The Race of the Roses has just one station left to reach the final destination. On this Sunday (December 22), the volleyball community will see two programs competing to grab the nation’s best title. But here are a few interesting facts. On Sunday, the NCAA volleyball will witness a female coach lift the trophy for the first time in its 43-year-long history. For the first time in NCAA volleyball history, two female-coached squads have advanced to the final. And both the coaches have experience of winning the trophy in their own college years. Too many facts? Well, here comes Dani Bushboom Kelly’s fact as the coach of Louisville volleyball. 

This is the second time the Cardinals have reached the NCAA volleyball final. But they have yet to taste the joy of touching the NCAA volleyball championship trophy. Last time, in 2022, Texas took away the victory, disrupting their sweet day. On Sunday, Louisville’s coach will look forward to breaking this jinx. But does she have the firepower to counter an opponent like Penn State volleyball? The team has a few big names who are habituated to amassing points. Who are they? 

Louisville volleyball has big names to nullify Nittany Lions’ challenge 

On Thursday last week, Louisville volleyball dispatched the ACC rival, Pittsburgh Panthers. Apart from being the top-seed squad in the nation, the Panthers had another positive factor before facing the Cardinals in the semifinal. They had defeated Louisville both times in the regular season. But the latter, still reigning supreme. How? Two factors: consistency and the players. On Thursday, the Cardinals competed in the final four for the third time in the last four years. A stunning achievement! And players? Here are a few who played big in the season and also on Thursday night. 

Anna DeBeer

On Thursday, when Anna DeBeer left the court, she had the second-best points in the game, right after Olivia Babcock, the AVCA National Player of the Year. Does it paint the picture for the 6’0″ outside hitter? If not, then here is another key factor about her. Last year, Anna claimed the ACC Player of the Year title. This season, she has been named to the All-American Team. In fact, with another senior, Elena Scott, she has shared the honorable mention. She has just one match left in her college career. And hopefully, she will want to end it on a high note. 

In the regular season this year, Anna DeBeer claimed 250 kills in 68 sets. The average/set of 4.19 ranked her in the eighth position in the ACC point list in the regular season. So, on Sunday, she will attempt to make her last college game memorable.

Payton Petersen 

On Thursday last week, Payton Petersen replaced Anna DeBeer after the latter faced an injury in the fourth set of the game. Soon, Petersen erased the Panthers’ every chance to make a comeback in the game. The 5’10” freshman is capable of doing such things on the court. However, this season, she has 33 kills so far, with a hitting percentage of 0.267. She also has 28 digs, playing from the outside hitter position. 

The number may not do justice to Payton Petersen’s talent. But Louisville volleyball coach Dani Bushboom Kelly has high hopes for her. So, in the final, she can play the role of a dark horse against the Nittany Lions. 

Elena Scott 

Anna DeBeer and Elena Scott, the senior libero, are considered foundational members of the Louisville volleyball team. In the last four years, both of them have witnessed ups and downs, survived by the program. On Sunday, Elena Scott will enter the court again with Anna DeBeer to stand for the Cardinals. Last Thursday, she had 14 digs against the overall top seed, the Pittsburgh Panthers. So on Sunday, she might not mind being harsh on the Nittany Lions, leading the defensive third. 

This season, Elena Scott has 530 digs in total. The best performance came against UNI, coached by Payton Petersen’s mother, Bobbi Petersen. The number was 26. However, in the regular season, she claimed the same number once again, against a different opponent, California. That consistency might give Katie Schumacher-Cawley, PSU coach, an extra worrying factor. Will Elena touch the number again or go beyond that? What do you think? 

Charitie Luper

Another senior outside hitter on the list! The former UCLA attendee has a rare quality. She can damage the opponent with a smile on her face. On Thursday, the Panthers had the experience. In the game, Charitie Luper had 14 kills in 42 attempts with 5 errors. She also made 9 digs. But the prime attraction has yet to come. 

This season, Luper has 360 kills and 256 digs. The combination of such numbers makes her the fearsome opponent to face on any given day. On December 22, she will look forward to maintaining this impression. After all, with Anna DeBeer and Elena Scott, it will also be her last collegiate game. 

Hosting the NCAA Volleyball Championship this Sunday will bring so many storylines. It will also be a standout match for the PSU coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is suffering from breast cancer. Her mentees know the value of this final. They will try to claim it for her. The Cardinals, on the other hand, will also try to do the same for their outgoing captain, Anna DeBeer. Can you feel the vibe already?