Go Cards!
Volleyball Advances in BIG EAST with 3-0 Win Over Orange
Cardinals to play No. 1 Notre Dame
 
Gosia Lech had a match-high 35 assists.

Gosia Lech had a match-high 35 assists.

Nov. 20, 2009

BIG EAST freshman of the year Lola Arslanbekova had a match-high 15 kills and an ace to lead the No. 4 seeded University of Louisville to a 25-20, 25-12, 26-24 win over No. 5 seeded Syracuse in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship Friday evening at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

"It was good to get the nervousness out that you get when you know it is one and out," said Leonid Yelin. "We had good play by our seniors that allowed Lola Arslanbekova to be a big part of our offense instead of a target that attracts all the defense."

U of L, which improves to 18-10 with the win, hit .298 and outblocked the Orange 12-9. Justine Landi joined Arslanbekova in double digit kills with 12. Lecia Brown led with a match-high seven blocks. Syracuse was led by Noemie Lefebvre's 13 kills and five digs.

U of L hit .333 in the first set paced by Justine Landi's seven kills. The Cardinals used a 6-1 run early in the set to go up 13-10 and the Orange played catch up the rest of the way. SU got within one at 20-19 but would score just once more, bowing out 25-20. U of L led the blocking 5-3.5.

In the second set, U of L tore out to a 7-2 lead and forced a Syracuse timeout. The Cardinals increased the spread to 16-4 and never looked back. Lola Arslanbekova shouldered the offensive load with eight kills in that set as the Cardinals hit .481. Lecia Brown connected for a pair of blocks with Lindsey Mango adding four digs. Syracuse hit a chilly .036.

 

 

Fighting for survival in the bracket, Syracuse managed to build a four-point lead at 14-10 and draw a Louisville timeout. The Cardinals scrambled back to within one at 21-20 and then it was Syracuse calling a time out. The teams traded points and with the score tied at 24, Jing Pu called his final timeout. A kill by Lola Arslanbekova and a block by Gosia Lech and Lecia Brown gave the Cardinals the set and match.

U of L will play No. 1 seed Notre Dame at 3:30 Saturday at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Tickets are available at the door.

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