No. 3 Cards Welcome California and Stanford to Continue ACC Play

Thursday, October 8

LOUISVILLE, KY

7:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

California

Photo by: Nicole Finch | Louisville Athletics

No. 3 Cards Welcome California and Stanford to Continue ACC Play

October 07, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

Game Notes

The match against Stanford will mark Louisville’s eighth top 20 showdown of the year

By: Zach Zsido

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 3-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team returns home to host California and No. 14 Stanford at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. The match against California will be on Thursday, Oct 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX, and the contest against Stanford is set for Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Cards enter the week with a perfect 4-0 record in conference play that includes a streak of 12 straight sets won. Louisville looks to extend its winning streak against Cal to three matches after sweeping the Golden Bears in each of the last two seasons. Last year, UofL split the season series with Stanford, with the Cardinal winning the most recent match in five sets.

TEAM NOTES

The Cardinals continue to assert themselves as one of the top offenses in the country through the first half of the season. Through its first 16 matches, UofL ranks third nationally in hitting percentage (.323) and fifth in kills per set (14.43). Louisville also tops the ACC with 13.13 assists per set, a mark that ranks 13^th in the NCAA.
Louisville also fosters one of the elite defensive programs in the nation, leading the ACC and ranking 12^th in the country in opponent hitting percentage (.156). The Cards also rank fourth in the ACC and 17^th in the NCAA with 2.80 blocks per set.
UofL has earned five wins over ranked teams in its first 16 matches of the season, tying with Kentucky and Nebraska for the third-most in the nation this year.
The Cards enter the week ranked third in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll, their fifth straight week ranked within the top five nationally. Louisville moved up one spot from last week's No. 4 ranking to match their season-best No. 3 ranking.

PLAYER NOTES

Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine continues to produce at a high level on the offensive side of the ball, recording her sixth double-double of the season against Notre Dame on Oct. 3 with 11 kills and digs apiece. The senior has recorded double-digit kills in 15 of the first 16 matches of the year, while hitting over .300 in 12 of them. Her 4.08 kills per set currently rank fifth in the ACC and 35^th nationally.
Setter Nayelis Cabello continues to dominate on both ends of the floor after earning back-to-back ACC Setter of the Week honors on Sept. 7 and Sept. 14. Through the first 16 matches of the season, Cabello ranks third in the ACC and 16^th nationally with 10.66 assists per set. The junior also leads the team with eight double-doubles.
Opposite Kalyssa Blackshear remains as one of the most efficient offensive players in the conference after hitting .444 against Notre Dame on Oct. 3, marking her ninth match with at least a .400 clip. The sophomore currently leads the team with a .363 hitting percentage that also ranks sixth in the ACC.
Libero Payton Petersen displayed her versatility against Notre Dame on Oct. 3, starting her first match at outside hitter this season with Chloe Meester out with injury, posting seven kills and nine digs. The junior continues to help the Cards defensively as she leads the team with 223 digs and ranks third in the ACC with 4.21 digs per set.