This was BC's first time failing to win a set all season. (Paul Criado / Heights Staff)
Boston College volleyball’s first ACC matchup of the year was a rude awakening.
After an impressive 11–0 start, the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season last week to Bryant. But BC was still rolling into conference play with confidence.
They were quickly brought back down to Earth. Facing a tough challenge in No. 6 Louisville (10–2, 2–0 Atlantic Coast) on Friday night, the Eagles (11–3, 0–2) failed to win a single set and were swept 3–0 by the Cardinals.
The Eagles began the matchup by posting their lowest point total of the season: a mere 12 points to Louisville’s 25.
Audrey Ross notched three of BC’s first four points off kills, but the Cardinals jumped to an early 12–6 lead and reached 19 points before BC could even get to double digits.
An attack error from Cornelia Roach topped off an unmemorable opening to ACC play for the Eagles, and BC had to play the second set down 1–0 for only the fourth time this season.
It seemed BC just couldn’t find its footing for the rest of the match.
Louisville quickly grabbed a 16–8 lead in the second set, but the Eagles rattled off five straight points that featured a Ross service ace and a kill from Sequoia Layne. After cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 18–14, BC kept the gap to four or five points for some time. But a quick 7–3 rally from Louisville pushed them to a demanding 2–0 lead.
Now trailing by two sets—uncharted territory for BC so far this season—the Eagles had to find a way to put up some kind of fight.
Anna Herrington’s kill, Hanna Hoffman’s service ace, and two attack errors had BC at a 4–3 third-set lead. But that advantage was never to be seen again.
Louisville built a 14–6 lead thanks to six kills and three service aces. Then the Cardinals finished off their convincing 3–0 sweep of BC with a 25–15 win in the third set.