Had A Chance: #2 Louisville 3, Marquette 2

Key Highlights

• Marquette could have buckled right there against a great volleyball team, one with players that were in the national championship match one year ago. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut they didn’t, and two kills from Natalie Ring — who was outstanding in this match, hitting .324 for a career high 29 kills and adding six digs and four assisted blocks — closed the set out and put Marquette out in front. Yes, the second set was very lopsided at 25-11 for the Cardinals.
• That emphasizes the point of Marquette turning around and stomping out that 8-1 lead in the third and fighting through a Louisville rally to win it anyway.
• Yes, the fourth set could have gone better with UL up 12-5 early and using that lead to hold Marquette off for a 25-19 set win. And yes, the fifth set did not start well with Louisville getting out to a 5-1 lead.
• When you’re playing to 15, that’s not really what you want.
• And yet, there’s Natalie Ring, putting up one of her kills to make it 8-7 midway through.