Louisville, Ky. - In the final quarterfinal match of the BIG EAST Volleyball Championship, No. 4 Louisville swept No. 5 Syracuse 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 26-24). BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Lola Arslanbekova put up 15 kills, six digs and two blocks to lead the Cardinals in the victory. Senior Justine Landi was also instrumental in the win, posting 12 kills and five digs while hitting .450.

Louisville and Syracuse came out even-matched in the first set, trading points until the 9-7 mark when the Orange became the first squad to have more than a one point lead in the match. Louisville came back to go up three points, 13-10. After a SU timeout, the Orange regrouped to tie the game at 15. The teams again traded points but at 20-19, UofL used a 5-1 run to close out the set.

UofL came out strong in the second set, opening up with a 7-2 lead which forced Syracuse to use an early timeout. Louisville continued its strong play even after the break in action, upping their lead to 13-4. Syracuse could not find their rhythm as the Cardinals got up 20-8. Three attack errors for Syracuse at the end of the set gave the Louisville the 2-0 advantage.

Out of the break Syracuse was first to score in the third set but the teams traded points until 10-10 when the Orange rattled off three straight points. Louisville remained poised in the set and continued to trade points. Syracuse was first to reach 20, but Louisville quickly joined them as the score reached 21-20. Kills from All-BIG EAST First Team selection Sarah Morton pushed the SU lead to 24-23, but a well-timed kill from sophomore Gosia Lech erased the set point for the Orange.

With the momentum behind them, Arslanbekova drilled her 15th kill for set point. All-BIG EAST First Team selection Lecia Brown then combined with Lech on the set winning block to earn the 3-0 victory and a date with top-seeded Notre Dame tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 21, at 3:30 p.m.