No. 1 Louisville stays undefeated, fends off No. 3 Pitt to sweep season series (2024)

Louisville wins set four 25-21 to win the top-3 match. The Cardinals pulled away late, taking advantage of Panther errors and making blocks at the net. In total, Pittsburgh had 37 total errors. Louisville hit .312 in the match with Claire Chaussee leading all Cardinals with 16 kills, hitting .414.

𝐀𝐂𝐂 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 🏆#GoCards pic.twitter.com/rSFtNa35tT

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 25, 2021

Pittsburgh's loss is its first during the month of November since Nov. 13, 2016. The Panthers have finished regular-season play and will wait for the NCAA tournament selection show on Sunday Nov. 28.

With the win, the Louisville has won the 2021 ACC title outright, moving 27-0 this season; the Cardinals are the only undefeated team in Division I volleyball.

𝐀𝐂𝐂 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 🏆#GoCards pic.twitter.com/rSFtNa35tT

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 25, 2021

After Louisville scored its 21st point of set four, Pittsburgh challenged the call. It was a close call as the ball landed close to the out of bounds lines, but replayed decided the call would stand.

Louisville is now four points away from winning the match. Pitt must win the set to force a fifth set.

Pittsburgh went on a 9-0 run to take the lead against Louisville after trailing 4-1 early in the fourth set. The Panthers have momentum after winning the last set.

MAKE IT 9-0

10-4 https://t.co/z3zSGIjl1H

— Pitt Volleyball 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@Pitt_VB) November 24, 2021

Pittsburgh wins set three 25-17. Pitt controlled much of the third set, leading by as many as seven points in the set. The Panthers played great defense throughout the set, bringing Pitt's block total to 10 on the evening. However, it was a Cardinal service error that gave Pitt the set point .

Louisville leads the 2 sets to 1 entering the fourth set.

Louisville wins set two 25-19, but it didn't come easy. A late Pittsburgh run cut the score to 23-19 after the Cardinals led by seven points. In the second set, Louisville hit .4 with two errors while Pittsburgh hit0.194 with six errors. Errors have plagued the Panthers and Pittsburgh will look to make some changes to get back into the match.

Louisville is one set away from clinching the outright ACC title.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK POINTS.

Set 2 | Cards 21, Pitt 15

Watch @espn: https://t.co/j8GDTN5JjR#GoCards pic.twitter.com/H4d8LhT0Ni

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 24, 2021

The Cardinals are the first team to 15 in the second set of this top-5 matchup. Louisville capitalized off an exciting rally to tie the game 12-12. It's been a back and forth affair in this second set.

.@clairechaussee9 KILL - do we need to say anything else?!

Set 2 | Cards 6, Pitt 6

Watch @ESPN: https://t.co/sFFecB7Bdc#GoCards pic.twitter.com/7Twh53nMEl

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 24, 2021

The first set is in the books. Louisville took the first set 25-19 thanks to an 11-5 run late in the opening frame. After being tied 14-14, the Cardinals scored five straight points to create separation between the top-5 programs.Claire Chausee posted six of the 14 Louisville kills on0.556 hitting.

POINT. SET. CARDS.#GoCards pic.twitter.com/ynz4pm3G1w

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 24, 2021

Louisville has scored five straight points to take a 19-14 late in the first set. Louisville is hitting0.364 so far in the opening set.

Things you love to see out of the timeout ⤵️

Set 1 | Cards 16, Pitt 14

Watch @ESPN: https://t.co/sFFecB7Bdc#GoCards pic.twitter.com/Hq5FCRChgK

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 24, 2021

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh is underway. Louisville served first.

Go time 😤

📊: https://t.co/w9ESrBvFZj…
💻: https://t.co/up8WCmsecf…#GoCards pic.twitter.com/HqwZ0xiJxz

— Louisville Volleyball (@UofLVolleyball) November 24, 2021

We are less than one hour away from the first serve of No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh.

Louisville, the last undefeated team in that nation, will look to sweep the regular-season series against Pittsburgh, winning the Oct. 24 matchup 3-2. However, this go-around, the Cardinals play the Panthers on the road in front of a sold-out crowd. Pittsburgh, led by Leketor Member-Meneh, will try to defend its home court in this Wednesday night battle.

The rivalry ACC matchup is almost here and with NCAA tournament seeding on the line, expect another thrilling contest.

stage is set.#H2P pic.twitter.com/cUeLxO25ra

— Pitt Volleyball 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@Pitt_VB) November 24, 2021

The Panthers and Cardinals meet for the second time this season when the two battle Wednesday night. Here's how you can watch:

Time: 5 p.m. ET
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 24
Watch: ACCN
Live stats:Click or tap here

The rematch is here. The last undefeated team in the nation will face its biggest test for round two in the last week of the season. So if they want to finish out the season unbeaten and perfect, they will have to get past Pittsburgh for the second time. It wasn't easy the first time around and it won't be easy this time. The first matchup was the highest ranked ACC matchup in history. Louisville was able to hold off Pitt in five sets, while hitting .258 with five aces. Anna Stevenson had 13 kills and Amaya Tillman led the Cardinals in blocks with eight. Libero Elena Scott had 14 digs and setter Tori Dilfer had 57 assists and four blocks. For the Panthers,Leketor Member-Meneh notched 18 kills on .389 hitting, and Pitt hit above .300 as a team, but they still couldn't pull out the win.

Member-Meneh has been huge for Pittsburgh this season, especially in the second half of the season. She has amped up her game and will be a big component in this matchup in addition to Kayla Lund and Chinaza Ndee. What they will need is an answer to Louisville's service pressure, which was vital in the first win over Pitt. They had five aces and got Pittsburgh off of the net pretty often. But, Pitt was able to expose some weaknesses in Louisville as well. The Cards had 29 errors in the win, and were outhit by the Panthers. But it is likely both teams have learned from their first matchup, which should make for a great one Wednesday night.

What is better than a rivalry ACC matchup, with Pitt fighting for a top-four seed in the tournament and Louisville looking to stay undefeated and earn the No. 1 seed in the nation.

Here is how Louisville and Pittsburgh matchup statistically: