New Louisville volleyball schedule released

Like most Louisville teams, the Louisville volleyball program will face a step up in competition this season in the new ACC. The Cardinals will face nine nationally ranked teams in the 2014 season.

The Cardinals will also face 11 regionally ranked teams, nine teams in the top 60 RPI and traditional rivals Kentucky and Cincinnati. Louisville will be working toward the program's 25th NCAA appearance.

"We structured our tough non-conference schedule with opponents like Wisconsin, Minnesota and Arizona State not only to bolster our RPI, but to prepare us as we enter our inaugural year in the ACC," Louisville coach Anne Kordes said. "Our new conference will be highly competitive every weekend and that is an exciting challenge for us. We are also thrilled about playing in the KFC Yum! Center where we hope to establish new attendance records. I know our loyal fans are highly anticipating our move into the ACC."

Louisville will play eight matches in the KFC Yum Center and six in Cardinal Arena. UofL begins the season when it partners with fellow ACC power Notre Dame to take on Wisconsin and Minnesota in the ACC / B1G Challenge in Minneapolis on August 29-30. The Cardinals then host the Active Ankle with Tennessee State, Appalachian State and Cincinnati visiting Cardinal Arena on Sept. 5-6.

Archrival Kentucky will open the KFC Yum! Center portion of the schedule on Sept. 9. Louisville will make their ACC debut in the KFC Yum Center on Sept. 26 and 28 when Boston College and Georgia Tech come to town. Two of the biggest matches of the season are in mid-October when Florida State visits the Yum Center on Oct. 10 and Notre Dame visits on Oct. 12.