Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Lady Cards 74- 60 over Hoyas

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Cards sour Sugar... Improve to 7-2 in BIG EAST

-Volleyball Banquet at PNC Plaza

30 minutes can be a very long time sometimes. In basketball minutes, it can be an eternity. The University of Louisville women's basketball team held BIG EAST leading scorer Sugar Rodgers scoreless for 30 minutes yesterday afternoon in a 74-60 win over the Georgetown Hoyas in the KFC YUM! Center in front of 10549 fans.

No Sugar tonight in my coffee, no Sugar tonight in my tea...to borrow a phrase from The Guess Who. 

Going 0-7 in the first half and 0-4 in the second half before she connected on a jumper with 10:51 left in the game and Louisville leading 55-40...Rodgers was held to six points on 2-17 shooting by the guard trio of Bria Smith, Jude Schimmel and Shelby Harper.

Pass the Splenda, there wasn't any Sugar in the KFC YUM! Center Saturday afternoon.

Coach Walz's pregame instructions and practices sessions had a very simple theme leading up to this game. Don't allow her to get the ball and guard her more closely than the Army guards the gold in Fort Knox if she does.

It worked. Georgetown shot 33.8% for the game. Sugar 12%.

This one was won for the Cards in the first four minutes of the second half. Leading 33-29 at the break, the Cards sprinted off to a 13-3 run to start second half play and led 46-32 when Sara Hammond scored in the paint with 16:02 left. A Shoni three 30 seconds later made it 49-34 Cards and Georgetown would get no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Keying the run was Shoni, who drilled two threes and had nine points in a two minute stretch.   

Nita Slaughter with a huge effort tonight, 22 points on 6-13 shooting (five of those threes) and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. The Cards shot 77.3% from the charity stripe...toss out Cortnee Walton's 3-6 performance and Louisville goes an amazing 14 for 16.

That's the kind of stat that takes you deep into success in tournaments.

Shoni Schimmel with a slow start hitting just one of ten attempts from the field in the first half...but shooters are going to shoot and the junior ended up with 15 points and a team high seven assists. She was nonchalant about it in the post game:  

"My shots weren't falling early so I just started finding people open whose shots were falling. It was a team effort."

With Sugar salted away, sophomore forward Brittany Horne picked up the scoring yoke for the Hoyas in the first half with nine points. When Sugar still wasn't melting in the final half, freshman guard Katie McCormick grabbed the orb and produced 18 second half points for Keith Brown's 13-9 squad. McCormick, returning from a knee injury that had her on the bench for the first 11 games this year, led the Hoyas with 21 for the game. She had scored just 18 points all season. 

 6'6" center Sydney Wilson was the other Georgetown player to hit double digits with 11. She must have missed at least 10 shots from two feet or closer in, though. Does anyone use the box behind the rim on the backboard anymore?

Sara Hammond was the third double digit performer with a double-double...10 points and 11 grabs. Megan Deines added nine, Jude Schimmel seven, Bria Smith four, Cortnee Walton three and Sherrone Vails and Shelby Harper two each.

Louisville outrebounded the Hoyas 48-43. The Cards forced 16 G.U. turnovers while committing 16 of their own. Louisville won the points in the paint battle 28-24.

It wasn't pretty in the early going...Lousville and Georgetown both missing easy shots and only 26 total points had been scored in the first ten minutes. Georgetown actually led the Cards 16-10 with 9:11 left in the first stanza before UofL went on a 9-2 run to take the lead at 19-18 when Slaughter hit her second three of the half with 7:17 showing on the clock.

The Cards never trailed again.

On a afternoon where the roads had been salted several hours earlier because of an overnight snow...the Sugar remained in the cupboard and Louisville gets a sweet win....thanks to some sticky defense and Slaughter and Shoni shooting.

With Howie Lindsey and Jody Demling in attendance, the "Ho and Jo Show" was back and they asked 90% of the post game media questions for Coach Walz. Would hate to get in front of those two boys at a buffet...LINK BELOW.

POST GAME WALZ

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A crowd of over 250 packed the PNC Plaza Saturday night for the 2013 Louisville Volleyball banquet. Sean Moth served as emcee for the event that gave a few a scare when the fire alarms went off shortly after dinner was served.

Fortunately, it was a false alarm and the crowd was later entertained by the affable Anne Kordes' season in review speech and a hilarious video that featured Kordes playing freshman Katie George and George portraying Kordes.

The G.P.A. Award went to Emily Juhl and Cardinal Award was presented to UofL FCA chaplain Chris Morgan. Alumnae of the year went to Kelly Gillooly.

Kordes' keynote address covered her appreciation and association with all the players, staff and backers that have made Cardinal Volleyball the unqualified smash hit it's turned into since she arrived three years ago. She's also quite the comedian...sending the crowd into gales of laughter when she shared personal stories with players, friends and staff.

We want to meet "the Betty's"...

She has a heartfelt and deep relationship with those who make Cardinal Volleyball what it is today and it's easy to see why Julie Herrmann went after her and brought her here from the head coaching job at St. Louis.

Good times. Player Courtney Robison from Sheperdsville, KY. sat at our table with us and the D.S. who transferred her from West Virgina after one season was a friendly and charming host. Later we found out about her lifelong friendship with Katie George. Robison is the team driver and pushing catalyst. She also has two personalities, according to Kordes...so I guess we actually had two players at the table with us.

Our thanks to Louisville Volleyball for allowing us to cover the event and it was a class evening and a lot of fun!

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Yes it's Tuesday

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


...Today Sandy quick steps us between laundry changes needed for basketball to volleyball and lacrosse then again back to basketball...

NCAA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN LOUISVILLE

A major event in volleyball for the city of Louisville begins at the KFC YUM! Center this Thursday and Saturday nights.   Beginning on Thursday December 13 at 7 and 9 pm you can watch the semi-final matches  (Texas v Michigan then Penn State v Oregon)

and on Saturday at 7 the finals of our cities first hosting of a NCAA volleyball national championship.   Ticket sales are reported to be going strong and our plans are to surpass the national attendance record of 17,430.   Really folks, the record is held by Omaha, Nebraska.  Omaha really!  

 

We can do better and I understand that we are close.  Do your part!  See you there.  Tickets are available through multiple outlets including at www.ncaa.com/volleyball. Prepare for the matches by reading about it at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/120612aab.html, and http://www.ncaa.com/championships/volleyball-women/d1#!championship_br_home.
 

In addition to the matches there are loads of daily fan events and the ability to watch open practices from 10:00 to 4:25 tomorrow with authograph sessions with AVCA All-Americans and Olympian Champion Kerri Walsh Jennings prior to each nights match. 

No pre-purchased tickets should go unused.  Coach Anne Kordes has indicated that anyone who is not able to use tickets which have been purchased to turn them back into the University so that they can be either re-sold or given to charity for those who want to be here but cannot do so due to cost.  NO EMPTY SEATS!

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12	EVENT TITLE	EVENT DESCRIPTION
10 to 11:30 a.m.	Open Practice, KFC YUM! Center
11:35 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.	Open Practice, KFC YUM! Center
1:20 to 2:50 p.m.	Open Practice, KFC YUM! Center
2:55 to 4:25 p.m.	Open Practice, KFC YUM! Center
THURSDAY, DEC. 13	EVENT TITLE	EVENT DESCRIPTION
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.	Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon, KICC Cascade Ballroom	Please join us to recognize the 2012 Coach of the Year winners and Hall of Fame inductees. Tickets to the luncheon are $45 and can be purchased at AVCA Registration in Hall 2CD of the KICC.
5:30 p.m.	Gates open to public, KFC YUM! Center	1,000 headbands given away courtesy of AT&T, KFC Yum! Center, South Entrance
5:30 p.m.	NCAA Fan Zone	KFC Yum! Center, South Main Concourse (concludes at the beginning of the last match set)
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.	Autograph Session	Session includes Lindsey Berg, U.S. National Team player, Lloy Ball, four-time Olympian and members of the U.S. Women’s National Sitting Team, KFC Yum! Center, South Main Concourse
7 p.m.	Semifinal Match No. 1
8:45 p.m.	Autograph Session with Match No. 1 teams, KFC YUM! Center
9 p.m.	Semifinal Match No. 2
11 p.m.	Autograph Session with Match No. 2 teams, KFC YUM! Center
FRIDAY, DEC. 14	EVENT TITLE	EVENT DESCRIPTION
11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.	AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet, KICC Cascade Ballroom	Celebrate the stars in our sport on Friday afternoon as the top talent from around the country comes together to commemorate the year that was in women’s volleyball. Tickets to the banquet are $45 and can be purchased at AVCA Registration in Hall 2CD of the KICC.
8 to 10 p.m.	Under Armour All-America High School Volleyball Match and Skills Competition, KFC Yum! Center	The event will feature 24 Under Armour Girls High School All-Americans, as previously selected by the AVCA, who will be divided into two squads and compete in a three-set match, in addition to a series of individual competitions that will showcase the athletes’ superlative skills.
SATURDAY, DEC. 15	EVENT TITLE	EVENT DESCRIPTION
9 to 11 a.m.	NCAA/AVCA Kids Clinic, KICC Hall 1 AB	The NCAA, AVCA and University of Louisville will be conducting youth clinics for kids ages 8 to 14 at the championship.
4:30 to 6:15 p.m.	NCAA/AVCA Minority Coaches Committee Kids Clinic (ages 8-14), KICC Hall 1AB	The POWERADE® NCAA® Youth Clinics are a community outreach program that connects kids ages 8 to 14 (through 8th grade) with selected championships and provides them with resources designed to have a lasting impact. Participants receive sport instruction from NCAA and regional coaches get valuable information on fitness, healthy lifestyles and sportsmanship.
5 to 5:30 p.m.	Red Carpet Arrivals	Come early and cheer on your team as they head in to compete for the 2012 NCAA Women’s Volleyball championship. Teams will enter through the Main Entrance of the KFC Yum! Center. (Tentative)
5:30 p.m.	Gates open to public, KFC YUM! Center	2,000 scarves will be given away, courtesy of the NCAA Respect Campaign, KFC Yum! Center, South Entrance
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.	Autograph Session	Autograph Sessions with AVCA All-Americans and Kerri Walsh, two-time NCAA Champion and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, KFC Yum! Center, South Main Concourse
7 p.m.	National Championship Match
Post-Match	Awards Presentation	Between sets 2 and 3 – 40th Anniversary of Title IX Presentation

 Editor note: CARDINAL COUPLE was informed by the NCAA that we would NOT be issued media passes for the Final Four if Louisville didn't get there. Therefore, we will
 not have media representation on the sidelines. Our Jeff McAdams will be in the stands, though... 


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CARDINALS FLYING HIGH ACROSS THE NATION
 

The Stanford Cardinal retain their number 1 AP ranking but the Louisville Cardinals retain their 8^th place position.   Articles are plentiful across the internet and this week is no different as Charlie Crème of ESPNW has published one which not only discusses who he thinks will be hard to knock off as the top 4 basketball teams but also includes a mention of the Louisville women.  The complete article can be found at http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8731988/top-teams-locked-no-1-seeds-already.  Also this week is his first projected Bracketology posting http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/bracketology  which includes Louisville starting on their home court (which is a given as long as we make the 64 team tournament).  He places Louisville in the Oklahoma City Bracket.
 

Oklahoma City

Waco

1BAYLOR

16TEXAS SOUTHERN

8Virginia

9Syracuse

Lubbock

5Purdue

12SAN DIEGO STATE

4UCLA

13PACIFIC

College Park

6Kansas

11UTEP

3Maryland

14HAMPTON

Louisville

7Michigan State

10Vanderbilt

2Louisville

15FLORIDA GULF COAST

I know that we have a lot of regular season and Big East tournament play remaining but NCAA 1^st round regional games begin at the Louisville YUM! Center on March 23 and 25^th with tickets already available for the hometown fans to pack the house while obtaining great seats before the other teams are seated.   This is Louisville’s first opportunity to host first round games in many years and we want to make sure that repeat opportunities occur.  Without great attendance figures this won’t happen and watching on TV is just not the same experience.
 

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WNBA DRAFT
 

Progress comes to basketball, slowly but surely.  For the first time, the WNBA will hold its annual draft on ESPN2 at the primetime slot of 8 p.m. ET.  The event is not until April 15 so mark your calendars.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/wnba-draft-air-live-prime-205913857--wnba.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
 

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LACROSSE 2013 SCHEDULE



Katie Oliverio

The 2013 schedule for Lacrosse has been released which features 9 home games.   Check out the season story at http://www.gocards.com/sports/w-lacros/spec-rel/121012aaa.html.    This year’s team features 3 seniors -- Janaye Dzikewich, Danielle Pawliw and Katie Oliverio.



Janaye Dzikewich



Danielle Pawliw

This years schedule begins with 3 home games at U of L Lacrosse Stadium beginning on February 10 at noon.

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	SITE
Feb. 10	CANISIUS	12 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
Feb. 16	OHIO STATE	2 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
Feb. 23	OLD DOMINION	1 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
March 2	Denver	12 p.m.	Denver, Colo.
March 6	VANDERBILT	1 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
March 9	Presbyterian	5 p.m.	Cumming, Ga.
March 13	Detroit Mercy	2 p.m.	Detroit, Mich.
March 17	Drexel	1 p.m.	Philadelphia, Pa.
March 22	Loyola (Md.)	6 p.m.	Baltimore, Md.
March 24	Georgetown	1 p.m.	Washington, D.C.
April 5	NOTRE DAME	5 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
April 7	MARQUETTE	12 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
April 12	Syracuse	6 p.m.	Syracuse, N.Y.
April 14	Connecticut	12 p.m.	Storrs, Conn.
April 20	CINCINNATI	7 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
April 26	RUTGERS	5 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
April 28	VILLANOVA	1 p.m.	UofL LACROSSE STADIUM
May 2 & 4	BIG EAST Tournament	TBD	Washington, D.C.

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BASKETBALL RECRUITING
 

Full Court editor Clay Kallam wrote an interesting article which was published on Sunday concerning the differences between the recruiting of boys vs girls high school players to Divison 1 schools.

Primarily it is thought that with the additional three scholarships available to the women’s basketball teams (to create a closer equity of college scholarships) that high school girls and their parents are incorrectly being advised to handle the recruiting process the same as it is by the boys.  His belief is that any girl that in her junior summer possesses Division 1 skills will receive a Division 1 scholarship, as long as they do not limit their sites to specific top tier schools.

Currently the recruiting process includes the attendance and participation in summer play including AAU teams as early as middle school when the girls may not even yet have a complete understanding of the skills needed which may actually result in the early exposure hurting their scholarship chances rather than helping.    Clay proposes that the girl’s would be better served by using the summers during those early years to focus on skills development… and then use their junior summer to make the travel circuit and focus on schools where their current skills match specific schools needs where they can actually make a contribution and earn significant playing time (Megan Denies).

Otherwise either poor matches result where overreaching result in 4 years of primarily riding the bench with resulting transfers and / or dropping out of the system or players miss out on a 4 year Division 1 experience and either don’t play, move to Division II or go the JUCO route when a move comprehensive recruiting plan for girl’s recruiting may have made a huge difference.

The complete article can be read at http://www.fullcourt.com/prep/22340/remember-recruiting-among-other-things-different-girls?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter.
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