Louisville vs Northern Iowa

[KozmasAgain]

I am somewhat surprised by this match I didn’t think we would have trouble with UNI since we swept them 3-0 in the regular season. They have the ability to knock us out if we don’t start playing better.

 

[KozmasAgain]

We blew UNI away the 2nd set 25-13 it is now tied 2-2. I hope we took some confidence away from UNI.

 

[KozmasAgain]

First to 15 wins and right now it is 7-5 UNI this team won’t go away. I hope we get it together and win this but it is in doubt

 

[KozmasAgain]

We won a hard fought match 22-20 now we meet Purdue.

 

[2330859]

Most exciting match I have ever witnessed in WVB. Some may question why it was so close, one that it easily could have resulted in the end of a chance to host a NC, but to witness the manner in which UL’s women refused to lose might qualify as a miracle win. There were multiple MATCH POINTS for UNI, where several UL players simply came up strong.

 

[KozmasAgain]

I agree we didn’t give up we fought hard and beat a really good team. There was one point where DeBeer made a hard hit where UNI couldn’t handle and the team huddled up to celebrate. I could hear DeBeer tell her teammates “ feed me I’m hungry”. I will also say that Cressee was huge with her blocks she had over 22.

 

[Bardman]

That match turned when Sherman got into the rotation - plain and simple.

 

[2330859]

Amazingly the UNI team was not rated in the top 25. They were undefeated in the MVC, and all of their losses were to ranked non-conference, mostly on the road. Dayton, OSU, Creighton and UL beat them early in the season on the road, and their home losses to SMU and TX A&M were before their conference run. Those UL fans who witnessed them beat Illinois recognized just how much they had improved since their earlier trip to the Ville, and expressed apprehension about the match.

 

[Guardman]

That was the most exciting and competitive match I have ever witnessed in person.

At the end it was pure skill, determination, team play, and luck that won it after an incredible number of match points.

I have never seen anything close to the pressure in the final set. Neither team was going to lose but one had to.

 

[2330859]

Allow me to add Guardman; the extreme pressure those UL Ladies were under, particularly locals DeBeer and Scott, may very well propel this team to a NC. When a talented and favored team playing at home against a formidable, but underrated team like UNI; that experience in having recognized how close they came to ending their season could result in a huge boost in their focus.

I believe it is possible that we might see this UL WVB more focused than at anytime this season, including the two losses to Pitt.

 

[Guardman]

When the Cards were down 14-12 in the 5th and final set, I looked over at Mrs Guardman and Guardman Jr and said this may be THE FINAL POINT that the seniors will ever play as UofL players. I was sad and shocked. For them.

It took incredible resolve to go on and win it 22-20 after miraculously tying it at 14-14 ... and then soldiering on through about 8 more match points (I won't go back and count them).

I went over and talked to the UNI fans, families and supporters afterward. And saluted their great play. They appreciated what I had to say to them, but it was clear they were shell-shocked.

And, like you, I hope that this close brush with defeat will help give the Cards the energy and resolve to blast their way through the rest of this tournament.