Volleyball Falls to League-Leading Louisville

Friday, November 1

McGonigle Hall

7:00 PM

Temple University

15-7, 6-4American

Louisville

15-7, 10-0American

Louisville

Temple

Sandra Sydlik recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 13 digs

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Volleyball Falls to League-Leading Louisville

11.1.13 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Despite a tremendous crowd on hand for the match against the leader of the American Athletic Conference, Temple volleyball (15-7, 6-4) fell short against the powerhouse Louisville Cardinals on Friday night. Louisville (15-7, 10-0) remained undefeated in the league with a three-set win by scores of 25-15, 25-18 and 25-18.

Randi Ewing and Maya McClendon led Louisville with 10 kills apiece, while Ewing also recorded five blocks. As a team, the Cardinals were strong at the net with 12 blocks to Temple's five.

Jennifer Iacobini knocked down seven kills and recorded just a single error in leading Temple. The offense was balanced for the Owls, with five players getting between four and seven kills. Sandra Sydlik notched a double-double, her fourth in the last five matches, with 26 assists to go with a team-best 13 digs.

"Louisville is very physical and very athletic, and the combination of those with their skills makes them so unique," said Temple head coach Bakeer Ganes. "They played a well-rounded match against us. It was not just the physicality that gave us trouble, but also the way they played the entire match.

"Our team tried everything they could," said Ganes. "They fought hard. We needed to be more stable in serve receive and more insistent on our side, which we couldn't really get accomplished. We need to serve tougher to take them out of their system and we were not able to do that on a consistent basis."

Ewing and Emily Julh combined for eight kills for Louisville in the first set, and after the third tie at 7-7, the Cardinals pulled away from the Owls the rest of the way. Caroline Grattan had a strong set with three kills and four digs for Temple, but the Owls ultimately lost the set, 25-15.

The Owls hit more efficiently in the second set, and had a strong run that got the crowd back into it. Trailing 11-6, Temple came back within a point at 12-11 and again at 14-13. Juhl helped the Cardinals go back up by a few with a string of three kills in six points, and Louisville was able to pull away down the stretch for a 25-18 win.

Blocking also improved for the Owls in the second set, as they had four after not recording one in the first set.

Temple staged another comeback in the third set, trailing by as many as seven before coming back to within three points at 17-14. It was as close as the Owls could get as the Cardinals went on to win 25-18.

Temple will be back in action at home on Sunday, Nov. 3, facing Cincinnati at 1:00 p.m.