Cardinals Battle in Five, Fall to SMU in a Thriller

It was a five-set fight to the finish inside L&N Federal Credit Union Arena on Friday night, as No. 4 Louisville went toe to toe with No. 8 SMU in a match packed with momentum swings, long rallies, and high-level execution on both sides. In the end, the Mustangs narrowly escaped with the win, 25-22, 19-25, 24-26, 25-21, 19-17, handing the Cardinals just their third loss of the season.

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Louisville’s offense was balanced and efficient, with four players finishing in double figures. Freshman standout Payton Petersen led the way with 18 kills, while Kalyssa Blackshear added 17 in another strong outing. Chloe Chicoine tallied 12, and Cara Cresse chipped in 10 as the Cards racked up 64 kills as a team. Setter Nayelis Cabello directed the attack with poise, spreading the offense and helping Louisville hit .245 on the night.

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Defensively, the Cardinals were resilient. Libero Kamden Schrand anchored the backcourt with 23 digs, while Chicoine (17), Petersen (12), and Cabello (10) each joined her in double digits. At the net, Hannah Sherman posted nine blocks, with Blackshear and Cresse adding eight apiece to limit SMU’s rhythm offensively. The serving line contributed as well, with Hannah Kenny landing two aces and Schrand adding another.

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SMU countered with a strong offensive showing of its own. Malaya Jones led all players with 22 kills on 50 swings, while Kennedi Rogers and Jadyn Livings each added 10. The Mustangs’ serve proved to be a key factor, totaling 10 aces, three apiece from Livings and libero Jordyn Schilling, to keep Louisville under constant pressure.

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The fifth set captured the intensity of the night. Louisville jumped ahead 7–2, but SMU chipped away to tie it at 14 all, setting up a back and forth battle that saw six total match points exchanged. Ultimately, SMU capitalized on a final swing to close it out 19–17.

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With the result, Louisville moves to 14–3 overall and 6–1 in ACC play, while SMU improves to 13–4 and 5–2 in the league. Despite the loss, the Cardinals once again showed the depth, balance, and resolve that have made them one of the nation’s toughest teams.