Tough Battle in the Ville: Cards Fall to Pitt in Five

It was a heavyweight ACC showdown inside L&N Federal Credit Union Arena on Sunday as No. 4 Louisville went toe to toe with No. 6 Pittsburgh in front of a packed, high-energy crowd. After five sets of elite-level volleyball, the Panthers emerged with a 3–2 victory (25–20, 19–25, 20–25, 25–17, 15–11).

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Louisville brought plenty of firepower, finishing with 57 kills on a .270 hitting percentage, 12 blocks, and five aces. Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Chicoine led the attack with 16 kills, adding nine digs, two assists, and a block in a strong all-around performance. On the right side, Kalyssa Blackshear was equally impressive, delivering 14 kills on a .375 clip along with five blocks and several clutch swings that kept the Cards in contention deep into the match.

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Setter Nayelis Cabello turned in one of her best outings of the season, recording a career-high nine kills to go with 41 assists, six digs, four blocks, and two aces. Libero Kamden Schrand anchored the defense with 18 digs and seven assists, while freshman Payton Petersen and Molly Wilson each added an ace from the service line.

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For Pitt, right side Olivia Babcock delivered a performance that will be remembered: 41 kills on 78 swings, along with two aces and five blocks. Blaire Bayless added 11 kills, and middle blocker Ryla Jones contributed seven kills and five blocks to round out the Panthers’ effort. With the win, Pitt improves to 15–3 overall and 7–1 in the ACC, while Louisville moves to 14–4 and 6–2 in conference play.

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The match once again showcased why Louisville and Pittsburgh have become one of the sport’s premier rivalries, featuring physical play, long rallies, and a crowd that never let up. The Cardinals will look to regroup on the road next weekend as they travel to face Duke and No. 21 North Carolina, aiming to bounce back and continue their push atop the ACC standings.