Louisville (1-0) attack with 11 kills while Anna DeBeer added nine and Ella Glock finished with 23 assists. The Cardinals length at the net was on display throughout the match as Louisville combined for 15 blocks while Troy finished with just one, a solo effort from Julia Brooks.

Set One
The Trojans and Cardinals got off to an even start trading points early in the set before Louisville took the lead at 10-6. The Trojans rallied around a dump set from Stuempfig to bring within two, 14-12. Louisville answered with an 10-3 run to push get within set point before the Trojans rolled off three straight points thanks to kills from Brooks and Hester and Brooks' solo block. However, a service error tilted the set in favor of the Cardinals.

Set Two
Louisville scored six of the first seven points in the second set thanks to four Troy attack errors and an ace. The lead swelled to 11-4 before the Trojans settled down and began trading point for point. Facing set point at 24-9, Troy once again didn't fade scoring three straight points on kills from Stuempdif and Broadhead around a Louisville attack error before Cresse ended the set with one of her 11 kills on the night.

Set Three
Troy and Louisville traded the first 12 points of the deciding set before the Cardinals scored six straight to grab a 12-6 advantage. The rest of the set was a battle of runs as the Trojans showed their grit, as they had all match, battling back to pull within three, 13-10, with a 4-1 run before Louisville pulled in front 19-10 with a 6-0 run straight off Troy's outburst. The Trojans got within six, 21-15, thanks to back-to-back kills from Hester and Broadhead and a Louisville attack error before the Cardinals took the set, 25-17.

Up Next
Troy plays Wright State in the Cardinal Classic on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Raiders are coming off a Horizon League championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament after posting a 28-4 record in 2022.