Anna DeBeer embodies what it means to be a “hometown hero.” A fifth-year senior and standout outside hitter for the Louisville Cardinals, DeBeer has become a cornerstone of the program, propelling the team to unprecedented success on the national volleyball stage. Her contributions, both on and off the court, have earned her admiration from teammates, coaches, and fans alike. “We’ve got a special place in our hearts for the hometown girls,” said avid Louisville fan Vicki Wieland to The Courier-Journal, referencing DeBeer and fellow Louisville native Elena Scott.

Together, DeBeer and Scott have created a legacy of excellence. Their efforts were pivotal in leading the Cardinals to their first-ever NCAA Championship Final Four in 2021—a milestone that will forever be etched in the program’s history. The only thing left for DeBeer is to hoist the national title. And now that the Cards have once again booked their final four berths, here’s a look at the outside hitter’s college football journey.

Anna DeBeer’s NIL journey

Besides helping elevate Louisville volleyball to new rights on the court, the Kentucky native has also played an integral part in her university’s NIL program. In June 2023, independent NIL collective, 502Circle’s president, Dan Furman praised Louisville Athletics’ initiative to bring NIL opportunities for their athletes.

Anna DeBeer joined the 502Circle in 2023 and has since become one of the reasons why Fruman said that working with Louisville was like “drinking out of the firehose.” That’s because, since signing up with 502Circle, the outside hitter has collaborated with over 10 sponsors and brands. Here’s a handy list of the entities DeBeer worked with throughout her NIL Journey:

• 2022 – Bright Swimwear
• 2023 – Golden Aesthetic Atelier
• 2023 – Lulus
• 2023 – Hyperice
• 2023 – Kentucky Proud
• 2023 – Raising Cane’s
• 2023 – Adidas
• 2024 – FabFitFun
• 2024 – Dippin’ Daisy’s
• 2024 – Out Of System
• 2024 – Maelys Cosmetics
• 2024 – AVOLI

“We’re always trying to evolve and reshape our resources to make sure that we’re doing all we can to assist our student-athletes, but also we create opportunities for them to use,” said Zack McKay, the first director of NIL services and engagement at Louisville The Courier-Journal in 2023. DeBeer has taken full advantage of the school’s willingness to help athletes. And now we turn our attention to DeBeer’s illustrious volleyball career with the Cardinals.

The Lousiville native’s career and achievements

Anna DeBeer was a standout throughout her volleyball career. Even before making her way to college volleyball, DeBeer was among the best players in the state. In 2019, the outside hitter helped Assumption High School achieve a flawless 43-0 season. Her contributions earned her a regional Player of the Year award.

“Congratulations to Anna DeBeer ’20 for being named the Region 7 Volleyball Player of the Year! We are so proud of Anna and her accomplishments as a student-athlete,” Assumption Athletics posted on social media. After joining the Louisville Cardinals, the hitter immediately distinguished herself as one of the program’s most valuable players.

DeBeer’s efforts helped her secure the 2020 ACC Freshman of the Year honors. Since then, DeBeer has earned accolades such as three-time ACC Champion and All-American Outside Hitter. The former Cardinals captain has been incredibly consistent with her performances, throughout the journey. A glance at the stats reveals how.

This year, DeBeer has scored 394 kills out of 952 total attempts, putting her heart percentage at 0.270. This hit percentage falls in line with her career hit percentage of 0.258. While it’s unlikely that DeBeer will reach the 1500 career kills mark in her final four matches, she is quite close with 1479 kills in her bag.

However, there’s a good chance she may reach the mark if the Cardinals make it to the 2024 NCAA championship finals. Yet reaching the finals and hoisting the NCAA trophy is exactly what Ann DeBeer plans to do in her final season. “You dream of that… Every girl wants to be there,” the senior said about her national championship goals.

While volleyball has been an integral part of Anna DeBeer’s university life, it’s not the only thing she excels in. An exception student, the Exercise Science major at Louisville has earned ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors twice (2023, 2024). DeBeer’s other academic achievements include Academic All-American, All-ACC Academic, AD Honor Roll, and Red and Black Scholar. However, only time will tell if she can add NCAA Champion to her plethora of accolades.