Volley Girls, yeah, I know, like some folks are going to be, like, offended.

As if.

What . . . Ever.

It’s at times like these when your team is playing for a natty that all is tubular.

After gunning down Pitt in the semi final Thursday night, the University of Louisville women shall compete for the NCAA volleyball title on Sunday against Penn State.

No way.

Way.

 * * * * *

There’s the thrall of victory shtick.

Here’s the disclaimer I always start with when weighing in on another sterling moment for Dani Busboom Kelly’s charges.

I am clueless about the nuances of the game.

I don’t know why libero Elena Scott wears a different color jersey, and what she can do her mates cannot?

I don’t understand what determines who serves?

I don’t understand how substitutions work?

I don’t understand what a good hitting percentage is, how it’s calculated?

Do teams have set plays? Or is it just about spacing in given situations?

But here’s what I do know about this bunch of Cards . . .

. . . oh hitter (???) Charite Luper actually said it post victory:

“It’s all about who wants it more, and it really showed that we really wanted it more.”

 * * * * *

I do know enough about this nerve-racking sport featuring athletes as athletic, talented and incredible as in any to understand when Aunt Mo switches sides.

I know grit when I see it.

I know, like, who wants it more.

Louisville lost the opening game to a team that had beaten them twice before this season, a team that was playing in its fourth consecutive FF, a team that was determined to make it to the title match and prevail.

The Cards fell behind the Panthers  4-9 in the 2d. Then Auntie Mo Mo donned her red & black. Louisville knotted it at 11. Fell behind but never lost touch. 25-23. Best 2 of 3 to ensue.

Cards only needed two.

Big Moment #1 (One even a know nuttin’ can discern): In the 3d, down game point at 23-24, U of L tied it. Did it again at 24-25. Did it again at 25-26. Did it again at 26-27.

Then having broken Pittsburgh’s will, U of L scored two more for 2-1 lead.

Big Moment #2: Duh. Anna DeBeer goes down.*

* I know she’s go the heart of a lion. That she’ll have 24 hour treatment between now and the final. But it’s hard to see her playing effectively. But, ya know, a Willis Reed moment would be very very cool.

The Cards were up a penny at the time.

Then rocketed ahead 9-3.*

*See what I did there? “Rocketed.” Anna DeBeer, a former Assumption Rocket. Oh yeah. Gnarly.

Like I said, Pitt broke.

The Louisville Cardinals Did Not.

Cruised by 8 in the clincher.

 * * * * *

So, what we have ahead is a match for the crown in the Yum! against eight time champion Penn State, which reverse swept Nebraska in the second semi.

 * * * * *

One observation about Cardinal head coach Busboom Kelly.

She’s of the CEO mentality.

During the games, she sits.

It is Assistant HC Dan Meske who is usually roaming the sidelines, shouting out instructions. He’s the one normally talking strategy in the huddles.

I like it.

It works.

— c d kaplan