Cards’ Season Ends in Five-Set NCAA Heartbreaker

The 2025 season came to a close Friday night in Lincoln, as the No. 1-seeded Louisville Cardinals fell to Texas A&M in a five-set NCAA Regional Semifinal at the Bob Devaney Center. The Aggies secured the final set (15-12), ending Louisville’s season with a 26-7 overall record.

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Louisville pushed one of the nation’s top teams to the limit, leading the match 2-0 before Texas A&M mounted a comeback to advance.

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Chicoine Leads a Balanced Cardinal Effort

Junior outside hitter Chloe Chicoine delivered one of the strongest performances of her career, finishing with 26 kills on .300 hitting while adding eight digs and three blocks. She was Louisville’s primary offensive option throughout the match and consistently answered in key moments.

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Payton Petersen provided steady production on the left side with 18 kills, an ace, and 13 digs. Senior middle blocker Cara Cresse closed her Louisville career with a strong showing, recording seven kills, eight blocks, and an ace while anchoring the net defensively.

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Setter Nayelis Cabello directed the offense with poise, posting 49 assists, 14 digs, and six blocks. As a team, Louisville totaled 65 kills, five aces, and 14 blocks while hitting .229 against an elite Texas A&M defense.

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Louisville Controls the Early Sets

The Cardinals showed composure early, weathering an initial Texas A&M push in the opening set before taking control late. Louisville used timely blocks and efficient offense to pull ahead and claim set one (25-23), hitting .457 in the frame.

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Momentum carried into the second set. After facing another Aggie run, Louisville responded with an extended surge highlighted by two Cabello service aces during an 8-0 stretch. The Cards closed the set (25-22) to take a 2-0 lead and put themselves within reach of the Elite Eight.

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Texas A&M Shifts the Match

Texas A&M responded with urgency in set three. The set featured multiple lead changes and extended rallies, with Louisville battling back to tie the score late at 23. The Aggies, however, closed the set (25-23) to stay alive.

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The fourth set swung firmly in Texas A&M’s favor. Louisville continued to fight and trimmed the deficit late, but the Aggies’ blocking presence proved decisive in a (25-18) win that forced a fifth set.

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Fifth Set Comes Down to the Wire

The deciding set delivered the intensity expected of postseason volleyball. Louisville led at the switch and briefly extended the advantage with an ace, but Texas A&M answered with strong blocking and capitalized on late opportunities. The Aggies closed the match (15-12) to secure the comeback.

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A Season Defined by Fight

The loss marks the end of a season defined by resilience and competitiveness. Louisville pushed a top opponent to five sets on a national stage and showed its depth, toughness, and consistency throughout the year.

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With veterans setting the standard and key underclassmen continuing to emerge, the program leaves the NCAA Tournament with its foundation firmly intact.

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They fought like Louisville.