LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In an intense NCAA volleyball semifinal, Anna DeBeer showcased her skills with 14 kills before falling to a right ankle injury. Despite her absence, Payton Peterson stepped in to deliver consecutive service aces, propelling the top-seeded Louisville Cardinals to a 3-1 victory over the number one seeded Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday night. This win marks Louisville’s return to the NCAA volleyball championship for the second time in three years.
The Cardinals (30-5) managed to break a four-match losing streak against the Panthers, which included two earlier losses this season. They are set to face Penn State in the championship game on Sunday, who made an impressive comeback from a two-set deficit to defeat Nebraska in five sets. Notably, this match will feature two female coaches for the first time, with Louisville’s Dani Busboom-Kelly matched against Penn State’s Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
For the Panthers (33-2), All-American player Olivia Babcock had a remarkable performance with 33 kills, yet her team’s 18-match winning streak came to an end. Pittsburgh entered the tournament as the number one seed and was aiming for a fifth consecutive national semifinal win. Although they started strong with a solid first set hitting .373, and Babcock contributing nine kills, they could not maintain their momentum.
Pittsburgh’s head coach, Dan Fisher, noted that while they excelled in transition play, Louisville’s performance on first balls proved crucial. “We just couldn’t get enough of those opportunities, and as you all saw, the second and third sets were hard for us to handle,” he admitted.
After losing the opening set 25-21, Louisville rallied to win the next three sets, with scores of 25-23, 29-27, and 25-17. The Cardinals seized control following DeBeer’s injury, which occurred early in the fourth set. A university representative later confirmed this was indeed a right ankle injury.
DeBeer was assisted off the court but returned to the sidelines to cheer for her teammates. Coach Busboom-Kelly mentioned that her availability for the championship remains uncertain. Supporting her team, Sofia Maldonado Diaz and Charitie Luper each added 14 kills for the Cardinals, who concluded the match with a hitting percentage of .320 and an impressive .425 on kills. In the final set, Louisville led from start to finish, stepping up their game significantly after DeBeer exited the match.
Peterson, a freshman who filled in for DeBeer, played a crucial role, particularly with her consecutive service points that included two aces, helping to establish a solid 9-3 early lead. Louisville surged ahead to create an 18-10 gap on their way to a resounding victory. “Initially, I thought she’d be fine and come back, but when I realized she wouldn’t, it was important for me to step up for her,” Peterson reflected. She ended the night with 4.5 points.
Additionally, Nayelis Cabello contributed 44 assists and Cara Cresse fortified the defense with six blocks for Louisville, who tallied 17 kills and managed only a single error in the final set. The opening set saw back-and-forth exchanges until Pitt pulled ahead with six consecutive points, eventually sealing the set with Babcock’s kill and an assist from Rachel Fairbanks, despite Louisville’s valiant effort to fend off four set points.