Coach Dani Busboom Kelly joined the Louisville Cardinals in 2017. Throughout her time, the coach has taken the team to previously unseen heights, and today they’re playing in the NCAA finals against Penn State. However, thanks to the latest figures released by Sportico, it’s come to light that Kelly’s arrival coincided with another initiative to help boost Louisville volleyball.

In 2017, the Cardinals spent $1.82 million on their women’s volleyball budget, ranking 27th among FSB schools. However, the school’s annual volleyball budget increased exponentially throughout the years. According to Sportico’s latest figures, the team made it to the top 10 spenders in the nation in 2022. That year, Louisville outspent Penn State for the first time, pouring $3.25 million into their volleyball program.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions spent $3 million in 2022, raking 11th, right behind the Cardinals. While figures for the following two years remain undisclosed, it’s safe to assume that both schools have increased their budgets. So, after beating the Lions on spending, Louisville volleyball hopes to beat them on the national stage and earn their first NCAA Championship title.

This is only the second time in Louisville’s history that the team has made it to a championship final. The first time they became finalists was the same year they outspent Penn State in 2022. The gradual bump in the budget has undoubtedly helped Coach Kelly improve the overall program. In 2019, the Cardinals spent $2.02 million, and Kelly took them to their first quarterfinal.

This trend continued in the following years. In 2021, the Cardinals reached the Final Four for the first time. Their budget? $2.35 million. Spending more has also resulted in better earnings for Louisville volleyball. In 2022, this year’s hosts earned $434,000 from ticket sales compared to Penn State’s $169,000. However, it’s one thing to spend and earn more than your rival and another to beat them on the volleyball court.

For Louisville volleyball, beating Penn State was easier envisioned than executed

Penn State is a giant of NCAA volleyball and one of the toughest opponents the Cardinals could’ve faced. Historically, the Nittany Lions are the second-most successful team in NCAA Championship history. Only Stanford has won more national titles with nine. However, the Lions have just closed the gap further after winning their eighth NCAA Championship title.

Penn State came into the 2024 final with a history of success against Louisville and proved itself as the superior team. However, Playing in the NCAA championship final for only the second time in their history, Louisville put up a good fight until the second set. After losing the first set, they dug deep and emerged victorious in the second set (34-32).

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide, as the Louisville Cardinals faded in the following sets. They lost set three 25-20 and then lost the final set with an even bigger margin of 25-17. The absence of senior hitter Anna DeBeer also played a role in the Cards losing the match. However, at the end of the day, the Nittany Lions tapped into their championship heritage to win the historic clash. Yet, what are your views on Penn State’s performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.