Per University Of Louisville Sports Release:
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The No. 7-ranked University of Louisville volleyball team started the 2026 season on a high note, defeating No. 8 Texas A&M in four sets (25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21) on Friday night at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
The Cardinals avenged last season’s season-ending loss to the Aggies in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinal, finishing the match with 57 kills on .241 hitting while holding Texas A&M to a .152 hitting percentage.
Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine led the Cards with 19 kills on a .421 hitting percentage on her way to being named the MVP of the match. The senior also recorded nine digs, four assists and two blocks.
Read more: Cards Take Down The #8 Aggies
Outside hitter Chloe Meester and middle blocker Brooke Bultema both racked up 11 kills in their Louisville debuts, with Meester making her first collegiate appearance after redshirting the 2025 season.
Payton Petersen donned the libero jersey for the first time in her career and set a new career-high with 23 digs, while setter Nayelis Cabello dished out 45 assists, eclipsing the 2,000-assist mark for her career in the process.
SET 1
The first set started as a back-and-forth affair as neither team could open up a lead larger than three points in the early going. With Texas A&M holding a 14-11 lead, the Cardinals rattled off four straight points to hold a 15-14 advantage heading into the media timeout. Neither squad could gain separation until a kill and ace from Meester opened a 22-18 gap and forced a Texas A&M timeout. Bultema put down a kill to bring the Cards to set point before teaming with Chicoine for a block to give the Cards their first set win of 2026.
SET 2
The second set was more of the same, as the two teams matched each other blow for blow, playing to a 10-10 draw through the first 20 points. The Cards got out to a 16-13 lead, but the Aggies responded with four straight points to keep the set close. With the score tied at 23, Meester and Hannah Sherman combined for a block to set up set point, and Sherman finished off the set with a massive kill off a stellar dig from Chicoine and assist from Meester.
SET 3
Down two sets to none, the Aggies jumped all over the Cardinals to begin the third set, scoring five of the first six points of the set. The Cards climbed back into it with a quick burst to bring the score to 10-9, but the Aggies pulled away for a 25-20 win.
SET 4
Chicoine took over the match in the fourth set, putting down nine kills on 14 swings to lead the Cardinals through the finish line. The set remained close throughout, but the Cards put together a 3-0 run to bring the score to 20-17. With the Aggies threatening to fight their way back into the match, Chicoine brought the Cards to set point with a solo block before the match ended on a Texas A&M attack error.
UP NEXT
Louisville will look for their second consecutive top-10 win in as many days when they take on No. 6 Wisconsin tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. ET. The match between the Cardinals and Badgers will be broadcast on FOX.
Postgame Press Conference: https://youtu.be/_oC4RCplJaY
